Ode To The Working Mom

I wrote this all this morning

It's what I had to do

No one understands this plight

Except, of course, for you

Because you are the working mom

Your cross you have to bear

Pass this one to your friends

And show them that you care...

Ode To The Working Mom

My hands may be un-manicured

But the dogs are fed and walked

"Play with me, please, Mama!"

My daughter often balks

But the laundry's undone

The cat needs the vet

And many more "To Do's"

If I had 5 minutes in the morning, I (maybe) might read the news. 

After a fuss, we race to the bus

I look down to see

I found us both matching outfits

Clean and static free

Yippee!!

Family, neighbors, friends

Often pitching in

So my perfect little one

Can always wear a grin

Makeup's applied at red lights

My hair is such a mess

"I have 3 inch roots!” I cry as I

Pluck pet hair from my dress

No time to eat

No-no, no time for mom

Should I wake up at 5 AM tomorrow?

I ponder my 6 AM alarm, as time; I beg, steal and borrow

I just can't stop, no time at all

I arrive at my client's home

I pop a mint, grab my bag

Oops! DON'T DROP THE GLASS iPhone! 

My office is my car

Between meetings making deals

As I drive, I reach down

And slip off my too-high, high heels

My back is acting up; I really have to hit the gym

I schedule a meeting with myself

The gym says I can't come in

My identity's been stolen; they need a new credit card

I hand it over, pray it goes through

I feel like a tub of lard

I'm finally exercising

Doing something for myself

Wait! Wait! Wait! My daughter's project…

…I left it on the shelf!

I dart home to get it

I "fly" it to the school

I run into the principal

Who takes me for a fool

Home once more, I change my clothes

I have another meeting

That time I just had to myself was little more than fleeting

Now I have some cash in hand

It's time to do some shopping

Food's the only thing I ever have time to buy

It's not like I go club-hopping

HA!

 TODAY ONLY! WITNESS THE BATTLE BETWEEN 

DAIRY BARN AND THE SUPERMARKET

Dairy Barn wins hands down

There's no time to wait in line!

If I had just one wish

It would be for (a lot) more time

I don't need clothes, I don't need shoes

Don't need a Prada bag

"My child should want for nothing", I say

As I view my cheek in the mirror

What's that? A new sag?!

OY!

I used to be pretty, I used to be fun

"What happened?!"I ask the sky.

“If you don't do it, no one will,” says the sky in the reply

"You'll have to slave to just get by."

I try, try-try-try to show myself kindness

As I do to others

But my life, it just won't let me

Hey, I'd-be-on-a-massage-table-right-now, if I had my druthers

I dream and dream and dream in vain

One day that Universe'll hear me

Why can't my car just drive its own darn self

So I can do other things while it steers me?

Clients calling, ow, my neck, the bus is coming home

I have to make it there in time

And make it with a comb

We rush inside to brush and rush back out 

So much "stuff" to do

We have to beat the clock again

Lots of errands, homework, choke-choke down the leftover stew

My friends say…

Can you believe So-And-So cheated on What’s-Her-Name? Have you heard of the tornado?”

I say, “Who? What? Where? What are you talking about? Does this even matter?"

“Oh, God. I just burned the potato!”

MAN!

Well, we have to fit it all in, somehow

We must fit everything

Perhaps when things finally calm down

I’ll catch up with current events in the spring

With so little time available, I choose my sacrifices

No TV for 3 years straight

It’s off my list of vices

Sorry, Babe but I digress; "Mo-no-po-ly at 8!"

Let's play tent and Barbies

And stay up really late

For these are the important moments

When we're looking back

I hope my child remembers, I think

As she walks on my back...hoping to hear a crack...crack...crack...

"OW! Thank you, Honey. Mommy needed that." 

I love you, my child, with all my heart

One day you'll understand

That doing this is sometimes easier when you have four hands.

But this is not the path I walk

For you, I am so sorry

But with food, shelter, clothes and oodles of love

Please, honey. Don't you worry.

Mommy is all right

And you are just perfection

For you are the most important of all

No matter which direction

Life takes us on a journey

Sometimes bumpy, sometimes smooth

No matter what, you are my love

Let's giggle...and show me those new dance moves!

WHOO! 

I kiss your head as we lie in bed

I read a bedtime story

You close your eyes 

"We did it today," I say, in all my glory

For when you smile and sleep with peace 

I feel I've done my job

There is not enough money in the world

To compensate The Working Mom