Monday, August 9, 2010

Fragile; Handle with care

Seems lately, I have been spending a majority of my life in a never ending holding pattern. Think about that for a moment. Really think about it.Not moving forward, not achieving anything....just holding steady; making noise. On but not functioning.
I think a lot of moms feel this way sometimes. Like you are not living up to your potential but at the same time, you are doing everything you can to get by. Using ALL of your effort, just to get through a day. Well, now take that and multiply it by about a 1000 and you will be closer to the place I have been for the past few months. It's starting to take its toll on me. I can feel myself slowly becoming weaker ; more vulnerable. On some days I feel like I'm walking around my life like an exposed nerve. Just waiting for the slightest breeze of change to send me into a tailspin. I feel like a broken record ,s o if you feel you've heard it before..walk away now.

Many of you are familiar with the situation that has consumed our lives for the past year and a half. There was May 2009, January 2010, and Now; life has been really rough with all this going on. I have been trying to hold it all together with minimal meltdowns and a stiff upper lip. It's not always so easy. It's very hard to run a household, take care of the children, pay the bills,  run all the errands and keep the schedule with no respite; no help whatsoever. But it is much harder when you have a husband that you are happily married to but, due to circumstances beyond your or his control, he is not there. It makes me angry to know that I did all the leg work to have this marriage but I receive none of the benefits. We're not divorced, we truly do love one another, he's my best friend, he's a good father, and thanks to our economy he is pulled away from us. I think it's a completely different feeling  than if I were a single Mother or we were divorced because its like having money and not being allowed to spend it versus just not having the money. It's sort of like that you don't miss what you never had. Well, I had have it, but I don't have access. Which is possibly the most frustrating scenario ever.

Anyways, aside from all the other craziness, now we are getting ready for school to start. My eldest baby ( yes, she is still my baby) is getting ready to start kindergarten on the 19th. This will be a difficult day for me. I know this.Exposed nerve alert! Just the thought of that impending doom makes me tear up. It's very emotional to let your child take that first step into growing up. It's bigger than any first step thus far, at least that is how my heart is feeling right now. Due to this situation we are in, I am not sure that my husband is going to make it to the first day. It's our first child's , first day of kindergarten! You know, the first day of the rest of her life. This day will never come again. I feel that it is crucial that he is there, for all of us.He has missed a lot these past few months because of his job and I think this is unmissable; not just for her but for him, as well. So, to catch you up to speed; Mommy is in an emotional state of an exposed nerve; eldest girl is nervous about kindergarten and new school and her life completely changing; little sister will have a breakdown ( On the first day of her sister's preschool, she screamed and cried as we left "BELLA!BELLA!" ( Just imagine Brando saying "Stella" but in the voice of a distraught 2 year old.) and me..trying to hold it all together. I don't want to do this alone. I shouldn't have to. This has me filled with trepidation and sadness. Is it wrong for me to want my family to be able to cohabitate like a normal family? Is it wrong to want my husband around for support? I mean, I don't want to be a pain in the ass but when is it going to end? It all just keeps getting piled on! So, this is where I am..an exposed nerve.

Then, good news..great news. He's been interviewing for about a month ( yes, you heard me right) with a company that would put him in a position that he would love. We get the call, with an offer that is acceptable. Great news, in theory. It means yet another move. It means its too late to get into a good school at this late of a date. It means having to try and sell our house (nobody buys in the Midwest after Labor Day) meaning we are screwed until next spring. It means finding all new schools, it means finding new doctors, dentists, ballet schools, friends and the list goes on and on. It really is good news but we can't move until the house sells. What does all this mean? It means my husband got a great new job at a horrible time of the year for putting our house on the market, it means the taste in my mouth from trying to sell it last year on our previous move is still fresh in my mind and it scares the hell out of me, it means I'm still alone until at least next spring. I am trying to be positive and hold it all together but its hard when you're an exposed nerve and there is no relief in immediate sight. Nobody ..NOBODY understands how this feels, unless they've been in this position ( for this long) and I don't know too many people who have been in a holding pattern for this long. I know, in my mind, that when it is all said and done we will be in a much better position in our lives but the hard part is trying to survive the meantime. I deserve to be moving forward in my life,with my children, with my husband, with my dreams..not holding steady; holding on for dear life. I want to enjoy my life not just survive it. I think I can, I think I can....

3 comments:

  1. I can relate to just about every sentence in your post, especially 'I just want to enjoy my life, not just survive it'. I think for me I've come to realize that I'm asking too much of this life and it helps alot if I just let go a little, does that make sense? I search for all the joy I can get out of the little things, and hold on to them for dear life!
    I remember my son's first day of school 15 years ago, it was the most heartbreaking day but at the same time I was so happy for him-he was about to embark on a journey of huge discovery and I wanted him to enjoy all of it!
    Good luck, I hope things get sunnier for you!! :)

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  2. I don't really know how you feel, but I do think that you can't be wrong in your feelings you can only be wrong in your actions.
    Its not wrong to want your family together or to want your husband there with you on your daughter's first day of kindegarten. You can't help that you feel that way.
    And really wouldn't it be worse if you didn't want him there??

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  3. I wish there was something that I could say to make you feel better or something I could say to relate to all that you are going through. I can relate to some of your feelings about not necessarily living up to your potential and just "being". I have no advice for it...if you do I would love to know!!!
    Hang in there and I'm always here to listen if you want to email and vent a little more!!
    Sending lots of hugs and love your way!!!

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Love to hear your thoughts on my truth! Please leave some love, insight , or even disagreement with mine. I believe in free thought and speech. Happy Mothering!!