I'm not the 'fun mom' because I have MS; my husband steps in

I always imagined myself as the fun mom who plans class parties, explores interactive exhibits with the kids, and survives the Tilt-A-Whirl at carnivals. Instead, with sons who are now 14 and 11, I've never joined either on a class trip, and the mother I pictured never had a chance to exist.

Multiple sclerosis seized my nervous system when I was 21 and changed the course of my life. As my older son began walking I realized my expectations were no longer realistic. I can attend museums and parks only if my husband is there to take over when I need to rest; between relentless weakness, fatigue, and pain I stopped working full time when our first child was born, and I asked my husband to be present on field trips so at least one of us would be with them.

He has gone on every trip since, taking the pictures and making the memories I watch in FaceTime calls. It took 13 years to get a diagnosis, and during that time my body weakened until walking was no longer possible.

multiple sclerosis, ms diagnosis, caregiving husband, chronic fatigue, mobility loss, motherhood, field trips, class trips, facetime, pain