W.M.E.S.

Yep, it's Worst Mom Ever Syndrome, and I've got it, big time.

First, of course, the excuses:

1. I was tired. I remember when I used to say I was tired. I was clueless. I had no idea what tired really was. Tired is when falling asleep at 2:00am is considered early. Tired is getting woken up, time and time again, by pain and by children, during the few hours that I'm actually in my bed. Tired is feeling nauseated and light-headed, solely because of lack of sleep.

2. I was in pain. Meals have not been going very well around here. Sometimes, I just want to be able to throw a pre-made dinner in the microwave and call it good, instead of having to make everything from scratch, all the time. Nick has had to make all of the meals, and between the cooking and taking care of the kids and me and the house, dinner is often really late, which doesn't make for happy kids or happy parents! So, yesterday, I decided to help out. I got up and made Italian Meatballs and put them in the crockpot. I made another crockpot full of BBQ Chicken. I made Sloppy Joes, and Ranch Dip, and cookies, and bread. Since I can't usually stand long enough to make half a meal, this was a huge undertaking, and despite sitting down every few minutes and rolling around in my desk chair on wheels whenever possible, I was paying dearly for my efforts. Ouch.

3. It was just a little bit hectic in the kitchen. I was trying to get ready to go on a date with Nick. Yep, we were going to the bank together. It may not sound too romantic, but compared to last week's date at the dentist's office, I was looking forward to it. So, our wonderful mother's helper was here, and her little sister was here, and it was too hot to go outside so they were all underfoot, and loud, and hungry.

That's when I was hit with W.M.E.S. I was doling out food to the poor, starving children...and I gave E a slice of bread. The bread is the only baked good that I still make that has eggs in it, since Jay loves it so much, and I just haven't come up with an egg-free version that doesn't resemble a brick!

So, I gave E the bread, with eggs in it, and E is allergic to eggs.

What's really sad is that I didn't even realize what I'd done until later, after the romantic trip to the bank, when I was putting the bread away! I looked at the bread, caught my breath, and went to tell Nick what, as Worst Mom Ever, I'd done.

Thankfully, thankfully, thankfully, E obviously didn't have a huge reaction. There are two eggs in the whole loaf of bread, and he sure didn't react the way he did when he actually ate a portion of scrambled eggs. He did get some hives, and this morning, he's still itching away. He's doing it with a smile on his face, though. Yes, he still loves me.

So, E is suffering with hives and I'm suffering with Worst Mom Ever Syndrome. I wonder which will last longer, his hives or my guilt...

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