The Best Accident that Ever Happened

(REMINDER: Today is the last day to enter my Query and Critique Contest! I only need one more entry and I’ll add another ten page critique. Tell your friends! The top ten [or eleven] queries will be posted on my blog tomorrow. And remember, if your query isn’t chosen and you to know why, email me and I’ll critique your query too!)

My younger sister, MeChelle, agreed to nanny for me this summer. (I don’t honestly know what she was thinking, but I’m almost positive that she isn’t going to want children for a long, long, long time.) You see, my husband is gone a lot and when he’s in town he’s rarely actually here. And with Critter No. 3 and my completely psycho puppy — and not being able to drive for a minimum of two weeks after I had the baby — I really, really needed help. (Did I mention that Hubby was actually in Singapore when I came home from the hospital with Critter No. 3?)

Anyway, MeMe is a sanity saver, a replacement for Valium, a dog whisperer, a story reader, a life guard, a child bather, a diaper changer, a meal maker and a chauffeur. I can’t count the number of times over the last eight weeks that I’ve said, “I couldn’t do this without you.”

Words are not enough (nor is the itty bitty salary) to thank her for being a pseudo-mom to my kids. She rocks. Period.

Now for the tie-in to my title: MeMe should never have been born. She’s like the ultimate “oops” baby. My parents were so D.O.N.E. after my brother (he was in the hospital 180 days of his first year alive). They were too stressed out, too tired, and didn’t have health insurance. But along came this little dark-haired, dark-eyed angel and she really completed our family.

My parents couldn’t have known that twenty years later MeMe would make my life totally liveable, and that she and I would have a friendship that stretches beyond sisterhood. The best things happen when you don’t expect them!

I’m not sure what’s going to happen the rest of this summer. I can only hope that the awesomenss continues (especially as my book goes on sub…AHHH!!!).

Can any of you think of a time when a accident turned into something incredible? Or maybe it’s happening now and you just don’t know it!

22 Comments

Kathryn

July 19, 2011 at 11:27 pm Reply

What a sweet story! Definitely a good example of how wonderful surprises are!

Good question. I’ll have to think of that and come back later.

I’d totally submit to your contest, but I’m withdrawing my currently-being-queried novel as I wait to hear back from an agent who currently has it, and then probably do some rewrites and revisions based on some other feedback I’ve gotten. But you gave me some excellent advice on the Writer’s Digest community, and for that, I can’t thank you enough! 🙂

Becky Wallace

July 20, 2011 at 12:46 am Reply

@Kathryn: Good luck querying! I hope it all goes smoothly and that you find someone who will love your ms!

Lindsay N. Currie

July 20, 2011 at 2:52 am Reply

Oh what a lovely story!!! You know what? I was an oops baby! My mom was told she couldn’t have any more children and then…there came me some 14 years later. Crazy, right? Okay, so I’m no miracle. But, I have experienced stuff like that before. For one, I’ve met so many influential people in my life by pure chance that it amazes me. Great post and I’m so happy you have a sister that supports you like that:)

Jess

July 20, 2011 at 3:29 am Reply

What a sweet sister! My kiddo wasn’t really an oops baby, because I was never supposed to be able to have kids. Three weeks before I found out I was pregnant, I was watching Juno with my husband, bawling my eyes out because I’d never be a natural mother. Then, bam! The most miraculous accident of my life.

Becky Wallace

July 20, 2011 at 1:34 pm Reply

@Lindsay: I bet your mom is thrilled to have you and I’m sure you’ve been the maker of many incredible moments in her life. Plus you gave her some awesome grandkids!

@Jess: That is wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing!

Kelly

July 20, 2011 at 1:42 pm Reply

What a wonderful sister you have! And what a wonderful sister you are for writing something like this!
I always tend to be accidentally in the right place at the right time…for other people! I’ve met a record producer in a Marriott in Nashville and scored my friend an awesome internship which led to her dream job. I’ve introduced people who have gotten married, adopted children, met the son of the creator/developer of Prozac (back in the day). I’m hoping to one day accidentally be in the right place at the right time for me!!
And your Critters are beautiful!

Tracey Neithercott

July 25, 2011 at 10:54 pm Reply

This was such a great post. I hope MeMe read it because it was such a sweet tribute to a sister.

My husband was his family’s miracle baby. His parents had tried for five years to get pregnant before the doctors did some tests and found that her ovaries were basically dead. They prayed for a long time after that and then she got pregnant with my husband. Only the doctors said the whole ovary thing wasn’t a mistake. And fifteen years later she died of ovarian cancer.

Um, yeah, sorry to sound like Debbie downer. I just love the story of how they never gave up and had this baby they love.