mom, can i have some of your water?

It never fails.

I pour myself a glass of ice water.
The perfect ratio of ice to water.
Let it sit just long enough to reach that delicious, almost aggressive cold.

I finally take a sip.

And right on cue:

“Mom, can I have some of your water?”

They have water.
ACTUALLY…They have 7,345 water bottles scattered around the house.
Hydroflasks. Stanleys. Odwallas. Cups from last Tuesday that are… concerning.

But no.

They need my water.

And if I don’t have it within reach?

“Mom, can you get me water?”
“With three ice cubes.”

Three. Not two. Not four. Three.
As if I run a boutique hydration bar.

What Is It About My Cup?

Is it magic mom juice?

Or is it something deeper?

They started life taking nutrients from me. Literally.
Before they had lungs or language, they survived because my body fed them.

Then breastfeeding.
Then spoon-feeding.
Then cutting grapes into microscopic pieces so no one chokes on my watch.

And now… my ice water.

Is it psychological?
Is it evolutionary?
Is it attachment?

Or is it simply that I am the most reliable source in the room?

Maybe it’s all of it.

Whatever Is In My Cup Is What They Want

And not just water.

My attention.
My reassurance.
My steadiness.
My nervous system.

They drink from my cup constantly.

And here’s the part we don’t talk about enough:

Sometimes they drain it.

Not maliciously.
Not intentionally.

But consistently.

Multiple times a day. Multiple times a week.

Because that’s what kids do.
They reach for the source that feels safest.

Even the best husbands can’t fully intercept that.
They can help. They do help. But there is something specific about “Mom.”

So Who Refills It?

If everyone is drinking from our cup…

Who fills it back up?

Not automatically.
Not consistently.
Not without intention.

We do.

Mothers do.

And that doesn’t mean spa days and bubble baths (though I’m not opposed).

It means noticing when the glass is empty.
It means not waiting until resentment creeps in.
It means building support before depletion turns into snapping at someone who just asked for… water.

Because the requests won’t stop.

“Mom, can I have some of your water?”

Yes.

But maybe let me take a sip first.

Sending you lots of love.

xoxo,
Jess