Monsters in the Spring

Spring is in the air and all I can think about are vampires. 

Why can’t vampires cross the threshold of my home? Is it any house, or just occupied ones? Does the same boundary apply to other lurking monsters of lore? Can werewolves enter? Witches? Are there spirits roaming free through the estate sales and empty Airbnbs, just waiting for an invitation into my home? If not, what are these special powers we have as humans that help ward off such darkness?

If I can venture a guess, the special distinction some humans have to protect our homes from the darkness is Motherhood. Hear me out - 

Moms take on the role of Great Protector. We are defenders of the castle, priests of the cathedral. We took an oath to defend and protect our families, and it’s this mission we do every waking moment of our lives. It may be a little different from a crucifix and garlic, but from treating coughs and colds to setting parental controls on tablets, we exert so much thought, time, intention, and effort toward filtering the bad things out, and preserving the safety and sanctity of home. 

As much as we want to leave the monsters to the Mary Shelleys of the world, they represent something real to each of us, don’t they? The vampire might be (as much as we dont want to admit it) the newborn waking up at 3am; the monster under your bed might be the end of maternity leave coming right around the corner; the shrieking ghosts are, no doubt, some roving, restless supervisor haunting your inbox, your mind, or your personal space. Maybe your monsters are deeper still: anxiety, loneliness, loss, or regret. Mine is postpartum depression. All these things are real, it’s okay to acknowledge them and feel them, and they do creep into your home every now and then. 

Maybe our homes needs to be a safe space even for the occasional unwanted guests, too. Invite them in, offer them a nice cup of tea, hear them out, and then, when it’s time, see them out. Home is your space. Protect it. Don’t let the monsters move in.

So perhaps my mind is on Halloween because my conscious is asking for fewer tricks, more treats. Maybe I’ll stop by Roxy’s on the way home tonight and grab a pint, maybe I’ll watch the neighbors play volleyball in the park, or maybe I’ll take a walk with my kids and our pets. Maybe I’ll repaint my bedroom, start browsing for some new art to put over the fireplace, or pick out some new door handles for the drawers in my bathroom vanity. Maybe I’ll stop to breeeaath. 

It’s springtime in Oklahoma, readers. Let us fill our homes with light, our kitchens with food, our halls with laughter, and our bedrooms with people we love. Then, when the monsters come knocking, the plan is simple: Acknowledge them, give them a treat, and point them down the street. There’s no room for them here.

Featured in the April Edition of Stroll, a magazine published for the people of Mesa Park and Heritage Hills.