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deathlifemomsParentingUncategorized

Every Mother’s Prayer

written by sheisterri February 21, 2016

A week later, and I am still suspended somewhere in between shock and terror.

We were all together at her son’s backyard birthday party just last summer.  Our boys were nursery school classmates. Buddies.  Two parts of their own little crew of three.  We didn’t know each other well enough to call ourselves friends.  Maybe us considering ourselves acquaintances would even be a stretch.  But we were friendly.  Always friendly.  My son liked her son.  Her son liked my son.  And we knew and liked each other’s sons after months of pick-ups and drop-offs at school.  That was all we needed to connect as mothers.

About a month after the party, I transferred my son to a new school.  He was now three towns away.  There were new kids for him to get know and new moms for me to forge a connection with.  My intention was for my son to remain one in his crew of three despite the fact that he was now in a different school.  There was no reason not to.  His two buddies lived close to us.  All three of us moms had cars.  Certainly, we could keep the boys together.

But then life happened.  As it always does.

Intentions are sometimes left at just that–intentions.  New routines are created.  Seasons change.  Time moves forward.

Last week, as we registered in the unusually quiet and near-empty emergency room, a woman said, “hi” and excitedly called my son’s name.  I searched the familiar face desperately trying to bring her name to mind.  A half year’s time had robbed me of my ability to readily recall. 

We took our seats in the waiting area.  She continued to make small talk with my son.  It was when she asked him, “So how do you like your new school,” that I knew exactly who she was.  One of the moms from our boys’ crew of three. 

We chatted about what brought her to the emergency room with no kids in tow, how her son and daughter were, and great learning apps for kids.  Typical mom stuff.  Our lighthearted convo turned devastating when she asked whether I had heard about the other mom.  The mom who hosted the birthday party last summer.  I had heard nothing.

“She passed away,” she said.  “Was at her job eating lunch and just died.”

I sat staring at her.  Stunned.  Horrified.  In complete disbelief.

I whispered the boy’s name.  Hoping I got something wrong about what she had just told me.

“Yeah,” she said as she continued to scroll on her phone.  She had obviously lived with this tragic news for some time.  Clearly, it had registered.  But for me, it was new.  Raw.  And completely unfathomable. 

I didn’t want to come across as melodramatic.  It had been a half year since I had seen or communicated with any of them, so I mumbled something like “my God” and “I can’t imagine.” I asked how the mom’s son and daughter (who was some years older than all of our boys) were adjusting.

“He doesn’t remember her now.  But the daughter does.  When it first happened, he cried alot at the school.  He would say ‘mommy, mommy’ and we would all just hug him.”

The only thing I remember from the rest of our conversation was that I promised to contact her to arrange a play date for our sons. 

This time, I will follow through. 

Days later, and that night in the emergency room continues to haunt me.  How could this vibrant woman, at least ten years younger than me, no longer be here to mother her children?  There is something obscene and distorting to the natural order when a parent leaves this earth before their child has even entered the first grade.  It simply is beyond our ability to understand how or why this happens. 

Her death drudged up every one of my deepest fears.  I felt and continue to feel unbelievably self-centered for thinking of me and my son when it is she and her son who are apart.  I demand of myself, “How could you?”  But then wonder how could I not?  It is every mother’s worst nightmare.  It is the day that you pray to God to stave off.  The day that you never want your child to open their eyes to see.  At least not until he has the maturity, experience, maybe even a family of his own to love and comfort him through the pain of his loss. Someone who will be there for him like you would be.  Even though no one could ever truly be there for him like you.

I understand my own mother’s plea to God to spare her life day after day, year after year since I was a child.  It was never about her, but always about me.  I now am, likewise, on bended knee.  Replete with surrender.  Praying the same prayer.  Not for me, but for my son.

One generation after the next–asking, most of all, just to be there. 

That’s all I ask. 

Please let me be there.

Every Mother’s Prayer was last modified: May 26th, 2018 by sheisterri
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sheisterri

Writer, professor, and host of podcast 'She Roads with Terri Linton'

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8 comments

Katrina Thomas February 21, 2016 at 11:56 pm

Omg I can’t just imagine all of the emotions that’s going on. Such a tragedy. I pray that the family finds peace specially her children. Sorry to hear that.

Reply
She is Terri Linton February 23, 2016 at 4:44 pm

Trina, I pray the same for her children and family. She seemed to be a devoted mother who loved her children very much.

Reply
Bipasha February 22, 2016 at 2:32 am

Oh my, can’t even start to fathom this tragedy… I pray for the family that faced such loss… Stay strong.

Reply
She is Terri Linton February 23, 2016 at 4:47 pm

I’m still shocked. Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment.

Reply
Marie February 22, 2016 at 7:55 pm

Such a solemn reminder of how fleeting life can be. My heart goes out to the family, especially her children. I hope the ‘village’ of people in their lives will give them the support and love they are truly going to need.

Reply
She is Terri Linton February 23, 2016 at 4:49 pm

From what I saw at the birthday party, her children have a strong, loving and supportive ‘village’ of both family and friends. Thank God.

Reply
boymommaofthree February 23, 2016 at 2:46 pm

This is so sad. I too fear not only losing one of my children but them losing me. What a hard thing for a child to grasp. I can only pray that my boys have a strong enough relationship with Christ to see them through if something like this would ever happen. May God be with that sweet family.

Reply
She is Terri Linton February 23, 2016 at 4:56 pm

Yes! Every mother’s biggest fear–being apart from our children. This has sent major shock waves through me as it has reminded me that life is truly unpredictable. That is why I am going to make sure that every day, my son feels my love. Whether we are laughing, eating pizza, reading, or even when he is ‘in trouble’ for not listening or misbehaving, he will know that he is loved. Every day is to be treasured.

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