They Say....

“Sleep when the baby sleeps.”

“Don’t worry about the house.”

“Have date nights.”

“Go out.”

“Don’t let yourself go.”

“Take care of yourself.”

“TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.”

From the second we become a mother, its embedded into our heads….

“take care of yourself.”

Take care of myself. Okay… does brushing my teeth count?

Sleep when the baby sleeps, got it.

I’ll sleep and won’t wake up.

I’ll fall asleep two minutes before the baby wakes up.

The house… No, don’t worry about it. Leave it.

Got it. No clean clothes, no dishes, no groceries, it’s really okay though.

Have date nights? That sounds great! Will you babysit?

“No, I’m busy.” “Another day” “I’m not good with babies” “You’re too far away”

Go out? Yes! I need that. Want to grab some food?

“Sorry, you’ve changed” “I already have plans” “You’re boring now”

Don’t let yourself go.

Okay, I got this.

I’ll go to the gym, get my hair cut, shower, and even see my doctor.

“Do you ever spend time with your baby?”

Now let’s add a little spice…

All the above and…

Your baby is born disabled or with medical complexities…

“The first year is the hardest.”

“It’s all in your head, the baby is fine.”

“You’ll get your footing.”

“Have you tried praying?”

“It will happen when they’re ready.”

“You need to calm down.”

“Don’t worry so much.”

“Everything happens for a reason.”

“It won’t always be like this”

First year is the hardest?

Yes! Wait… they’re 5 years old?

My baby is fine?

What about when she requires another surgery? Is that considered fine still?

My footing?

Even with a new diagnosis that I know nothing about every 6 months?

Have I prayed?

Yes, I’ve tried everything. Wait… am I doing it wrong?

It’ll happen when they’re ready?

…What if they’re never ready?

Calm down, don’t worry.

I’ll try. Wait…

What do I do when my biggest fear is my child dying?

Except… one day it could be a reality?

Everything happens for a reason.

Can you please help me understand what the reason is for brain surgeries? What’s the reason for hundreds of days in the hospital? Wait, I really want to know what the reason is for a child to be in pain every day?

I’m begging you…

Please, help me understand what the reason is?

It won’t always be like this…

It won’t?

When will it stop?

But what if it does stop?...