Motherhood is No April Fools Joke

The past 5 April Firsts I've played the same joke on my older sister.

"So uh Nikki, are you somewhere private? I need to talk to you."
"Ohmygod are you okay?"
"Yeah, I mean I just....I think I'm pregnant."
(Silence)
"APRIL FOOLS!"
"Trish you're a brat."

Even the first year when she knew it wasn't possible, every single time I get her. She'd laugh eventually, after calling me a few choice names that I remember fondly from our high school days when we shared a room.

This year I really gave her a jump, because, "Well Tricia now it's like actually possible, it's like real now that you're married!"

Oh sorry then, I guess I wasn't aware that women were infertile before they got married. In that case someone needs to explain "16 and Pregnant" to me. If that's all a hoax then I'm a little upset. There goes fifty horrible yet wonderful hours that I felt better about myself, that MTV can never give me back.

Since it went so well I decided to try it this year on a few other family members. When I called my younger sister Shannon she fell for it, but laughed right after I told her. She then continued to act like it was true so she could hang up the phone and pull the prank on her boyfriend in the car next to her. It's nice having two middle children in the family. :)
I decided not to play it on my youngest sister. That would send that little three sport athlete, every possible extra curricular, must get honor roll child off the edge. I'll wait until she graduates highschool.

So after the sisters, we thought You know what? Why don't we try the moms?

We called my mom first.
"Mom, I'm late. I think I might be."
"...Are you sure? Did you take a test?"
"Well you know, we got married like a month ago...and today's April 1st..."
"....Tricia, if this is an April first joke.."
"April Fools!"
"Don't you ever do that again! You just made me so nervous! Do I hear Dave laughing in the background? I expect you to play a joke like this but he married you and he's supposed to stop you from doing things like that!"

Next time she saw him she punched him in the arm and told him to keep me under control.

She laughed afterward, after she went on about how I'm never allowed to play that joke on her ever again or she'd kill me.

But there was something about her voice when she believed me. I didn't hear the nervousness. It was serious yet, very put together. Like, she didn't expect it to happen but was ready with whatever answer I gave her.
Something in me told me that if that April Fool's baby had been no joke, despite it being about 5 years earlier than Dave and I are planning on, my mom would have helped us find a new one. If I had started freaking out about how I wasn't ready, she would've have agreed but told us that we would all figure out something and to stay calm because things would be fine. As soon as she told my dad.

I guess that when you're the mother of four girls, you expect the unexpected. When you're the mother of girls you learn to keep calm and collected when your daughters, sometimes all four, are in crisis mode. When you're the mother of four girls you learn to make plans and decisions when they're needed. When you're the mother of four girls you love them no matter what. When you're the mother of four girls know how to make them feel safe. When you're the mother of four girls you support them in whatever decision they make, it's the college they go to, where they want to live, the man they want to marry or the color they want to paint their nails that day. When you're the mother of four girls you know when and how to take care of them, because you know best. After all, you're the one that stayed at home with them during their most important developmental years making sure they were taken care of by the woman who loved them most.

When you're the mother of four girls, you know how to treat each of them equally, yet different. When you're the mother of four girls you know how to make each one feel special. When you're the mother of four girls you always call back; whether it's about planning the wedding, the name of that yogurt I like, or one of those awkward personal conversations that only the mother of four girls needs to know about. When you're the mother of four girls, you give and give and never want anything given. When you're the mother of four girls you care, you hug when it's absolutely needed, are always ready for a visit, share personal stories in hopes that it will help one of your four daughters in their journey through life and the choices they need to make. And when you're the mother of four daughters you love enough for those four daughters and more.


Now I don't want to forget my husband's mom, who is the mother of three boys. Her reaction was similar to my mother's. Surprised, and wanted to punch me in the arm afterward, but when she thought it was real her voice was calm and with strength, knowing that things would be fine.

She followed it up with the statement of, "This better not mean that you got another dog though instead. Because you're not ready for another one of those either."

No. But expect another fur baby before a real one comes around...:)

So, Happy Mothers Day to you Nan. And Happy Mothers day to Vick. I'm sure you'll both be the best grandmothers around...but not anytime soon. It's nice to know when I have my turn to be celebrated on Mother's Day that I have two wonderful women to look up to and stay calm for me. Because we know that's not my forte.

Also, Happy Mothers Day to my grandmothers. Both had 10 children and therefore both have too many grandchildren to count. Both of them are the most caring women I have met each in their own way. How they remember everyone's name and birthdays is beyond my grasp. I don't even remember what I ate for breakfast and it's barely noon. Also Happy Mother's day to my new grandmother-in-law who made me feel like I was a part of the family way before I was.

And happy mothers day to all of the mothers out there. I don't know how you all do it, I can barely get myself breakfast in the morning, never-mind breakfast for someoneelse that you're trying to get dressed and make sure did their homework all at the same time.
You all deserve to be celebrated for everything you do and all that you give of yourselves each and everyday.

And that my friends is no joke. :)