My mom revealed herself as my own personal fairy godmother today. It was wholly unexpected and it made me cry.
The Boy’s 6th birthday is just over 3 weeks away and I’ve been trying to figure out what to do for his birthday. Or, to put a more painfully truthful point on it, I’ve been trying to figure out how to finagle money for a birthday party and a birthday present out of our completely debt consumed budget. As I’ve already told you, The Boy was promised a pair of guinea pigs for his birthday and that was to be his big present from us and my parents. But as our financial picture is worsening daily, I finally had to face up to the fact that we simply could not afford to do both. So in the interest of acknowledging my son’s new found grown-up-ed-ness, I asked him what he wanted more – the guinea pigs or a birthday party. And he asked for some time to think about it. I asked him about it last night as I was giving him a hugkiss good night, this is what he said to me, “I think I’ll choose the birthday party. Maybe I can get my own special pet for my birthday next year, maybe you’ll be able to afford it then.”
And I can honestly say that I’ve never felt like a more horrible mother than in that moment. That moment when I burdened my son with my adult money troubles. There was so much wrong with that I didn’t know what to do but cry and tell him I loved him more than anything, tuck him in and turn off his light.
So I was tearfully relating this story to my mother this morning and she gracefully, mercifully and wonderfully offered to pay for The Boy’s birthday party and his guinea pigs (if that’s what he really wants for his birthday). I know she did it to protect her grandson and make sure his birthday memories are fun and carefree for as long as possible. But with one stroke of her wand, she brought just a touch of magic back into my life as well.
2 comments:
Your story made me cry. What I have gleaned clearly from the heart event this summer is that stress is a knock-down drag out killer if not handled well....and I do not want you to go through what happened to me this summer if we can avoid it so when there are ample supple of funds you are welcome to it and when not, then we come up with creative solutions. Mostly though I just feel the stress in your lives is not useful and my life is all about use-ful-ness. So, I am glad that this time I could turn the pumpkin into a coach, the girl into a princess who goes to school and the boy his pets and party. My pleasure. I love you all so.....
I remember a year (I was 14 or so) when we were so broke! My mom bought me this really lame minny mouse coffee mug. A coffe mug! BUT, when she gave it to me, she said, "I just love you so much and I didn't want you to have a birthday without at least ONE present. It is not much, I know, but it was all I could afford and I love you so much." This is the ONLY present I remember getting over the years from my mom. Her wanting to express her love is what I remember and how much she loves me and how she tried in the face of not having much to offer. I will always remember that.
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