Wake up. Make breakfast. Make phone calls. Do laundry. Run errands to grocery store, video rental. Buy lunch. Drive child to the doctor. Wheel child through the building. Sit and wait for hours when the doctor is late. Wheel child out of the building. Drive child home. Pick up prescriptions. Cook dinner. Serve dinner. Wash dishes. Mop, vaccuum, dust, disinfect. Go to sleep. Repeat.
If you're a parent, that probably sounds familiar. If you're my parents, it sounds familiar when it should only be a memory of the past. But day in and day out they do this, for their 29 year old daughter.
No where in there does it list spend time with spouse, but it should. It should because I shouldn't be living with them. I shouldn't need to depend on them for help with everything. But I do. I'm not lazy, I don't want to depend on them, and they shouldn't have to do this. But they do, and they do it without complaints. They do it with unconditional love. They do it no matter how bad of a day I'm having, no matter how many times I say I'm done with this, no matter how stressful it gets, no matter how much they would rather play golf, or go to lunch with friends, or go to a movie, or anything. They do it.
I say "should" but in reality life doesn't come with a list of "shoulds". Everyone is free to do whatever. You never want or expect bad things to happen but by bad things happening the opportunity for good things to stem from them exists. My parents used to say it would be so hard having me so far away and they were sad to have me leave. Well... surprise! LOL
You never know what life is going to send your way. And when it's something unexpected and life altering it shows who you really are by how you handle it. My parents have stepped in and stepped up and for that I have the utmost respect. Some might say they don't have a choice. But they do. They chose kindness, compassion, generosity, love. They chose me.
There are many things I am hoping for, but if I had a top ten list one of them on there would be to be healthy enough to not be living with them (so they can enjoy retirement) and financially able enough to give back to them even though it would only amount to a tiny portion of all that they have given to me. But for now they get super awesome handmade cards, hugs and blogs in their honor.
A special add in for my brother. His life has changed due to my own, and I'll straight out say it that that probably sucks. Really. We used to go on family vacations, go out to eat whenever, play baseball at the park or bocci or bags in the yard. Now my life is like a calendar full of plans that rarely pan out. Everything is dependent on how I'm feeling, which since it changes by the moment planning anything at all is difficult. But I don't think I've ever heard him complain even once. In fact, he's been kinder to me than I've ever known him to be. Well, maybe it's because my not going means he always gets to decide where, when, who etc. haha, just kidding.
To everyone who has stood by me through all of this, thank you. I don't think I'll ever stop thanking you because as time goes on more people drift away. Maybe they can't handle it, don't want to handle it, don't care... I don't know. But the ones who stand by me are true and I trust God has great blessings in your future after blessing me with your support. Thank you.
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