Metal Meredith

Healer of the Universe

Maybe I don’t remember this from my own childhood or I just never gave it a moment of thought, but upon giving birth to my own child, I have summoned the “Power of Mom.”

Today, Vivienne was outside playing in the back yard while Phil cleaned up the deck. Vivienne kept herself busy by walking around behind him, throwing balls, and playing on the deck stairs. At one point, my pleasant quiet was shattered with screams and yelling. I went to the door to see Phil cradling Vivienne as she cried about an “owie”. She had slipped off a step walking up the stairs and had an immediate bruise and scrape on her leg. It was one of those that I have had as an adult numerous times, causing me to instinctively go “Ouch” when I see it on someone else.

Vivienne told me through tears that she had a leg owie and needed a band aid. I took her from Phil and started the routine of Doctor Mom. I sat her down, gave her a hug and talked about how that must really hurt, must have been scary and how things will be ok in a few minutes. I got out the Dora band-aids, gave the owie a kiss (even planted a kiss on the band-aid for good measure), and wiped away tears and snot.

Once the band-aid was on, we talked about how it felt better, how it was ok now and how it was time to go back outside with Dad. So she did. She hopped up, popped right outside and announced to Phil “All better now Daddy!”

Phil asked her “Did Mom make your owie better?”

Vivienne replied “Yep, Owie all better!”

Phil said “Yay Mom!”

Vivienne, in her apparent pleasure that I had fixed her owie, turned around to face me and clapped “Yay Mom! Owie all better!!”

Never, in one million years, would I have expected my most precious standing ovation would come from a two year old with a scraped knee.