About: LynneMarie Mack
Author's Posts
Baby Boy
January 16, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Music to my ears
December 14, 2006 | Leave a Comment
The Courtship of Eddie’s Mother
October 6, 2006 | Leave a Comment
The Courtship of Eddie’s Mother
When it comes to my son Eddie one song that stays on my mind is the opening song for the television series The Courtship of Eddie’s father, do you remember it, “People let me tell you ‘bout my best friend.” Well that song was an absolute inspiration for me when naming my son. But ultimately I named my son after my father, Edward Mack. But it is that song that rings in my head when I think of my son.
My son came back from his vacation potty trained as my brother and his wife said he would. I love them for that, and could never repay them for the time that they took out for Eddie. Eddie enjoyed a wonderful summer of playing at the beach, cookouts, Summer Bible School, Six Flags, and going to the movies. It wasn’t until we went to one of the Kiddy amusement parks that turned my summer into a nightmare.
There we are having fun riding on the rollercoaster and then taking pictures with some of the characters when a tornado of children all ran up at the same time to hug the character. I placed the camera up to face to take Eddie’s picture and when I took the camera away he was gone. The character walked away and all the children disappeared as fast as they had appeared. I became stiff with fear.
“Eddie” I called. Afraid to move I began to turn around, and around calling Eddie. Other concerned mothers began asking me; what does he have on, what does he look like? One mother suggested that I go to the lost and found. That was not option. I was not going to leave the spot that I last saw my son. Now I knew how Jodie Foster’s character felt in the movie Flight Plan, when she thought she lost her daughter in the airport.
I began calling for Eddie for what seemed like a year. I screamed out for him, each time louder and more authoritive than before, hoping that he would answer me. Or that whoever may have grabbed him would let him go and bring my son back to me. I was beginning to think of all kinds of scenarios. I thought how could I go home without my son. I thought about the many other parents who have lost their children to kidnappers and never saw there children again. I thought about every parent who has lost a child and have to live the rest of their lives without their precious child. I thought about my life without Eddie and I began to get angry and called one more time to him as if I could move mountains with my voice. Finally from a distance I saw a woman emerge from the crowd holding the hand of a little boy. I could tell from where I was that it was Eddie. I called to him one more time, this time more relieved than sounding like a desperate mother. She turned him over to me, and I don’t even think I said thank you in my relief that my son was back in my arms.
Every time now when I hold my son, I hold him knowing that I am blessed to have a son and blessed each day that he is in my life. Any moment could be our last time together and I want to make sure that I don’t waste any time not loving my son.
Do I still get angry with him, when he is disobedient; yes. But still I love him and cherish his very existence. And then there is that song that rings in my head every time I think of Eddie, “People let me tell you ‘bout my best friend”.
Heaven
June 15, 2006 | Leave a Comment
You may have been wondering where I’ve been. I’ve been in heaven and Eddie; well he’s been out of town. That’s right he is visiting relatives in the southern part of the United States. Eddie turned three in April and to my dismay, he is not potty trained. Mother says, “don’t worry he will go when he is ready.” And I guess she should know because she did raise five children. But I don’t have time for that. Eddie needs to use the toilet like the “big boy” that I keep telling him he is. My brother and his wife; have graciously offered to care for him for the summer and have vowed that he will be potty trained by the time he comes home. I am elated not only do I get a summer vacation, but I also will be getting back a kid who uses the toilet.
It is not easy being away from Eddie for this long. Every day I think about getting into my car and driving to go pick him up, but then I hear the sounds of peace and tranquility calling out to me and I regain my sanity. Eddie is having fun; every night when I call he tells me about his day, he sounds happy and is even speaking much clearer over the telephone. That is until he really tries to describe something to me, and then it sounds a little like this, “I was, going, and then I saw over to the can man.” I just respond, “That’s wonderful.” And he seems to accept that.
Recently while at church I found out that Eddie is a musician. He saw a lady playing the piano and he went up and stood beside her and let his little fingers roll over the keys. He looked like a natural on that piano. The drums caught his attention so he gave us a solo. Eddie is interested in music so I am going to get him music lessons. I will probably start out with the piano, since he likes that. Eddie is also a marvelous singer. We sing together, and then I let him go for it, and he sings his little heart out with an original song. The ladies at church always ask about Eddie, they want to know where he is, I respond,
He is spending time with family out of time. They say, “ooohhh, you got rid of him.” I smile and say no, “Eddie is on vacation.”
Now that Eddie is on vacation I have so much more time in the morning. I can actually drink a cup of coffee before I go to work. I can even take a bath after work, instead of just a two minute shower in the morning. Slowly I am reminded of how my life used to be before Eddie you know having, free time, or “me time.” Now I relax as I drive home, instead of the mad dash to pick Eddie up before 6:00pm when the daycare closes and charges me ten bucks for every fifteen minutes I’m late. Yes, it feels good. But Eddie has changed my life, because now I have purpose. I have everlasting love and a friendship that is so different than any other I can not even describe. Being a mommy is something you have to experience, it is the greatest joy on Earth. But I wouldn’t know anything about that right now, because I am in heaven.
The Monster Ball
April 11, 2006 | Leave a Comment
Yes, I know last month I opened up my new column telling you about my wonderful angel, Eddie. Well, it has come to my attention that he is in fact just the total opposite. My son had a stomach virus, and along with that he had diarrhea. After coughing in my face a few times he lovingly passed it on to me. So we we’re both sick. I’m a single mom so all I want to know is who is supposed to take of me, while I’m taking care of him?
Day and Night
March 15, 2006 | Leave a Comment
Mornings with Eddie are quite hectic. We get up every morning around 6:00 a.m. he watches Sesame Street while I take a shower. While waiting he drinks his beverage of the day, a cold cup of milk. Once I am dressed for work, I announce “Eddie it’s time to get ready for school.” remembering not to call it daycare because saying school makes him feel like a big boy. It’s almost like I said ready set go instead of lets get dressed because Eddie runs in the other direction and begins weaving around me so that I have to grab him before slipping through my fingers. Finally after about three misses I scoop him up. He says laughing, “You got me, and you got me.” I wrestle him down and put his pants on, while playing this game of catch me it you can, I can get the shirt over his head but he makes a mad dash to hop on his bike and ride around the house. There have been many times when I wasn’t quite as fast putting on his pants and Eddie has rode the bike a’ demi nu (half naked). I feel like I’m watching the Olympics as he moves from one sport to another.
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