Except none of them exists. It's all US. The moms (sometimes the dads!) that drive places to wait outside unseen, the grocery shoppers who somehow get everyone's favorites on a budget and get it all put away before anyone notices. We wash the clothes while everyone sleeps and drink our coffee to keep going. We are the forgotten. The unnoticed. Still important.
We are responible for all the birthday parties and presents, so who plans ours? Just don't forget to write it on the calander and send out reminders, or it may go unseen. We are responsible for cooking everyone's favorite meals, with noone even knowing our favorite never mind letting us cook it and eat it (especially not warm!) "Mommy I need..." everytime we enter the bathroom. "Can I have a drink" everytime we enter the kitchen. "Can I try yours" when we try to eat.
I don't get to sit down when I'm tired if they need something. I don't get to eat my own supper often. No one knows my favorite meal or TV show or asks what I want to do today. They don't wonder if I had enough sleep or if I had a nice visit with my friend. They want to know when they get a visit with their friend, since I dared to go for coffee with friend's mom. I got her favorite cake for my birthday. I got her grandmas favorite supper for my birthday. I got to sleep in once, she was finally getting better and after 3 nights of keeping me up and scaring me with just how sick, she slept late. That made me late for the rest of the family, which I certainly heard about.
It's not that they don't care. I know my family loves me and I know they do what they think will make me happy, they just don't know what that actually is. They don't mean to forget that I have needs and wants, they are just used to me taking care of theirs. I don't blame them, but I do sometimes feel overlooked or taken for granted. Sometimes I want a whole shower with hot water and no one pounding on the door, I want to finish my coffee while it's still warm enough to be coffee, and I want to eat what I like.
I still wouldn't trade a lifetime of getting what I want with the love and cuddels and "you're the best mommy ever"s that I get.