When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.

Henri Nouwen

Thursday, February 26, 2009

End Of My Rope

I've been taking care of sick kids for the past 6 weeks and I've reached the end of my rope. Yesterday, amid birthday family stuff for Ryan, I was taking Noah to the doctor and my husband for x-rays while battling an ear infection of my own. This is seemingly ongoing and has been for quite some time. This morning Ryan woke up and threw up all over the living room, couch and bathroom. I'm so frustrated I could scream. To top it off, when I bring it to my husband, he just tells me he's dealing with his own stuff right now (hence the x-rays). I try to tell him that I know he's dealing with his own stuff but while he's dealing, I'm still doing. The kids still need clothes, the dishes still need to get done and dinner somehow still ends up in front of everybody. I'm standing on one leg and it's getting wobbly.

How can I be sensitive to him while tactfully asking him to get off his duff and help me out a little here?

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Is This Thing On?

Actually, it doesn't really matter if it's on or not. I just need to vent a crisis moment, and it's the kind that, if I vent it to my husband, there will be panic in the streets.

Ladies, I hate my job.

I feel like I can't take one more day of cooking or dishes or laundry or making menus or arranging schedules or grocery shopping or encouraging children to do anything other than sit like lumps in front of the TV.

No joke. I'm actually sitting here in my filthy kitchen thinking "I can't take this anymore. I hate all of it."

Have any of you ever been there, and how did you survive it? Because I think that's all I can do - wait for the moment to pass. Getting a day job will only add "Day Job" to the above list. Bleah.

It's cool if you haven't been there. Like I said, just needed to vent.

Thanks for the forum, Ami!