I Already Have My Mother's Day Presents

It has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad, week. It has been time consuming, draining, and stressful. We have been back and forth to the HTC for some transitions in Nicholas’ independence. It hasn’t been easy for him. On top of that, he’s been experiencing daily nose bleeds that have been challenging to stop. I think I’ll move to Australia.
It has been cold, rainy weather. Baseball was cancelled again. We haven’t had a practice in weeks and we have three games to make up. It has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week. I think I’ll move to Australia.
Nicholas’s field trip to the farm was a rainy soggy mess. The students only got to do about half of what they had planned to do. The trip ended up cut short because everything was muddy. Once Nicholas returned to school, he had a nose bleed and we had to pick him up. He missed the movie the class got to watch when they returned. It has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad, week.
Today has been especially hard; we woke up to find Nicholas covered in blood due to an overnight nosebleed. He was less than enthused by it but since it didn’t wake him, I know it wasn’t that bad. He had to go to clinic for labs again. It was the third trip to the HTC this week. And then once he returned to school, his nose bled again, which meant I got another phone call from the nurse. It has been a terrible, no good, very bad, week. I think I’ll move to Australia.
What I’ve come to realize in this terrible, horrible, no good very bad week is the admiration I have for my son and his resilience in the face of adversity. He hasn’t cared that that he has undergone a lot of blood draws. In fact today, he hopped in the chair with a huge smile on his face. He specifically asked for green Coban and when he got what he asked for, he was so pleased. Through every nose bleed, he smiled and said thank you as I was flustered and just.so.over.it. When baseball was cancelled, again, he said, “That’s ok. I’ll play with my sister.” It amazes me how resilient he can be.
Mother’s Day is an excuse to spoil our mothers and to be spoiled as mothers. Lots of moms look forward to the adoration and well-deserved adulation they get on the second Sunday of every May.
This past week has shown me why this year is different for me. I realized that this year, instead of me being celebrated, I will celebrate my kids. They have made me a mom. I know that they continue to teach me things. I know that because of them I am a better person. I am so thankful and proud that these are my children.
While I’ll never turn down a trip to Australia for future Mother’s Days, this year I’m going to take a page from my son’s book and turn the page from our terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week to a page of celebration of the life lessons my kids are teaching me.

Carrie lives with her husband Mark, and 6-year-old son, Nicholas, and 2-year-old daughter, Aleesia, in Maryland.
*Note: “Infusing Love: A Mom’s View,” is a blog collection of personal opinions and a representation of individuals experiences. While extensive efforts are made to ensure accuracy of the content, the blog entries do not represent HFA or its Board of Directors. The blog is also not intended to be construed as medical advice or the official opinion/position of HFA, its staff, or its Board of Directors. Readers are strongly encouraged to discuss their own medical treatment with their healthcare providers.