My son and I looked at the fishpond,
“You must get that sorted,” says I.
“‘Cause the water is green,
And the fish can’t be seen,
And they need TLC or they’ll die.”
So my son took a look…it’s not easy,
‘Cause his eyesight can’t make it that far,
“We need to act fast
Or the sturgeon won’t last!
Can you get a new pump in the car?”
Now, being as I am not Samson
And the filter and pump weigh a ton,
He priced up and shivered
But got it delivered,
“We’ll just set it up and we’re done.”
Now, that’s all well and dandy in theory,
There is more to the business than that,
I sought clips and hosing
(While he sat home dozing),
Then put on my handyman’s hat.
I fitted the plugs to the wires,
And assembled the pump at first try.
The next bit meant putting
The pipes on and cutting,
“You do have a hacksaw?”says I.
He did, but I first had to find it;
It was blunt and as bent as could be.
The effort was drastic
To saw through thick plastic
And all the cuts looked like a ‘C’.
I cursed and complained and I ranted,
And, when that did no good, then I swore,
I did all the slicing
And sorted the splicing,
My fingers all battered and sore.
I hauled the stuff out to the garden,
‘Cause the pond was at last in the shade,
Then, cursing the weather,
I put it together,
And switched on the system I’d made.
I am holding my breath as it gurgles,
I look at the filter in doubt…
But a piddling leak,
That just needed a tweak,
And the water starts all churning out.
I wear many hats as a mother,
From taxi, to cook to P.A.
I’ve been electrician,
And piscine physician,
And gardener, all in one day.
The fish looked much happier later.
The results were all that we desired.
But I’d just like to say
That I dream of the day
I can say, “Sorry, son, I’m retired!”
Talking of hats , which you mention
I feel you do so with a smile
Your bravery needs our attention
You mange his needs all the while.
I know we all do this as mother’s
To a larger or lesser degree
But you are a light to us others
You soldier on whatever, relentlessly.
So I am raising my hat to you
And leading a huge round of cheers
You are to us all, an inspiration Sue
Let’s raise a glass to retirement years.
💜💜💜💜
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I raises me mug of chai latte, I does! 😀
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She is a star isn’t she 💜
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The job is not over yet 😉
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Brilliant, Willow! If only retirement were on the cards… 😉
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Yes if only, but it never is, is it 💜
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Not from motherhood…but employment? That might be nice…
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Can you separate the two, I hope so , there may well be someone perfect out there to put on your hat at the right time 💜
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I hope so ❤
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I hope so too💜
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Ps. I love that photo of you in the bubble it says it all! 💜
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😀
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I have the feeling that no one has ever told you that mothers can never retire, we just fade away quietly in a corner… Picking my corner as I speak…
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I know… but if he wasn’t also my boss, I’d have more chance of him hiring a plumber 😉
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Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
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Not often that I read a story,
and imagine it’s all about me
but on this occasion
I found it amazing
I find I’m described to a tee
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Brilliant, Bobby 🙂
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Thank you
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What a great poem, Sue. Loved it! xx
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Thanks, Joy!
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What an “adventure”!
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And more to come, I fear… 😉
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🙂
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Brilliant, Sue. A fabulous poem.
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Thaks, Robbie 😉
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Again, Sue you managed to nail it
Describing mums lives poetically
All the hats that we wear
Time off is just rare
Yet we continue, smiling manically 😁
(or is that just me?!)
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It’s all of us Sis 💜💜
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💜
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Yep…all of us 😉
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😍
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Love it!
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Thanks, Tori!
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You missed out wonderwoman Sue…and it would be well deserved.. xxxx
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A mother’s life, eh? 😉 xx
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retire?
They’ll give you an afternoon off on the day of your funeral 🙂
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Only if I book it far enough in advance 😉
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Wonderful, Sue! 🙂 xo
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Thanks, Bette 😀
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It won’t ever happen. Dream on though 🙂
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There has to be hope… 😉
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You should have one of those hats in every color Sue. ❤ xx
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I probably already have, Debby 😉 xx
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I’m thinking you do. 😉 xx
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Only by neccessity 😉 xx
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You are a fish-superstar! 😀
“We’ll just set it up and we’re done.” – famous last words. 😀
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Considering what else is still to be done… 😉
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Oh, the hoops through which you jump! You are amazing, Sue!
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No more so than most mothers, I would think 😉
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I’ve not followed for long enough to gather the full situation – is your son at home? It seems you two get into all sorts of adventures!
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My son, then 25, was stabbed through the brain in a random attack nearly ten years ago. He was left in an alley and in a coma to die, but was found quickly by strangers who called the ambulance. The police had launched a murder investigation by the time we had driven the hundred miles to the hospital… but he’s stubborn and refused to die. 🙂
It took a long time to break free of the coma. When he finally woke, he was paralysed down his dominant right side, could barely see…and what he could see was double and bouncing continually. He couldn’t speak or do anything much at all.
As I said, he’s stubborn 🙂
Since then he has moved into his own home, travelled to far-flung places, raised thousands for charities on his trike, been honoured with a national award, jumped out of planes and off volcanoes…
He was left unable to walk unaided, still with problems with eyes, mood and memory, and needing a fair bit of daily help, so I am now employed as his carer for a few hours every day…but spend far more time with him than the official employment will cover, of course.
He calls me the ‘house-hobbit’…
I call him a good few things we won’t mention here 😉
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An official carer? That sounds like something we need here in the states! I know plenty of people (almost all women) who give tons of care to those who need it, but never get any payment or assistance.
Good on your son for surviving! I’m so glad he’s around for you to have adventures with. I bet he gets frustrated a lot – I do that with my body, and I’m able, so I bet it gets rough for him at times. I’ll keep you both in my prayers, if that’s something you dig!
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For those who are assessed as needing a certain level of care, a budget is put in place so that they can employ help. As my son doesn’t live with me, he was able to employ me for three hours a day (though I can be there eight or more, seven days a week). It is not really enough for me to survive on… but any other carer would only deal with his physical requirements, where I can be his memory bank too, as well as Mum and knowing all the things he needs someone to know.
It is not an ideal system by any manner of means… but it is far better than leaving people without the help they need while their families earn a wage elsewhere.
But whoever thought letting a son employ a mother really didn’t think the family dynamics through 😉
And thank you. We would both appreciate your prayers.
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No problem!
I think letting a son employ a mother is exactly the idea. If you had to take off work or cut back on another money-making activity in order to care for him, your income would be stunted, and the hiring would hopefully help out a little.
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From an exceedly well-paid job to desperate scrabbling to make ends meet at first… but we managed. It is not much better now, but the alternatives don’t bear thinking about…at least I can be there for him 🙂
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I bet you’ll never say that 😀
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Watch me 😉
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You are a warrior mother, Sue!
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Just another mum 😉
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I’ve been counting the hats you wear, and they are considerable, but this is a new one! Congratulations. I usually leave anything mechanical to Hubs, but if he is puzzled, I put on his muzzle … and do it myself (which doesn’t rhyme).
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I would gladly leave all this lot to someone else, given half a chance, Noelle 😉
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Bravo, Sue. If the fish could talk, they’d probably say the same. 🙂 — Suzanne
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After yet another full day pondside…I hope they appreciate it 😉
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You may retire from anything else, but you’ll always be doing what we mothers do best. There is no retirement in sight for you. 💕🤗💕
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That’s what worries me 😉
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