The Plain White Coffee Mug
I will be 36 years old in one month and I’ve never been the plain white coffee mug.
I’ve been the funny coffee mug. I have made it my job to make everyone laugh around me.
I’ve been the accomplished mug. From grade school through obtaining my master’s degree.
I’ve been the pregnant mug. Sickness all 41 weeks – Can’t see my feet Hangry – I will NEVER do this again.
I’ve been the ew mom mug. I became a mommy for the first time in 2013. I was so excited. I am going to make so many mommy friends! We can talk all about diapers and funny noises and complain with wine about sleepless nights and someday we will miss this…..
But again, I wasn’t the same new mom mug.
I had a color to my mug that none of the other moms had.
My baby wasn’t meeting milestones.
My baby wasn’t just experiencing “stranger danger” He was physically shaking if a stranger walked into his home. He was screaming in excruciating pain if an Early Intervention therapist made him stack wooden blocks for 5 seconds.
I can remember so clearly watching a video on Finding Cooper’s Voice of Kate sitting in her car talking about “the last time.” I locked myself in our bathroom in tears.
SHE gets it. SHE understood all the thoughts running through my mind; fears I couldn’t even articulate at that point.
I joined the Coop’s Troop Supporter Page and found other mamas LIKE ME. How could this be? How could this sweet little baby that doctors and therapists tell me has so much “wrong” with him be so loved and adored by complete strangers?
I remember the first zoom meeting I listened to on Coop’s Troops. It was led by a mom named Sheryl. She was so friendly and genuinely nice as her little boy showed up on camera COVERED head to toe in white (I think it was paint).
I remember her saying so clearly – “well this is how my day is going” with a chuckle. What would be viewed as a mess in anyone else’s eyes didn’t make any of us blink an eye. Every mom nodded their head in solidarity as Sheryl took a minute to clean him up.
I went later that day and purchased the plainest mug I could find and mailed it straight to Sheryl.
I wrote her the longest thank you note ever. Thanking her for making my life feel somewhat normal. Thanking her for finally – in a room full of moms – making me feel like the plain mug.
Written by, Stephanie Uguccioni
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Finding Cooper’s Voice is a safe, humorous, caring and honest place where you can celebrate the unique challenges of parenting a special needs child. Because you’re never alone in the struggles you face. And once you find your people, your allies, your village….all the challenges and struggles will seem just a little bit easier. Welcome to our journey. You can also follow us on Facebook, subscribe for exclusive videos, and subscribe to our newsletter.
