Week 25: And NOW I'm ready to be a Mom.

Smeared bananas, wet paper towels, most things on Fear Factor and a dirty sink when I’m brushing my teeth are a few of the things that can send me into a gagging fit. So, I sometimes wonder how I will manage all of the gross things that a child will present. What about when he vomits all over his bedroom or goes #2 in the bathtub or who knows what else? Dave is as gag-ready as I am and I don’t think I can make a baby clean up his own waste. So, what will we do?

The other day at work I had a break though. If you have an exceptionally weak stomach, you might want to skip this. I told Dave about it and he said, “I’m proud of you, but please stop talking about it.”

There are quite a few emergencies at my job each year and I have become familiar with the local ER and the route the ambulance takes to get there. Recently, one of my clients had a long seizure. She was on the floor and I was at her side as we waited for the EMT’s to arrive. During the episode, she vomited. I immediately ripped off a huge handful of paper towels and wiped it up so that she did not have to lay in it. I felt like I was hovering above myself, watching a miracle happen. I did not feel the slightest hint of a gag and trust me, that vomit was an ugly sight. I just did the job that needed to be done and continued to speak quietly to her until she stopped seizing. Success!

Thus, I believe my maternal instinct—or something—has come to life. I will now be able to handle disgusting things without contributing my own pre-digested food to the situation. Or so I hope.

Thank you and goodnight.