My parents, Marcus' Godmother, my nieces, and my favourite brother (also, Marcus' Godfather) are my go-to people when I need help. They are there for us every time. I trust them completely with my children. I know they love them and us completely.
I feel so guilty asking for their help each time Franklin has a hospital stay. The last one was in October last year. So, it is fairly often. Often enough at least. Watching my kids for hours, day after day, or giving me drives, or picking Franklin up and driving him all the way home, visiting him in the hospital, including our family in their prayer groups, grocery shopping, feeding us, listening, and loving. The list is so much longer, but it hurts to say it all. Hurts, because I feel so ....guilty? I have to impose on them time and time again. And during the 10+years it's added up to a life time of payback I could never repay. I hate asking for help, but when Franklin's not feeling well I have to....again and again. I hate being a hindrance to their daily lives. I hate being an encumbrance each time I call for help.
I know they love us. They want to be there for us. They will help us if they can. No strings attached. They have NEVER said or done anything to make me question their unconditional help. But, I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop they sigh when I call again for help. I can only do as much as I can on my own so I don't harass them more than necessary. Because our reality is that necessary will come again.
[polldaddy poll=4670029]
All of these emotions are stemming from the following saga, starting with Balance between Husband and Children.
Showing posts with label family-support. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family-support. Show all posts
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Balance Act III
The plan was to stay home. Do 5 loads of laundry, wash dishes, bake cookies with The Boy, take a nap, and watch movies. It started out o.k. Both kiddies slept in 1-hr longer than usual. They're tired too from all this. I call to check how The Husband is doing. Did he get dialysis? The nurse's response was "weren't you here yesterday?". What?!? That set me off! I still try to stay calm and explain that I was told in the morning he would be going in the afternoon, but he still hadn't received any when I left late afternoon. A curt "yes, he got it" was her response. Also, Franklin pulled out one of the tubes. WTF?? Why?! This b!t3h wasn't explaining anything.
I didn't want to bother W again considering everything she and my nieces have done for me. Niecey had plans today. But, fearing the worst I had to get down there. I would bring the baby in with me if I had to. I call W to ask her to drive down with me again. As much as I hate to burden her again and the guilt I feel, I put that all aside because I need to find out what's happening to my Darling! I woke her up (add another lbs of guilt) and explain the situation. I start crying. I am afraid of not knowing and thinking the worst.
She is a pillar of strength. She calms me down. Helps me line up what I need to get done so I can get going. Feed baby. Pump milk. Dress children. Arrange Marcus care. Did I eat? I wouldn't have even thought of that to even be put on the list! I am determined to get going.
I pack up the car and drive over to get W. I am ready to tear someone up! If anything has happened to my Darling the poor person who has to explain it to me will feel my wrath. Don't get it twisted. I may live in the suburbs now, but I done grow up downtown. I am angry and someone will pay.
To my surprise Niecey has canceled her plans and coming with us (add more lbs of guilt and burden). I push all my emotions of guilt, burden, fear, and anger aside. None of those emotions are helping matters. I feel empty.
As we drive down Franklin calls. His mom is there. He is o.k. He didn't even know he pulled out the tube. It's been put back. The journey to recovery continues.
I feel emotionally drained.
I didn't want to bother W again considering everything she and my nieces have done for me. Niecey had plans today. But, fearing the worst I had to get down there. I would bring the baby in with me if I had to. I call W to ask her to drive down with me again. As much as I hate to burden her again and the guilt I feel, I put that all aside because I need to find out what's happening to my Darling! I woke her up (add another lbs of guilt) and explain the situation. I start crying. I am afraid of not knowing and thinking the worst.
She is a pillar of strength. She calms me down. Helps me line up what I need to get done so I can get going. Feed baby. Pump milk. Dress children. Arrange Marcus care. Did I eat? I wouldn't have even thought of that to even be put on the list! I am determined to get going.
I pack up the car and drive over to get W. I am ready to tear someone up! If anything has happened to my Darling the poor person who has to explain it to me will feel my wrath. Don't get it twisted. I may live in the suburbs now, but I done grow up downtown. I am angry and someone will pay.
To my surprise Niecey has canceled her plans and coming with us (add more lbs of guilt and burden). I push all my emotions of guilt, burden, fear, and anger aside. None of those emotions are helping matters. I feel empty.
As we drive down Franklin calls. His mom is there. He is o.k. He didn't even know he pulled out the tube. It's been put back. The journey to recovery continues.
I feel emotionally drained.
Balancing Act II
No Zumba. No Swimming lessons. But at least I was going to go see him. All thanks to the time, generosity, kindness, patience, and unconditional love of Marcus' Godmother (W) and my parents. My parents would watch my toddler while W. would drive me down to see The Husband and wait in the car with the baby. I was able to have it all. See my husband in the hospital and not have the kids exposed to any germs at the hospital.
