There are many mommy moments when your patience is tried, your strength tested, your heart strings pulled and you are forced to make a from your gut decision.
The scariest thing happened to me today and I am so glad that I went with my gut.
I took Lucas to San Diego to visit a friend, who just had a baby and on the car ride home, he fell fast asleep. 30 minutes into our hour long drive, he woke up and started coughing and I can only assume got scared and then started crying.
From the front seat, I reminded him that we were in the car and on our way home and asked him if he was okay. Typically he would say "yes" and then work on clearing his throat. Today, his coughing turned into choking and as I looked at him in the rear view mirror, I could tell that he was really having trouble breathing. I turned around to get a better look and he was banging his hands on his car seat and gasping for air.
I started to panic.
Here I was, going 80+ mph in the car pool lane, five lanes from the next exit, which was less than a mile away.
What's a mother to do?
I had no choice.
My son was choking!
I went for it!
I put the hazards on, crossed the double yellow lines risking life and limb, not to mention a hefty fine, crossed five lanes of traffic like I was Mario Andretti on his best day all in an effort to help my son.
Just as I whipped into a gas station parking lot, Lucas threw up all over himself, thus clearing his air passageway. He could breathe!! I rushed around to get him and he threw up again.
After I cleaned Lucas and his car seat, changed his shirt and held him for a while, we sat there in the parking lot sharing a turkey sandwich. He was fine. It was a trying few moments for both of us and while I know I didn't do anything that heroic, but he sure looked at me like I did.
I'm proud of myself for going with my instinct even if I did break all kinds of laws in the process.
Have you ever had to do anything potentially more dangerous than the current situation you were in, in order to help your child?
