By Tessa A. Adams of familyfootnote.com
A local family is at a loss for words. A normally reasonable 40-year-old female has had it. Mona Rogers of Sacramento, California, caught everyone in her family by surprise when she took a seat of protest on the entryway stairs, refusing to put on her size 9s so the family could be on time for her son’s fifth grade band concert. She told them she’d stay there until her demands were met.
“I wasn’t sure what was wrong. Did mom need help? When I need help with my shoes at school, my teacher just mutters something like, ‘Maybe get your kid Velcro shoes if he can’t tie his shoes,’” said Kyler, the kindergartner. He said he walked up to his mom, put his arm around her and promised her wine and cheese if she would comply with the simple request. Her black boots weren’t going to put on themselves. “Mommy just stared straight ahead at the blank entryway wall, so I tried to stare with her. There was nothing there, though. It was like she was waiting for something. Maybe she needs Velcro.” He shrugged and walked away.
“It was like, I don’t know, so embarrassing to see her like that. I was really glad none of my friends were there. I was also super worried about her. I mean, she is my mom, but then I got a text message and left the room,” said angst-filled Zoe, who had great cause to be concerned that her friends might see her family in a state of discord, as Mona had just finished hosting a 15-year-old sleepover with six of Zoe’s closest friends.
Mona’s three kids paced back and forth nervously while stealing glances at their mother, as if she were an animal that might be rabid. The concert was set to start in 25 minutes, so the kids knew they had to call for reinforcements. No amount of bribery would move Mona out of her trance-like state.
“Moo-oom, come on! I’m going to be late. The trombone won’t play itself. Please put your shoes on,” Eric begged, hoping that this would work. He was in middle school; he had enough to worry about.
Mona’s trance-like state was the first documented case in a movement that was sweeping the United States. Moms were tired. Moms were fed up. Moms wanted what they deserved. Phoebe in Walla Walla, Washington is credited with starting the chant that soon filled the ears of these mothers’ families and all American neighborhoods. An avalanche of sound emanated from California to Colorado. From Nebraska to Michigan. From Texas to Florida. One chant could be heard ricocheting off of the mountains and valleys and streams: “Spa day or no way! Spa day or no way! Spa day or no way!” When interviewed, sociologists said they had no idea how thousands of women across the country decided that today would be the day.
The buzz began as a rumble, but as soon as Mona could hear her fellow mothers’ voices, she began to react. She showed movement for the first time since starting her homage on the driveway, and she too began, “Spa day or no way! Spa day or no way!” And walked, with a purpose, to her vehicle.
Mark from Rhode Island said, “I’ve never seen so many minivans exiting cul-de-sacs in my life. My wife had always been saying things here or there about how nice a day off would be. Or she would say, ‘I would love just one single spa day,’ but it wasn’t until there were thousands of chants that it actually hit me. I’m not a mind reader, you know?”
Mark is sure to know now as spouses and children across the land were forced to just “figure things out” while moms everywhere had a much-needed day of pampering. And–yes, my friends–for this, Mona put on her boots.
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