to my family
March 1, 2015 § 2 Comments
It’s been a week to remember. Scary for the uncertainty and exhausting for the roller coaster of emotions that swept through sleepless nights and interrupted our collective routines. We are tired, restless, overwhelmed. We are also patient, generous, thoughtful, and invested. After days of feeling ill or overlooked, it would have been easy to excuse short fuses, but we found a gentler way to work together and I couldn’t be more proud.
To my husband, You chased after spontaneous food cravings at every untimely want and shuttled our son between work day responsibilities without complaint. When I moved our daughter closer to my side, you slept uncomfortably in the disruptive company of our pup. Gone are the hallmarks of family meals, morning coffee, and evening time alone. Most of our time together has been in passing, as we trade places beside a child or share updates. I haven’t been able to tell you how much your circus of comedy in the hospital lightened my spirit or how grateful I am you held my fears gently as I fussed over each decision. You have been a sounding board and silent support system I couldn’t have done without.
To my son, This week you grew into added responsibility. Your father and I have drifted through the days tired and distracted without the reserve of energy that would have normally been yours to claim. You found your way through your school work and helped around the house, prepared a simple meal and tended to the needs of our pup. It would have been easy to disappear into more frivolous interests while our attention was occupied, but you matured into demonstrations of respectful consideration and I am so proud of your effort and selfless concern.
To my daughter, Even on the nights you were feverish and miserable there wasn’t an unkind demand or selfish exclamation. There was no entitlement or pity party between your please and thank you. We’ve hidden from the worries in the language of a new story, tumbling into the elegant imagination of H.G. Wells while we travel through time a little misplaced ourselves. I miss your smile and spunk, but I’m thankful for the minutes we have collected in conversation when light and sound were too intrusive to your overwhelmed senses.
To my family, Thank you for making a difficult week, easier; for nurturing one another with kindness and generosity; for sharing responsibilities, respectfully.
Love you.
scribblechic 
Hope you are all okay.
Thanks, Andy. I’m grateful our problems are manageable. When you see other sick children with far greater challenges, the scale of your own problems feels immeasurably smaller. In as much as this space has evolved into a journal for another time, memories that my children can one day revisit from my perspective, I felt I needed to recognize the week while I was both tired and hopeful to keep the complexities honest.