One For My Blog

That last argument had been awful. Everyone says teenagers are difficult to parent. It's true. Change, hormones... They're growing up. Pushing boundaries. It's normal.

I tell myself this, but couldn't keep the tears from welling up. I knuckled them away. Be strong!

Her words echoed in my head. You're not my real mum... My heart threatened to break. It was true, and yet it wasn't. I hadn't carried her in my womb, but I'd been a mother to her all the same. I'd raised Nessa from a baby. Worked myself to the bone for her. Sacrificed everything for her. I fought for her diagnoses and the treatment she needed. I was steadfast beside her through her seizures.

You're ruining my life... Us warrior mamas have to be tough. Parenting a child with challenges like Nessa has... We have to be stricter than other parents. Still, to see her absolute belief in that statement stamped on her features tore me up inside. Seeing it dawn on her in real time. After a lifetime of trusting me, obediently swallowing everything I handed to her... A thread of control just slipped from my grasp. Everything would be so much harder now.

I'm not a little kid anymore, I don't need you! But she does! That's what it means to mother a child with chronic illness. Other parents look forward to when their kid is capable and independent... But for us, there's no end to this gig.

Even normal kids don't get it: no matter how big they grow, you still see that precious baby cradled in your arms. How much more so for one like Nessa? She will always be my baby. My precious baby.

Ms Esther Swanson, you're under arrest for child abuse.... I wonder if the other police officers found the rest of my stash yet. All that insulin. My Special Cupboard where I mixed up Nessa's medicines. I had to get creative with a few of them. One of them is actually for dogs, but it does the trick.

I stare out of the police car window. This will be a great entry for my blog. Will I get WiFi if I go to prison?

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Word count excluding note: 366 Submitted on Saturday 3rd August at 19.44 - I'm slightly early posting this one! Internet is going to be AWFUL tomorrow, so this is me keeping my streak alive!

Thank you so much for reading my story! The ha'penny that Vocal will toss in my hat for your eyeballs landing on this humble piece will be well-spent. If you enjoyed this one, the very best compliment you can give me is to share it, or read another! A Year of Stories: I'm writing a story every day this year. This one continues my 217 day streak since 1st January. Please do consider lending your support to the other creators who are also on this madcap "a story every day" adventure. They are putting out excellent content every day! Rachel Deeming Gerard DiLeo Please do leave me a comment. I try to reciprocate as many as I can. Leaving a comment makes that easier.

Thank you again! Especially if you are one of the wonderful people who has been staunchly reading these daily scribbles since the start of the year. I see you, and appreciate you very much indeed! + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +