Something Changed

First chance I have had for a few days, to get my little paws on the mac.  To say Mum has been "of low mood" would be playing things down.  I have been putting all my energy into keeping her going by reminding her that

1. We love her, even when she loathes herself
2. We need her, even though she is convinced she has nothing to offer
3. This will pass, she always says this to us when things are bleak
4. She is the only person on the planet that sleeps the same amount of hours as Piggy so her continued presence = Piggy's continued well being

I heard Mum talking to Granddad yesterday (note ii) and she was talking a great deal about her best friend, Birdie .  Mum and Birdie have been best friends for at least 15 years, and Birdie's family includes us, the Harris family, as part of their family. Every year we all go on a huge family picnic and we have the best time (Moon gets a bit overwhelmed with all the different people, and when I start entertaining, Mum ticks me off for being a "show-off").
When Mum and Birdie used to work together, they used to talk all the time about how one day, they would both be married and have children and a dog and would walk down the seafront together with the little one in the buggies and the dogs on the leads alongside.   A few years down the road, and I guess things don't always pan out how we imagine. Birdie and her husband have 2 little children and a big black labrador.  But for one reason or another, Mum and Dad just have me and Moonpig ( cats don't count enough). Mum and Birdie always talked up how things would never change in spite of this, and its no one's fault, but things have.  Birdie has a hectic life with the 2 little ones, and Mum feels invalid as she has no insight in to this lifestyle.  The other day we met up with Birdie and the kids in the park, Birdie introduced Mum to a couple of her other friends that also had children and it was quite difficult for Mum . A bit like a club that you can never be a member of.  I looked at Mum trying way too hard to join in the chat, and she reminded me of someone pressing their nose against a shop window, but with no money.
I think this makes Mum feel lonely, and is compounding her depression somedays. And this is one area that me and Piggy are limited in the help we can offer.  I will do almost anything for Mum, but I draw the line at wearing a romper suit. And I wouldn't even discuss this with Piggy because I know damn well that he would jump at the chance to get his little brown body in a papoose so he was carried by Mum all day long.

Of course one day, Birdie's kids will be all grown up, and her and Mum will pick up where they left off. But not for a fair few years, and in the meantime I wish that having 2 sausage dogs could be enough to get Mum into the "Mum's club".  And I intend to keep showing her that our family is just as valid, but a little more unconventional.   That's what keeps me upbeat when Mum insists on putting our sweaters on when we have the first frost..... But I draw the line at a romper suit. And I also know in my heart of hearts that Mum was right on this one... Something Changed.

Note ii
Granddad is the main man. He visits us every week and always brings us some treats, either from Waitrose or M & S.  He calls me "alpha-male" and I agree.  He says Piggy needs to go to a boot camp to be toughened up and I agree.
He also talks serious finance with Lord V, this is plainly a waste of time as I have never seen Lord Velvet open his wallet.  It's also quite boring, but as long as Granddad keeps bringing the luxury beef jerky strips,  he can talk about what he likes.