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It’s Always Something
I often think back to my childhood when my parents used to say, “It’s always something.” I would nod like I understood, though I was too busy with my own life—navigating college and trying to keep in touch with friends scattered across the country. My parents were dealing with a failing business and worried about my grandparents, but I was too wrapped up in my own world to fully grasp their struggles.
One day, I looked up from my laptop and saw my mom standing in my bedroom doorway, looking worn out. She shared that my grandmother was in the hospital, and my parents had to delay a business trip to be there for her. I responded without much thought, assuming I understood what she meant by, “It’s always something.” To me, it was just about term papers and parking at school, while my mom was juggling so much more.
In 2002, I stood in six weddings, feeling like I might never find the right partner and would end up alone with a house full of cats. Those worries kept me up at night, oblivious to the pressure my mom was under with her own responsibilities.
Fast forward to my own life now. I’m a mom of three little ones, and I often find myself asking: How can I manage my kids while my own mother’s health declines? I feel like I’m gasping for air, without any clear direction.
One afternoon, as my oldest came home from school, my mom called with news from her cardiologist. With kids swarming around me, I struggled to hear her. I told her to hold on while I wrangled the chaos, grabbing a bag of Goldfish crackers to keep them occupied. Listening to her tired voice, I fought back tears. My 3-year-old started crying, and in that moment, I found myself echoing my mom’s words: “It’s always something.” I ended the call with a promise to ring her tomorrow.
Now, I really get it.
If you’re navigating similar challenges, there are resources available that can help, like this one on pregnancy and home insemination at WomensHealth.gov. For more information on home insemination kits, check out Make a Mom and our other post on Intracervical Insemination.
Summary
This reflection captures the ongoing challenges of parenting while navigating personal and family health issues. It highlights the universal experience of juggling responsibilities and the realization that life is indeed a series of “somethings.”