I am overdue for many things I wanted to write about so I am going to spill them out at once.
- The Despicable Larry Nassar:
“The disgraced former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison, a judge announced Wednesday, after more than 150 women and girls said in court that he sexually abused them over the past two decades.” (CNN)This man violated girls *while their parents were in the room* seeking his help for their daughters’ gymnastics-related injuries. Gasp!
This vile man made me realize that even though I try my best to be my kids’ protector, advocate, and cheerleader, there is a tremendous amount of faith involved in letting them go daily. Faith not only to release them into their large NYC public school, but on fieldtrips and extracurricular activities where I can’t fully know the character of the parent chaperones or coaches or strangers they are bound to come in contact with. As of now, their activities are not full drop-offs, but I will need to entrust them in this world’s care more and more.
Please, Lord, protect them. You are Lord and I am not. It is not possible for me to be their protector at all times.
2. Your Privilege is Hanging Out: A lawyer mom who married wealthy and will likely never work again, by “choice,” posted the most self-indulgent, privileged, tone-deaf and insensitive drivel I have ever seen. She is a SAHM with a staff that does what most SAHMs have to do for themselves, including a full-time nanny, house cleaner, a gardener, and a gardener who only does the weeding(!). She is the 1%.
What irked me was that she couldn’t foresee the sh*tstorm she would start by directly and specifically laying out her riches before the weary eyes of most other moms as they got ready for work, whether it was work they must do or choose to do, or SAHMs who do what her staff does for her. She even added a line about how she is the lady that we all love to hate. Oof! You can be that privileged but have the sense to not blast it out on a huge social media group of moms who don’t lead such a charmed life.
For my own health, I need to move on from eyerolling since last night BUT the good that came out of this is that it reminded me that I will definitely invest more in doing stuff that gives me life, OUTSIDE of my beloved kids. Though Tone Deaf’s creature comforts do sound cushy, it reminded me that my dream is not to become a lady of leisure. I want to have purpose beyond excessive self-care that sounds more like she doesn’t want to do any chores.
I now work again part-time out of necessity but even without that financial necessity, I would do some form of work because I have longings and skills separate and apart from being a mama. I find it crucial for my mental health though I know this is a loaded topic and some extremely conservative circles don’t support this notion. I firmly believe that having my own identity will help when the Empty Nest years hit, even though I stay home more than work.
3. Rule of Life (as explained by Pastor Rich Villodas – copied and pasted from one of his posts):
Write down everything you currently do (or hope to do) that nurtures your spirit and fills you with delight (e.g. people, places, activities). Normally, when we think of spiritual activities, we limit ourselves to things such as prayer, going to church, worship, and Bible reading. Don’t censor yourself. Your list may include gardening, walking the dog, being in nature, talking with close friends, cooking, painting, jumping out of airplanes, or any number of other possibilities. List them all!
ajummama 