There is nothing quite like an injury, sustained at the hands of my daughter.
I have been kicked, punched, scratched, bitten and poked. Then there is the epic and rather brutal headbutt. As a proud wearer of spectacles, there is the added bonus, of my face furniture being embedded in my head.
I am covered top to toe in little bruises from grabs, pinches and being stood on. Most of the time, these little nips and bumps, go by unnoticed. Then there are the blows that bring tears to my eyes and my whole body to its knees.
This week presented another eye watering occasion. Playtime with my daughter, was brought to a screeching halt, as a result of a headbutt to the nose. I cried out in pain and buried my head in my hands, whilst discreetly checking for blood. My eyes watered, while I slowly collected myself. My daughter sat herself down opposite me, almost as if she was concerned. Not quite ready to emerge from my foetal position, I tried to reassure her, that Mummy was ok.
My girl was obviously not buying any of it so yanked up my head, by my hair and yelled “Mummy!!”
I wanted to cry. I was having my ass handed to me by a baby! I prized her little hands out of my hair and looked into her big brown eyes “Mummy is fine sweetheart”.
One of the many challenges of being a parent, is powering through when you feel you can’t. Whether it’s illness, injury, exhaustion or depression, sometimes it takes everything you have to just keep going.
In the absence of a village, I push through many things with babe in arms. Those extended bathroom breaks, where my digestive system, will not be rushed for Mr Tumble. The blunt force trauma, suffered as a result, of being twatted round the head with a drumstick. The days where I need just 5 more minutes in bed and rely on my mobile phone, to occupy my child. The times my emotions overwhelm me and I sit and feed my baby, on the kitchen floor sobbing. I have experienced all these things. It may not be pretty but I power through.
I have to remind myself regularly, that I am a good Mum and do a pretty good job. Just last week I was ill and reached out to my own Mum for help. It took her two hours to call me back, only to tell me, she had called someone else to check on me. The day came and went…I saw no one. I once again powered through like many Mums. Like a champ. Like a boss. Village free and owning it!!