Quote From: flbutterfly71I can't say that I feel exactly the way these mom's do, but I really understand how sometimes motherhood can truly affect moms negatively. I am married, have four children, 16, 14, 10 & 7, (my oldest is developmentally delayed, my youngest is a livewire) three dogs, we own a business and I am a full-time college student with a double-major! We are helping to take care of my brother-in-law who is 46 and Austistic, (my husband is his guradian). Our phones never stop ringing. We own a large home and most days I wonder how I will make it through. I realize I have created this but here I am and I get very overwhelmed! I hardly ever go a day where I don't feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and daydream about running away to China. LOL. I do get a few luxuries occasionally...a massage or a vacation. Unfortunately I feel like until my children are raised and on their own and college is completed for me, I will just feel crazy. Order is not easy to keep and we do fall behind. I realized a while back that I was losing myself as a person which is why I enrolled in college (knowing it was heaping my plate) but at the same time it was something for me! What I do realize in the midst of the madness is that my commitment is to this family that I created and no matter how heavy it feels at times I could never be happy if I jumped ship. How could I enjoy serenity if I walked away? There would be no peace in that no matter where I was! I could never do it! I pray a lot for strength and for answers. One day at time is a great motto. Worry about today, today! Go no further! I try to find outlets like laughter and I do poke fun at being a mom and having kids.(Erma Bombeck style) It is pure comic relief. Sometimes mothers tend to take things way too seriously!! Maybe this mom needs a break so she can regroup and clear her mind. Maybe Dr. Phil should send her on a spa retreat, somewhere she could receive counsel and she could rethink the situation. I wish her the best of luck.
Blessings to you and a gentle hug.
I posted earlier today, it is not on site yet. (Concerning our special person.)
I don't think going to a spa retreat will "help" mom, as her brain will be on overdrive thinking of all the stuff being undone, not getting done, etc at home while she is there. You know, we can't shut them off for an instant (one of God's little jokes?). I, too,was raised on reading Erma Bombeck, I used that (besides my Bible) as a basis for raising MY 3 sons. And now 2 granddaughters often. Thing is, with family members having special needs, you need more than a day out to take the pressure off. You need permanent resources. I too, dream of days my home would look like HGTV, but am so glad I have had experienced what I have, it has made me the person I am. There are 'end of the rope days' that I know will be better after the sun sets and rises again. I have a permanent health condition as well that does not sit on the back burner. Yet, I try not to make the day about me.
Apparently mom in question does not have the support from her family, friends. She then needs to step outside of that comfort zone to apply for what her special needs family member needs. They cannot. We are put on this earth to take care of each other. When that stops, so does the world we want to live in.
