A Mother's Love, Part 2

The short night of sleep was making it difficult for Josh to open his eyes and start the day. He turned in the bed to see Lori still peacefully sleeping between he and Leanne. He slowly and carefully moved the covers aside, put his feet on the floor, walked carefully over his daughter's sleeping frame, and entered the bathroom to begin his morning routine.

The rest of the house was still quiet when he left for the office about an hour later. He had heard Joey leave about 6:00 to go to work at the warehouse where he drove a forklift. He knew Joey was doing his best to support his young family on the meager wages of a man just getting started with nothing but a high school diploma. Josh had been in his shoes not too many years ago.

Leanne heard Josh leave but didn't want to get out of the comfortable bed just yet. About that time Lori began to stir and Leanne didn't want her to start crying. She knew if Pam heard her baby cry she would feel duty-bound to get up and take care of her, so Leanne cuddled the baby in her arms until she was certain she was asleep once again.

For the rest of the morning the Campbell family talked in quiet tones and did everything possible to not awaken Pam. Leanne knew that if Pam could just get some quality sleep she would see her world with different eyes.

Just before noon Pam appeared from the bedroom looking as if she had actually slept. Leanne sent her children outside to play so she and Pam could talk. Pam was embarrassed at what had happened the night before, but Leanne said, “Pam, every mother goes through days like that. You're not alone,” she counseled, “We all need help every once in awhile.”

Lori was awake but not crying and Pam asked, “Why does she cry at home all the time, but here at your house she acts like an angel?”

“Pam,” Leanne said, “some things just can't be explained, but part of the problem is that Lori sense your tension and anxiety, and she cries. And the more she cries, the more nervous you get, and the cycle just spirals out of control.”

“So what can I do to stop it?”

“This is going to sound too simple, but...just relax. You're trying to do too much. If Lori cries all day and you can't get any housework done, don't worry about it. Joey can help around the house when he comes home.”

“But I don't want Joey to have to do the housework. He works hard all day and it's not fair for him to clean the house after he gets off work.”

“Pam,” Leanne said quietly, “Lori will only be a baby for a short time. She's not going to cry forever. It will only last a few months at the most. Your priority is her. This is just the season of life that you and Joey are in right now.”

Pam sat pondering on those thoughts while Leanne was preparing lunch. Before the kids came bustling through the door asking for lunch Leanne had one more thought to share, “Listen, Pam, there's no manual for parenting. We learn by watching our parents, or other parents we know, and none of them are perfect parents either. The only thing we can do is trust God and love our kids the best way we know how. So just relax and enjoy being Lori's mother. All she really needs is you to love her.”

“Thanks, Leanne,” Pam replied, “I needed to hear that.”

Joey came and picked them up after work and took his little family back to their house. Josh and Leanne sat in bed that night talking about what had transpired over the past 24 hours and praying for Joey and Pam and Lori.

As the months passed by Lori began to sleep more and Joey and Pam began to settle into their new role as parents. Josh and Leanne never told anyone about that night, but were grateful they were able to open their home when others needed help.