Tulips, Chocolate Hobnobs and the lovely Wee Car

I had to step up to the mark as a mum this weekend.  Sometimes our kids need us in ways that we don’t expect that they will.  I am that Mum without a manual and so at times we need to dig deep and find the answers within.  Maybe we’re all writing our own manual and when a new chapter opens up we have to gather our thoughts and with our big hearts look for the words that are going to be part of the solution.  Instinctively I know that when our kids are going through the rapids of life there is no point in pretending that everything is ok.  It is far better to acknowledge the swirling scary water and help them put their life jacket on as they weather their storm.  So that’s what I’m going to do and I know that this is made possible because someone is holding a life jacket out for me too. (Thank you husband ).

Pulling together is what gets us through the bumpy bits of life.  Take Friday for example.  My buddy at work was diagnosed with cancer and it blew me away.  I felt as flat as the tulips on my desk.Later that night my husband got a call from our pal Billy.  ”There’s something at the door for you”, instructed Billy.  There at the front door was a bunch of tulips and a packet of chocolate Hobnobs.  Billy had read my blog and then headed out to the shops for this lovely pick-me up.  How nice was that!

Today when I went into the office I was surprised to see my buddy there.  He gave me a big hug and said he was doing ok.  Despite his prognosis being poor he has decided to keep life as normal as possible, for as long as possible and to enjoy the time he has with his family and friends.  His attitude does not surprise me – he is one of life’s good guys and although things are emotional he is a very grounded man.  I have so much respect for his attitude – we can learn much from people like this in our lives and I know that I am blessed to have friends like this.

So with all that life presents us with to deal with or think about it also provides us with just the right amount of pick me ups to keep us focussed.  When we think things are going to be a problem or not work out they often do.

Take Sunday for example.  My husband has this wee car that has been garaged at a friend’s house.  As it turned out the car had to be moved as our friend needed the garage.  My husband asked if I could come with him so that I could drive his car to tow the wee car back to our house.  Yep, that’s what I said – ME TOW A CAR!

Now I wouldn’t say I was accident prone but the thought of me towing a car across town just seemed like a bit of a step too far.  That said however I am also the kind of gal who steps up to the mark, so off we went.

We pushed the wee car out of the garage.  I had forgotten how lovely she is and we laughed about the fact that this little car, which my husband lovingly restored himself is older than me, his wife.  It seems that the wee car and I have something in common – she also steps up to the mark when required.  Not only did the wee car start, but my husband drove her home.

Driving behind my husband in the wee car it was lovely to see kids waving at him as she trundled along the road.  Folk stopped to look at her – the wee car has this amazing capacity to make folk smile. So I might be that Mum without a manual but I am also reminded that this life is full of surprises and as a mum we always have the capacity to make our kids smile – even in the rapids. I’m off now to have a chocolate Hobnob and admire my tulips