One woman's confirmation to all mothers: 'I know the weight of the things you keep'
Cameron Poynter is a woman, writer, mother and supporter.
But most of all she is a keeper.
A keeper of all sorts; secrets, events and schedules, but how important is her job as a keeper?
Taking to Lucky Orange Pants, the mum explains: "I am the keeper."
"I am the keeper of schedules. Of practices, games, and lessons. Of projects, parties, and dinners. Of appointments and homework assignments."
"I am the keeper of information. Who needs food five minutes before a meltdown occurs and who needs space when he gets angry. Whether there are clean clothes, whether bills are paid, and whether we are out of milk."
"I am the keeper of solutions. Of bandaids and sewing kits and snacks in my purse. But also of emotional balms and metaphorical security blankets."
Cameron, is also the 'keeper' of preferences which her children hold, a constant reminder of all the things which need to be completed in a day, a 'keeper' of rituals, of memories, of photographs, and notes.
"I am the keeper of emotional security. The repository of comfort, the navigator of bad moods, the holder of secrets and the soother of fears."
"I am the keeper of the peace. The mediator of fights, the arbiter of disputes, the facilitator of language, the handler of differing personalities."
The mum-of-two is the keeper of worries and fears, the good and the bad, the big and the small, the beautiful and the hard – she is every mother.
Her job as a keeper is of high importance, vital for the survival of family life, but it's not always as simple as what lies before you in black and white.
Like all jobs, it can be taxing and frustrating: "Most of the time, the weight of these things I keep resembles the upper elements on the periodic table – lighter than air, buoying me with a sense of purpose."
"But sometimes the weight of the things I keep pulls me down below the surface until I am kicking and struggling to break the surface and gasp for breath," added Cameron.
Because, the things Mum keeps, are a constant. They don't go away, they flicker at the back of her brain, 'waiting to be forgotten, scattering her thoughts and keeping her awake.
"All these things I keep are invisible, intangible. They go unnoticed and unacknowledged until they are missed. They are not graded or peer reviewed or ruled on by a court. And sometimes they are taken for granted."
While she acknowledges the amazing family she has with her husband and her sons, knowing they love and adore her, revealing being a keeper is the greatest job she has ever had, Cameron also alludes to the fact being the keeper is exhausting.
"You feel like you're doing it alone."
But Cameron wants all mums to know that she sees you, she knows how important the job of a keeper is: "I know the weight of the things you keep."
"I know the invisible work you do, which doesn't come with a pay check or sick leave, it's what makes the world go round. I see you. And I salute you."
Cameron's post is a gentle reminder that when you feel alone, you can stop and take comfort knowing you are part of a tribe – amazing keepers.
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