Ready?

By Michele Wilcox from Sparks and Butterflies


Change is difficult. Almost everyone knows that, but it doesn’t make it any easier when it happens.

I’ve been through a lot of changes of the past couple of years… I won’t bore you with my sob story, but I’ve certainly become very familiar with the word and its consequences. And yet – I know one of my biggest experiences with the dreaded word is coming soon.

My mother is dying. Slowly. Painfully. She’s not my biological mother – no. She died last year. This is the mother that raised me. So far this year we’ve had three close calls. Too close. Those dreaded words, “won’t last the night,” have indeed been spoken. She’s come back each time so far. But one day, and one day soon I fear, those prophetic words will be proven true.

I’ve tried to prepare myself. Doesn’t everyone when change blows on the wind? But I cannot fathom or be fully prepared for the loss of my mother. I’ve tried to prepare my children. But really? I don’t think I can. They’re small and know she’s been sick. I don’t want to ruin what little time they have with their grandmother.

My question to you, dear reader, is this: Does knowing change is coming make it any easier? My guess at the answer is no. But I’m about to find out for sure.


Michele is a working married mom of two special needs kids in Southern California. She writes at Sparks and Butterflies about her trials and tribulations – and sanity. “But aside from that – she’s still completely normal.”