We were living in a rental house. I was 22 months pregnant. No joke. Our neighbor had mentioned that an exterminator had been to their home for their mice problem. Hearing that made my hair stand on end - which was actually quite a sight! I remember mentioning the conversation to my Mom and she said - be careful - the mice will be looking for a place to go and head your way. Tuck that thought into my never-resting brain - and it just combined into the perfect storm.
About 2 am my sweet baby boy came toddling into our room. To this day I don't know why. Perhaps a drink of water, maybe he couldn't sleep, or maybe a bad dream. I hope not - because it was only about to get worse. Much much worse!
I was asleep. And so - to wake me up - he reached his sweet pudgy little hand up and tousled my hair. Me in my ever foggy between-sleep-and-reality stupor combined with the recent memory of the mice conversation could only think that the worst had inevitably happened. There was a mouse in my hair!!!!
Now I ask you . . . if you thought there was a mouse in bed with you - in your hair no less - what would YOU do?!?!?!?!?! I didn't know my sweet baby was standing there. I didn't know it was him trying to wake his Mama. So - I shot up in bed with blood curling screams that woke half of the city!!!!!! There was some frantic flailing - you know - just to make sure I got the mouse far away in case it was still on me. Only then did I wake up enough to notice my poor son - wide-eyed and trembling at the response he had elicited from this woman called Mom who was supposed to protect and soothe him - not recoil and scream.
I'm sure we will pay for years of therapy down the road - which will all lead back to that one horrifying memory. It has made a lasting impression on my children - which is why they never come into my room in the middle of the night - at least not without staying a safe far distance away from my side of the bed!
PS - the picture is seriously creeping me out!!!!
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