Mommy goes to meetings

Mommy goes to meetings

Mommy was always a little crazy. We would eat cupcakes for dinner and go swimming late at night, sit on the edge of the pool in the moonlight while she chattered away to me like we were two old chums.

We would roll down hills and throw spaghetti on the roof. We would play music and beat tamborines and sing loud. We would both wear fairy princess dresses and wings down to the shops. She looked crazy, with her hair all over the place and lipstick everywhere. I wished I could brush her hair.

Many times it wasn't fun. Mommy would lose her keys, we would be locked out and she would cry. She would lose her purse, her glasses, bracelets. Once she even lost me at the airport! I was scared she might lose Daddy.

Sometimes she would sleep and sleep and sleep and no one could wake her up. Not me or Daddy or my Amah. It was like she had not slept for 10,000 years. She would sleep in funny places. Sometimes in the empty bath or on the floor or in the garden.

Then one day Mommy said that she had decided not to be so crazy, lose things or sleep so much. She would go to meetings instead.

Meetings with who?

Lots of people! Farmers, teachers, inventors, doctors, lawyers, astrologists, firemen, nurses, other mommies and anyone else who wants to come.

Meetings about what?

About how to live well! So I can be the best Mommy possible.

And so she did. On weekends we would go to different places – cafes, schools, churches. Daddy and I would drink baby cinos and play on the swings outside. At the end of the meetings they would all stand in a circle and hold hands.

She would come out all shiny, with light around her, talking to people and smiling.

Mommy went to many many meetings. So many that I lost count. Sometimes she went to meetings at night when what I really wanted was for her to stay home and read stories to me. Daddy would tuck me into bed instead.

But I saw her much more. She didn't lose her keys again. She didn’t lose me again! She didn’t lose Daddy. And she didn’t need so much sleep. In fact, she would get up extra early, especially if I gave her a poke and a hug.

We still roll down hills, play our music  and sing too loud. We still wear fairy princess dresses and wings but she brushes her hair now and looks pretty. We still have cupcakes for dinner and we still sit on the side of the pool and chatter away like two old chums.

I like it much better now that Mommy goes to meetings.