A Mother’s Waking Thoughts · by Peanut Jackson

Every morning when I wake up, my first thoughts are of the kids. What do they need to wear today, which child has what activity, what projects do they have due, and is it a bath night? I have all these thoughts racing through my head as I get all eleven of them up for the day.

I have one son who is a Freshman in college, and terrified to drive. He is perfectly content to let Mom drop him off and pick him up from school. The two in high school are a Freshman (son) and a Sophomore (daughter). They have to be at school by 8:30a.m. Next comes all my elementary school children of which there are five. One fourth grader (son), a third grader (son) two first graders (daughter/son) and one in kindergarten (son). Last but not least, the four-year old (daughter) when woken up she then turns around and wakes up her 19 month old brother who is the only one who could sleep in if she would only let him.

No one rides the bus, they never have. I won’t allow it. I think buses are bully boxes. That means every day I take ten kids to five different schools. I have everything timed down to the minute, if I’m off schedule by even five minutes the morning is wrecked and there will be 9 additional kids late for school that day.

I always get the question “Why?”

“Why do I have eleven kids?”
Because there were children that needed homes and we were able to give them one.

“Why do I drive the kids to school every day? Why not let them ride the bus?”
Because my eldest adopted son saw his brother murdered five feet away from him while riding on a bus and as a result gets a little nervous on buses.

“Why do you drive that day care can?”
Well it’s easier than strapping some of the kids to the roof of the car? A few less bugs in their eyes that way.

The why’s of life are not so important. It is what you do with the time you have that matters. I have found that for me, my “calling” is being a Mom. Not the highest paid salary in the world. The hours really stink, you NEVER get a day off and the work never ends. Sometimes you are underappreciated, taken for granted or your presence isn’t even noticed. It’s all part of the job.

One thing I know, at night right before I lay down to sleep, as I go around the house checking to see that everyone is safely nestled in their beds, that blankets are tucked and night lights are on, I feel most content. I feel comfortable knowing that I am doing what I’m supposed to be doing and that my journey will continue on as I walk different roads with my children. I also know that when I rise in the morning, they will always be my “waking thoughts.”