Feeding the Team

Sometimes you just want to be a mom. Even if your kid is almost 18. Like, screw the job and other worldly responsibilities, today I just want to be a mom. That's how I felt today.

I think often people don't realize that in addition to all the hard work and long hours and personal spending teachers/educators do, they... we also devote a tremendous amount of time to other people's children. The result sometimes is we give up time with our own. Years ago I suffered quite a bit of guilt over it. But I think my son understood. I think he liked that other kids thought his mom was special too.

Last night, after serving a big family meal, I realized I also made a commitment to feed the swim team before their meet today. I was caught in a bit if a conundrum. The food needed to be at school by 3:00 and there was no way to heat it up. That meant I couldn't send it in with my son in the morning or drop it off on my way to work.  What's a working mom to do? I asked my son if the parents who brought food last week brought it in at 3:00, if it was hot, if they were at-home moms? The guilt of earlier elementary days was kicking in. I know, sounds a little bit dramatic.

But, it's my son's senior year and quite possibly the last few months I'll have to be a swim mom. Then it will all be over. For good. I made a clear and definite decision. I would work a half day, leave at lunch, and come home to prepare the food for my son and his team. Then I could drop it off at 3, do a few errands and head to the pool for the meet. I don't take a lot of days off, and if my kid isn't a good enough reason, then what the heck is?

I worked from 7:30- 12:30, came home and made two trays of pasta. One for my son and others with a mature and discerning palate, with seasoned chicken, bacon, ranch, and avocado. The other, for the picky eaters, had red sauce and a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese. I dropped them off and got an "I love you." Then about 4:00 I got a text message, "The food is delicious." He even assured me the other kids liked it too. Yay!

When I got to the meet, one of the coaches said "Avocado! I almost took that whole tray and went home with it." One of the other boys told me they chowed down. My son, who is not much of a pasta eater, was grateful I made a tray of food with his taste in mind. And man did he have a great meet. Three first place races and one second place that he missed only by a touch. It felt good to drop everything and just be a mom for a couple of hours.