Dutiful daughters

My oldest daughter, Erin

My middle daughter, Laura

I don't know when they started looking after me...my girls, but they did. I never paid much attention to when it first began, but I know it was sometime after my cancer diagnosis. It began very subtly. My middle daughter began to jot down my medical appointments and make arrangements to take me to them whenever she could. It didn't matter to her that I was still able to drive. She told me she wanted to take me. She wanted to be there and support me. I was thankful. What a gift! She was right there with me through every test. She was so reassuring and calm. She imparted her strength through her love and concern. She's so dependable, so reliable...so dutiful.

Then the phone calls started. Daily, my oldest daughter and my youngest daughter would call and check in on me. Oh, they didn't let me know that was what they were doing...they hid it so well, but I knew. They were concerned and wanted to make sure I was okay. The first calls came in right after my surgery and then as I was healing. Sometimes the calls were brief and sometimes they were long. I could always hear the concern in their voices but they tried to keep the conversations light and upbeat. Sometimes they were direct with their questions about my health and sometimes they beat around the bush, hoping I wouldn't catch on...but I did.

The youngest one calls me on her way to work every day, usually between 7:30 and 8:30 in the morning. It's like clockwork. I can predict within five or ten minutes when my phone will ring. We talk the entire way while she's driving and she tells me about her date the night before or her plans for the day. I never tire of hearing her talk about her boyfriend. She's so cute and sooo in love.

Mid morning, my oldest daughter calls. We usually talk while both of us do a little housework. It's nice to catch up and hear the kids playing in the background. She's a busy mother of 4 but she makes time for me! We can talk about anything from the color of paint to latest accomplishment of one of the children. It doesn't really matter. We're kindred spirits. She knows me so well.

My youngest daughter, Jamie

Just about the time we hang up, my youngest daughter is calling in again. She's on her lunch break and we talk the entire time she's at lunch. It's nice to have someone to talk to during the day and I certainly would never complain, but I think my girls have decided to tag team to make sure I'm okay. I tell them over and over it really isn’t necessary for them to feel like they have to call me every day, but they say, "we want to!" I smile knowing what it feels like to be so loved.

The day passes quickly and before I know it, my husband is coming in from work. As I begin to prepare dinner, my youngest calls again...this time on her way home, fighting traffic again. We usually talk while she drives because I know it helps her commute seem a little shorter... but she has no idea what it does for me.

Throughout the rest of the evening, I'll receive texts from one of them. I love how they share their lives with me. Sometimes the texts are questions, "how do you cook....?" or "guess what happened..." I never know what I'm going to read when those messages come through but I love each and every one of them. I would say, on an average, I receive 6 phone calls a day from them and over 30 texts! That's a whole lot of care and concern if you ask me!

I'm so thankful their calls and messages provide better therapy than money could ever buy...their love is so evident. I am blessed beyond measure and so very grateful to have daughters who care. When did I become the child and they become the adult? I don't say that in an unkind way, it's just odd to be the one being cared for now instead of doing the care giving. Life is strange but I wouldn't change a thing.


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