What was the most challenging time you went to the mikvah?

amother

Maroon

Today at 9:45 am

I think I could write a book!

We traveled with all our kids and my mil to a foreign country for a simcha. I had to go to the mikva the night we landed there. Did I mention that my mil is super nosy, outspoken, and filterless? Yeah, so I put my foot down and told dh in advance that I will not go to mikva under such difficult circumstances while having mil staying with us in our airbnb. We had to find a place for her to stay and she didn't stop grumbling and telling everyone that we didn't want her to stay with us. My kids had just been on a long haul fight, we were in a totally different time zone, that part was hard enough. My mil really put me over the edge, though.

I had 2 family simchas that I absolutely HAD to make it to both. I ended up going to the mikva super late at night and paid extra for a late appt.

After failed treatment cycles and pregnancy losses was always very very emotional to go.

I had surgery and wasn't allowed to go to mikva for a few extra weeks. Ended up being able to go bedikas chometz night but needed the mikva lady to shock the water for me because of germs. She yelled at me that I can't come on such a busy night and ask them to do that. (I spoke to a rav and called mikva a few days ahead and this is what I was told to do!) I did end up dipping that night but I went home in tears.

I could keep going.....

amother

Bergamot

Today at 10:52 am

First of all this thread is so inspiring! The zechusim is so amazing, Hashem definitely sees and rewards each one.
It’s interesting to hear the people that were in the hospital with a child anyway went. My baby was hospitalized as a newborn in the PICU and I was told that since I won’t be sleeping home, to push it off.
It was either me or my husband doing the night shift so one of us weren’t home.
Was my first Mikva pp, and I had to wait an extra week.
Was super hard and stressful, but honestly don’t know how I would’ve managed to go at that time!
Hugs to all brave Moms and women!!

amother

Eggplant

Today at 11:09 am

I was in middle of a disagreement with my husband and had to go to the Mikvah before we worked it out. Really didn't feel emotionally connected enough to go. Pushed myself as a zchus of Mesiras Nefesh as it was post October 7th. I also knew that it would send a clear message of my unconditional love and loyalty to Hashem and my husband and our relationship. I went in to the waters like a hug from Hashem, connecting to Him in such a special deep way! I conceived that night after 5 years!

amother

Lightyellow

Today at 12:53 pm

Small town in Europe where my in laws were living at the time. Motsaei pesach, newly wed. I couldn't take a bath and just leave the house while everyone else was working. I don't remember what time I got there but mikva lady (she lived on top of the mikve so when you rung the bell it was in her house!) screamed at us that it was too late and I could come back the next night!!! It was late but motsaei pesach in Europe is late (Zeman is very late there!)
DK if it was most challenging but it's over 30 yrs later and I still remember!

amother

Tan

Today at 1:52 pm

I have too many..
The first time I went after the wedding was the third night of a 3 day yt.
I went on vacation
Night before sils wedding
Night before aunts wedding
On chol hamoed sukkos when we flew to my in laws. I went from the airport to mikvah.
Isru chag pesach which was Friday
We were driving back from 8 hrs away and that shabbos was a family simcha I went after the meal.
My in laws were in town for a wedding
I had to leave in the middle to at.
I went on aMotzei yom kippur and I was so weak I couldn't comb my hair.

amother

Hyssop

Today at 3:23 pm

You ladies are so inspiring!
I actually posted on imamother abt my dilemma a year ago where I was relatively newlywed 1 year, at my in-laws for first days pesach, in a city I’m not familiar with, first Seder night…
I ended up telling my MIL abt the situation, took a bath erev pesach while everyone was getting ready for Tom tov. I went to Mikva that night and bh now I have a baby from that night after ttc a full year. And I was scared the whole walk there that I wld get lost and the mikva lady rlly creeped me out because she kept telling me to redip that I didn’t do it right. But now I have my baby 😊

Another time was on my honeymoon in a foreign country, and I left my ring there by mistake and had to tell the uber to take me back to where I came from so I ran in to get it while he waited for me and took an uber back to my hotel 😂

amother

Gray

Today at 4:12 pm

Once I tripped in the dark parking lot and fell down hard, getting badly scraped and bruised, and losing the $20 bill I was holding to pay. At least I had my checkbook (yes, this was a LONG time ago!) with me. I didn’t tell the receptionist or ml anything.

Last year, I think it was the night of Purim, there was no hot water to shower in. I’d bathed at home but hadn’t washed my hair properly so I needed a real shower. After slipping out while my teens were up I was not about to go back home to shower! The water was FRIGID!

I’ve had various central lines throughout the years (Hickman, PICC, portacath, etc.). Often I wasn’t allowed to go due to infection risk or chatzitza. I think my longest wait was 4 months. Ml once changed into a robe and went in with me to hold the line that was trying to migrate. I’ve gone after a long medical delay when I was still so weak that my husband called the ml to keep checking on me during prep. Water always needed to be shocked. When I finally had enough of an immune system bH not to require the shocking I was thrilled, but the caring mls were still nervous and insisted on doing it one last time!

I have a very medically fragile child who has been hospitalized for long stretches all over the country. Many times I had to delay mikva while I stayed in the hospital with her. I’m so grateful to the very understanding mikva ladies who have let me come without an appointment and took me right away on the days my child was released. It’s especially challenging when I have to wait for home care nurses who don’t show up on time. It’s always awkward since I have older kids who can’t understand why I’d run out the first night we’re home, once right after a flight home from a prolonged stay. Once I went while my husband stayed with my child in the hospital after a long PICU stay. She’d finally stabilized enough for me to leave but had some dangerous procedures scheduled and I had a lot to daven for. The mls took her name and asked other women to daven also.

I was due to toivel the night after my mother’s levaya. I went the day I got up from shiva and cried like a baby. Then I had to go a second time right before shloshim ended and the ml had to cut my nails for me.

May the zechus of all we ladies do to keep Tamara’s hamishpacha protect us, our families, and all of klal Yisrael!