This mum's journey: page one

Sitting on the shower floor with her arms wrapped around her knees, the steaming water hitting her skin while she reflects on the moments passed and contemplates the moments to come. Feeling rather horrible due to a recent outbreak of sickness that has spread through her home she is enjoying the quiet selfish moment knowing that it won't last. This day will be filled with cries of "mummy i need you' and 'mummy i want this' so she knows she has to pull herself together, both mind and body so that she can give as much as she possibly can. Her two sick little boys have been put through the wringer this past week or so and are tired, miserable and needy, one staving off an infection and the other possibly beginning to develop it. Wishing she could take it all away and suffer it all herself on their behalf but knowing she can't is beginning to make her feel frustrated and helpless. A screaming, tear filled knock on the bathroom door trips her back into reality and she knows that this time of selfish quietness has come to an end. Dragging her body up off the floor and out of the heavenly stream of warmth created by the shower is a difficult task. The cries have stopped but she knows that it won't be long before they begin again. Reluctantly drying and dressing herself she steps out of her coocoon and back into her world. The sound of the door closing behind her is quickly followed by the sound of bare feet padding across the tiles in her direction. She turns and looks down upon the face of the little person that has made his way to her, tears still glistening in his big brown eyes and a steady stream of snot running from his nose down to his lips. He holds his arms out and says 'mummy'. She scoops him up in her arms and as he wraps his arms around her and nestles into her shoulder she realises just how worthwhile her life really is.