I don't know your story

I started this morning on Instagram sharing my feelings about this meme which I've seen shared quite a lot on Facebook lately. 

My insights consisted of blaming moms for saying yes too much. For signing our kids up. For not asking for help. My line of thinking was that if we're drowning, why don't we just get out of the pool? (I didn't use that analogy actually, but now that I type it I realize how silly it sounds!) 

I stand by that, for some moms. 

But I was pleasantly proved wrong by a few friends who were willing to share their own experience and point of view. 

One friend sent me a message about how it's usually the emotional aspects of motherhood that really ware us down and make us tired. And those are usually things we can't just say no to, or ask for help with. 

Another friend commented and told her story about being the mom of a boy with disabilities (the cutest little guy!). Her words were powerful. 

She wrote about how tiring it can be, and how it's not really an option to ask someone else to go to all of his therapies, IEP meetings, etc in her place. She's lonely and it's hard to get together with people because her son is quite active and tiresome for others too. She reminded us that everybody has a story, and (in nicer terms) did it's not really our place to judge whether moms are drowning, exhausted and frustrated because of their own doing, or because of other circumstances that we might not have considered. 

Thanks Becky. I mean it. 

I had fun talking about it. It reminds me of the discussion board for my class this semester. We're talking about advocacy, and real issues. And it's kind of fun to do a bit of research, and then have the tough conversations with people. 

I know I'll be a lot more considerate in the future about judging people. And about jumping to conclusions. But I do still feel like my point is valid (at least for myself), and there's room in this conversation for each point of view, right? 

Also, we had a gaggle of giggling girls come to our house this afternoon. It was a blast. I'm thinking this "Fall Ball" might need to become an annual tradition!