The invisible Mum

Being a Mum is doing all the things no one really sees. The bits behind the scenes, the ground work, the tiring work.

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It’s being the fun Mum when no-one’s watching. The dancing in the kitchen with pots and pans Mum. The singing to the Wiggles and wearing funny things on her head Mum. The Mum who is laughing when she feels like crying.

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It’s being the present Mum. The reading books to them in a pool of mess Mum. The sitting with them, laying with them, and being led around the house by them Mum.

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It’s being the prepared Mum. The Mum who packs the snacks, the bottles, the nappies, the snugglies and every single thing that may or may not be needed for any outing, big or small. Or the Mum who may not have had time to be prepared, and prepares accordingly.

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It’s being the loving Mum. The Mum who tends to the tears, the bo-bos, the constant needs of others. The Mum who drops everything that may be stressing her, and offers a smile, a kiss and an embrace. The Mum who would do anything to make them feel ok.

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It’s being the Mum that most do not see, doing a lot of what goes unseen.

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So everyone else often sees the tired, end- result Mum.

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They see the Mum tearing her hair out after 5pm. Who hands them over at the earliest opportunity and asks them to deal with the tears this time.

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They see the Mum who is short, snappy, and anything but fun.

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They see the Mum who apologises for being late, explains what went wrong before she got there, and struggles to offer much depth to any discussion.

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They see the Mum who looks frazzled, and messy. The Mum who puts them in the high chair so she can sit and drink her coffee while scrolling on her phone for a moment, or ten.

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They see that Mum more than the other Mum mostly,

Naturally and unintentionally.

Because that’s just how the meetings fall, and the daily schedules play out.

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So even though everyone else may not always see all the hidden, invisible work of love, I see you.

I really see you.

I see your groundwork.

I see your whole picture.

Because I’m often there in the shadows of the unseen too.

I’m right there with you.