Tales From an Exhausted Medical Mama

RUN THE DISHWASHER TWICE  written by Cheryl Zippay When I was at one of my lowest (mental) points in life, I couldn’t get out of bed some days. I had no energy or motivation and was barely getting by. I had therapy once per week, and on this particular week I didn’t have much to ‘bring’ to the session. He asked how my week was and I really had nothing to say. “What are you struggling with?” he asked. I gestured around me and said “I dunno man. Life.” Not satisfied with my answer, he said “No, what exactly are you worried about right now? What feels overwhelming? When you go home after this session, what issue will be staring at you?” I knew the answer, but it was so ridiculous that I didn’t want to say it. I wanted to have something more substantial. Something more profound. But I didn’t. So I told him, “Honestly? The dishes. It’s stupid, I know, but the more I look at them the more I CAN’T do them because I’ll have to scrub them before I put them in the dishwasher, because the dis...

  (Not my photo) We live in a very critical world and people can be downright, hateful. If you handle a situation differently than someone else, you did it wrong. Never mind if they have never experienced the same situation, it’s what they would have done so it’s what YOU should have done. If it is anything I have learned over the last ten years, especially the last three or so, is there is NO perfect way. I may be a special needs/medical Mom, however, I don’t feel that my hard is any harder than anyone else’s. We are all built differently. We have diverse approaches and handle things at varying capacities. What one may find extremely challenging, another may find it as no obstacle at all. Let’s talk grief for a moment. How do you grieve a loss? What are the rules? How long should it last? Do you cry? Does crying mean you care or that you’re weak? Do you not shed a tear? Does that make you calloused or strong? Do you talk about it or ignore it? Do you allow it to impa...