My mom had flown down from Oregon to help me when I had a major spinal flare in March. Among the chaos, I received the email, “We received your submission to Parenting: The School Years magazine and would like to use it, even though we’ve already completed the article. We need a photo of you and your son ASAP!”
I sent a few photos off, but they said the lighting wasn’t good enough. So I brushed on some make up and hobbled out side with my son and said, “smile and look cute.” Four photos later, Grammy had snapped a great one I zipped off. Next I received an email from the fact-checker. All looked fine.
The end of April I began my hunt for Parenting: The School Years magazine. A sub-magazine of Parenting, it was impossible to find, even at Barnes and Noble. I looked it up online and found the page. Yay! My quote made it. But uh, wait, no photo. Oh, bummer for Josh, my son! I finally accept that icky prednisone face just so maybe my son can get his photo in a national magazine and it doesn’t make the cut.
But the quote . . . what did they do to that? It barely makes sense and sounds like I am just running around trying to prove myself capable of sliding down slides and “roller coasting” all over the place.
Oh well. I’ve been an editor and I know the reasons why I used to have to cut things, clarify things, and people were not happy with me. But I would never have written, “but he must appreciate my effort.” I’m letting it go. Really, I am. Even if it does make me sound a little ditzy. That’s the risk you take when you give editors your articles or quotations.
But just for the record, I am a good mom NOT because I can do these things (I can’t do them now, like I could 5 years ago!) but because my son inspires me to be the best I can be–limitations and all.
And for the record, I told my son, “Mommy loves you as big as the ocean!” and his reply was, “I love you as. . . big as the toilet.” It helps to hear that in context. I mean. . . I don’t want anyone thinking I encourage potty talk.
Now. . . I have to go tell him our photo didn’t make the cut. Somewhere in there is a life lesson, but I am too tired to find it right now.
Lisa
Lisa, I am happy to see disable mothers represented in the article on what makes a good mom. Even if your quote was skewed compared to your original, the point was made – we can be good moms even when limited Your son’s comment was so funny and adorable!
But Lisa, you don’t ever have to worry about your “prednisone face”. You are Beautiful! You look so young and pretty and have such a gorgeous smile! No wonder people tell you that “you look so good” (ha ha)
Seriously, your countenence shines with the light of God, warmth and empathy and is just so lovely
Thanks for all your hard work and outreach. .