A real mother does not allow her physical and mental health to deteriorate to the point of collapse while her partner golfs, or fishes, or drinks beer on a boat.

A real mother protects herself, because she understands that she is no good to her children wrecked.

A real mother solves the problem.

So I took your advice.

I spent the last four days acting like a mother.

And you are about to find out exactly what that looks like.”

Chapter 10 — What Acting Like a Mother Meant

“First,” I said, “I hired two night nurses, certified professionals, to handle the two o’clock and the five o’clock feedings.