Probably the Worst Mom Ever

I had not seen my former neighbor Mindy for a long time. Out of politeness I asked about her son, who never had a chance. She had him on anxiety meds at the age of three, Always taking him from doctor to doctor, to prove something was wrong. She complained constantly about how much work he was for her. How much screaming he did, his diagnoses, and his medications. I have not seen him for three years since I kicked him out, she told me. He was getting scary. He is on fentanyl now. On fentanyl at age twenty-two. Sadly this drug is twenty to forty times more addictive than heroine. Becoming his mother was her decision, but I never felt she took care of him. She was always “thinking of herself” – how much his behaviors inconvenienced her. How much work he was. She is now talking about his labor, and how horrible it had been. Mothers of six children rarely talk about labor; but Mindy is dwelling on that now. I am thankful she only had the one child.