How I Got To Be In The MOF Club Part One

The Mother of Five Club was actually never a goal but never not a goal.

Donny & I laughed about numbers, he said four, I said six. We compromised on five. But not by design, by life and living.

Enter child one.

We were married a year. Be a couple for a year before starting a family sounded like good advice and we found that it passed fast and we were still happy with each other and our life.

So let's take the kid plunge we reasoned. Don't worry if it takes months or even a year said the doctor when I quite the pill. And use some protection until your body has time to readjust.

Barely weeks in to commando there was just that one time when protection was too much trouble. And we found out how fertile we were.

I'm just tired and sick. You're pregnant. No over the counter tests in those days. Finally official confirmation. I got sicker. My days went like this. I woke up, threw up, went to work, came home threw up, went to bed.

I was teaching. My usual lively classroom became a tomb. I dared anyone to talk, to move from their seat, to move in their seat, to look at their neighbor. They created some great art because they had nothing else to do.

I got sicker. I lost weight. A lot. I'll put you in the hospital if you cannot keep something down warned the doctor. No hospital for me. I had a job that brought in a needed paycheck. Mashed potatoes and I became tenuous friends. Only three months I was told. Only mornings.

What fantasy were they talking about? Try day and night for six, seven months.

This child will be an only I decided. That will be just fine. Get it here safely and let it be healthy and that's it. I will not do this again. Never.