I had told one of his brothers that he was there and fortunately met him in the hall. We talked with Franklin about telling his mom. We chatted and joked it up a bit. It didn't help that one of the 'roommates' had the t.v. on as if they were in their own living room. Get a headset or turn it down! Jeeze. Also, he was still hadn't gone for dialysis. I tried to get him a semi-private, asked the nurses to help us defuse the issue with the roommate (since Frankie 'yelled' at them him the night before), and went to get him some drinkage (no food allowed. he hasn't eaten since Wednesday night!). Text comes in "baby's starting to melt down". I have to leave. Balance.
Off to my weekly family dinner. Home cooked meal. Hang with the fam. I call and tell his mom. She is thankful that I told her. I am lucky to have such a great mother-in-law. She has her 'annoying' bits, but who doesn't? It's a 'good' day. Well, good as it's going to get. When I go home, my brother offers to drive me and my car home. I say "it's ok. I've been doing it". He had the best answer "I know you have, but now you don't have to".
Read about the next day with Balance Act III post.
Or read how it all started with Balance between Husband and Children post.
I had told one of his brothers that he was there and fortunately met him in the hall. We talked with Franklin about telling his mom. We chatted and joked it up a bit. It didn't help that one of the 'roommates' had the t.v. on as if they were in their own living room. Get a headset or turn it down! Jeeze. Also, he was still hadn't gone for dialysis. I tried to get him a semi-private, asked the nurses to help us defuse the issue with the roommate (since Frankie 'yelled' at them him the night before), and went to get him some drinkage (no food allowed. he hasn't eaten since Wednesday night!). Text comes in "baby's starting to melt down". I have to leave. Balance.
Off to my weekly family dinner. Home cooked meal. Hang with the fam. I call and tell his mom. She is thankful that I told her. I am lucky to have such a great mother-in-law. She has her 'annoying' bits, but who doesn't? It's a 'good' day. Well, good as it's going to get. When I go home, my brother offers to drive me and my car home. I say "it's ok. I've been doing it". He had the best answer "I know you have, but now you don't have to".
Read about the next day with Balance Act III post.
Or read how it all started with Balance between Husband and Children post.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Is anything in life ever REALLY free?
The saying goes "the best things in life are free". Really?
Love is NOT free. It costs effort, patience, and unconditional understanding. Sometimes more, i.e. money, but I'll leave that for my gold digger post. Haven't we all been there? lol
NOTHING in life is free. Depending who you are getting this "Freebie" from, it can cost your soul and your pride. Now, pride is one of the 7 evils, but sometimes I'd rather travel the rough road starving then ask for help. Others are willing to ask without even trying to get it themselves. Have they no shame?
Don't get me wrong. I get lots of freebies from my family. When The Husband was in the hospital due to a stroke and my little one was still a newborn, I needed help. When he was transferred to a different hospital because the one in our neighborhood does not have dialysis capabilities, I needed help. Free baby sitting so Franklin wouldn't be there by himself. Free rides to pick up The Husband from the hospital because I couldn't drive down. Free food because I would forgo food to sleep.
I pay the price of guilt. I hate that I have to impose on my loved ones time and time again. I can do it on my own and drag my children into the hospital and hope they will sit for a couple of hours so Daddy won't be alone. I can do it on my own and not bath so I can fall asleep exhausted. I can do it and stick my kids in daycare and pay their crazy fees with credit card. I can do it.
Fortunately, I don't have to. I am forever indebted to them all andwill pay for the rest of my life with guilt, gratitude, love, appreciation, loyalty, and honour for all their free help.
Love is NOT free. It costs effort, patience, and unconditional understanding. Sometimes more, i.e. money, but I'll leave that for my gold digger post. Haven't we all been there? lol
NOTHING in life is free. Depending who you are getting this "Freebie" from, it can cost your soul and your pride. Now, pride is one of the 7 evils, but sometimes I'd rather travel the rough road starving then ask for help. Others are willing to ask without even trying to get it themselves. Have they no shame?
Don't get me wrong. I get lots of freebies from my family. When The Husband was in the hospital due to a stroke and my little one was still a newborn, I needed help. When he was transferred to a different hospital because the one in our neighborhood does not have dialysis capabilities, I needed help. Free baby sitting so Franklin wouldn't be there by himself. Free rides to pick up The Husband from the hospital because I couldn't drive down. Free food because I would forgo food to sleep.
I pay the price of guilt. I hate that I have to impose on my loved ones time and time again. I can do it on my own and drag my children into the hospital and hope they will sit for a couple of hours so Daddy won't be alone. I can do it on my own and not bath so I can fall asleep exhausted. I can do it and stick my kids in daycare and pay their crazy fees with credit card. I can do it.
Fortunately, I don't have to. I am forever indebted to them all andwill pay for the rest of my life with guilt, gratitude, love, appreciation, loyalty, and honour for all their free help.
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