Life's Little Headaches Are Put in Perspective

Things weren't going well that day. The air conditioning wasn't working and the house was humid enough to grow exotic flowers. The upstairs shower was leaking into the kitchen, the ceiling was on the verge of caving in, and my toes still hurt from having Machaela drop the church kneeler on my foot.
I would have liked to run away. But I had no car; it was at the gas station for a new battery. I certainly would have no money after I paid my repair bills.
Then I got into a conversation with one of the repairmen. Sevenmonth- old Michael was sitting on the floor and the plumber commented on how cute he was. "He reminds me of one of my boys," he said. "He was a chubby baby, too, but he could really get around. He walked when he was only nine months."
He went on to tell me about his grandchildren but his thoughts returned to his son who resembled Michael . . . "We lost him." I expressed my sympathy and asked when it happened. "Two years ago at age 28 he died of cancer."
As he stood there telling me this, he was looking at Michael, and yet he seemed to be seeing his own son. His face filled with sadness. It was a look every parent hopes never to experience.
All of a sudden a hot house, a dead battery, a leaky ceiling and a sore foot lost significance on the list of life's problems. What instantly seemed important was my beautiful healthy baby and his equally beautiful and healthy brothers and sisters.
I decided that next time when instead of getting ready for bed Maureen and Machaela run up and down the hall naked saying they have sexy legs while Johnny chases them with a toilet plunger stuck to his stomach, I'm going to think it's funny instead of being frustrated that they are still up.
As a matter of fact, I've been laughing more when the house is a mess. I was only cheerful when the house was clean and when it was a mess, watch out. I decided I didn't want my children growing up thinking their mom liked a clean house more than I liked them.
Before long this philosophical attitude will probably wear off but when it does, something else will happen to shake up my perspective. For my sake, I hope it does because when I think back on these years, I want to smile.
September 21, 1983