I get very frustrated sometimes looking at Facebook.
"Social Media Depression" I think is what they're calling it.
As I scroll down my feed, I am bombarded with post after post about everybody else's WONDERFUL child. This young man has received X, Y, and Z awards. This young lady has pulled a 4.0 and received a scholarship to the university of her choice. These young men and women are all going off to serve missions for their church after graduating from seminary.
Moms (and even some Dads) love to brag up their children on Facebook. I admit, I like to, too.
And I'm happy for all of them and their achievements.
But mostly I'm frustrated and jealous.
Not all of us have 4.0 students.
Not all of us have children who have won awards.
Not all of us have children who are interested in religious studies or service.
In fact, some of us are simply celebrating the fact that our children have barely met the mark for graduation, despite all they have done to undermine themselves along the way. Some of us have smart kids who submarined themselves and underachieved rather spectacularly.
And, yes, I am very proud of my child!
I am proud that he met the mark and is completing this milestone in life. I am proud of his determination to serve his country and join the Army. I believe in his intelligence and his ability to attend college when he is ready.
But I get dragged down by green meanies when I see all the brag-fests on Facebook.
And then I saw it.
A post on the memorial page of my son's school friend who took his own life last year. A post from his parents wishing all the graduates well. A post filled with the pain of loss made fresh with every milestone their son should have been experiencing.
And I am so moved to tears that I have no words to express my feelings.
Acknowledging the Simple Blessings of Life
On Memorial Day, I went for a walk. It was a gorgeous day. The sky was blue, the air was warm, the flowers were blooming.
It was a good day to be alive!
I've been struggling for the past three months. I have been sick. No, I don't really know what it is. I went to the doctor several times, was put on three different antibiotics, and a course of steroids (to bring the coughing under control enough so I would stop throwing up. Yeah, fun times). Still no improvement. I've had every bit of advice thrown my way, from "oh, it's probably just allergies." (Um, NO. It's not.), to "You should really be using X, Y, and Z essential oils. You'd be cured in a matter of days." (Not a fan. I had a student a couple of years ago whose mother was convinced could study and learn better if DOUSED in essential oils daily. Yeah, the rest of us had massive headaches from the overpowering aroma until the principal put his foot down and told the mother it was too much. And, no, the oils DID NOT make her smarter.) I wish I could tell people just how very unhelpful their armchair doctoring is to me. I don't mind sympathy, I don't need amateur doctors.
The real doc thinks it is bronchitis, but I've never heard of bronchitis sticking around for this long. He insists it's not pneumonia, so there's that. For what it's worth.
Meanwhile, back at the farm, life goes on much as you'd expect with mostly grown kids. Late night worrying and late-teen temptations and frustrations being what they are, I never quite get enough sleep. Also, the stress of being the mom has gifted me with an impressive collection of acne smattered across my chin. So sexy in a 40 something year old.
So, you can see what a gift that beautiful day was to me. As I was walking the neighborhood, I reflected that I really do live in a great location! I live in what most people would call a fair to big sized city, but I live in the old district. That means that the library, grocery store, church, cemetery, several parks, an elementary, junior high, and high school are all within walking distance. And, of course, the city rec. center is only a half block away, too! Work out classes and equipment, an indoor track, and two pools (olympic lap pool and leisure pool w/water slide/lazy river) plus hot tub!
It is good to be reminded sometimes of the awesomeness of life that we sometimes take for granted because most of the time it just fades to the background as we go about living.
And stressing.
Sigh. (Really, I'm okay. This, too, will pass)
It was a good day to be alive!
I've been struggling for the past three months. I have been sick. No, I don't really know what it is. I went to the doctor several times, was put on three different antibiotics, and a course of steroids (to bring the coughing under control enough so I would stop throwing up. Yeah, fun times). Still no improvement. I've had every bit of advice thrown my way, from "oh, it's probably just allergies." (Um, NO. It's not.), to "You should really be using X, Y, and Z essential oils. You'd be cured in a matter of days." (Not a fan. I had a student a couple of years ago whose mother was convinced could study and learn better if DOUSED in essential oils daily. Yeah, the rest of us had massive headaches from the overpowering aroma until the principal put his foot down and told the mother it was too much. And, no, the oils DID NOT make her smarter.) I wish I could tell people just how very unhelpful their armchair doctoring is to me. I don't mind sympathy, I don't need amateur doctors.
The real doc thinks it is bronchitis, but I've never heard of bronchitis sticking around for this long. He insists it's not pneumonia, so there's that. For what it's worth.
Meanwhile, back at the farm, life goes on much as you'd expect with mostly grown kids. Late night worrying and late-teen temptations and frustrations being what they are, I never quite get enough sleep. Also, the stress of being the mom has gifted me with an impressive collection of acne smattered across my chin. So sexy in a 40 something year old.
So, you can see what a gift that beautiful day was to me. As I was walking the neighborhood, I reflected that I really do live in a great location! I live in what most people would call a fair to big sized city, but I live in the old district. That means that the library, grocery store, church, cemetery, several parks, an elementary, junior high, and high school are all within walking distance. And, of course, the city rec. center is only a half block away, too! Work out classes and equipment, an indoor track, and two pools (olympic lap pool and leisure pool w/water slide/lazy river) plus hot tub!
It is good to be reminded sometimes of the awesomeness of life that we sometimes take for granted because most of the time it just fades to the background as we go about living.
And stressing.
Sigh. (Really, I'm okay. This, too, will pass)
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