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Sometimes... sometimes against your better, grown-up knowledge, you just want to run away screaming. It's true. I've been there, done that. I've also learned it is best to work on NOT getting to that breaking point. Life. Is. HARD. Life is hard whether you are single, married, kids or not. Life is hard if you make great money or if you have very little. We all have our things that make life complicated to navigate. We all have a "suitcase" jam-packed FULL of our past things that make us who we are today and sometimes those things in our "suitcases" can even make life hard. We have to decide if we are going to let that suitcase propel us FORWARD or make us trip and fall up the staircase we're traveling. Y'all foster parenting and even adoption parenting... okay, PARENTING, in general, is HARD. But today, can I give you a glimpse into the life of a foster/adoptive parent? It's #fostercareawareness month each May. Yep, it's still May so we're good there. Here's one of my FAVORITE quotes that seems to tie up what it is like to be the (temporary/adopted) parent of kids that have gone through great traumas. To foster and adoptive parents: and then there's this one too: Adoptive and foster parents live, breathe, cry and walk out the Gospel in the lives of vulnerable kids while exposing themselves, their marriages, their bio-children and their family/friends to a spiritual warfare unlike ANY other. Pray for them.  Adam and I were at the breaking point a couple of weeks ago. Luckily, we knew it was likely headed our way so we scheduled time away in advance. He worked a THIRD job to get us a small getaway for just the two of us. We drove two and a half hours away and just relaxed. Life gets busy... and then we have eight kids too. Ha! I was reminded of this beautiful image this morning while I was deep in thought about this subject... I love to fly in airplanes. Air travel is my favorite. I can sleep anywhere, anytime. People hate that about me. Short flight, long flight, doesn't matter to me, I love them all. I love to look out the plane window and see out over the BIG WIDE world. It's a view we don't get often. I have always felt like my world opens up to this fast expansive thing that it really is. It expands my viewpoint from just my tiny world in Defiance, Ohio to this big, massive earth. There is much much more to see and do than what is right in front of me every day. Almost always, when getting away (via plane or car), I'm always ready to come home. Having a home base is a VERY very good thing... but it's also good to get away and catch your breath and expand your point-of-view. Sometimes we need that reset button. We need that airplane view to help us see the bigger picture or to take a step OUT of our current situation. I fully know it's hard to look at anything else when you have a kid in your home that is completely out of control and you're just managing. Managing the calls from the school and the teachers. Filtering through the notes and behaviors is hard. Continuing to show up, on time and with well-behaved kids to visits with bio parents is a toll on emotions, schedule and the kids especially. It's HARD. Making appointments, filling out paperwork, bedtime, bath time, eating can be a source of contention, changes in schedule (yep, school is ending and it can actually be hard for kids that don't do change well), seasons, triggers, and so much more.  I would encourage you to set a time to get away. Do what you can to hit that reset button and take a step away from being all up in the face of your situation or it being all up in YOUR face. Catch your breath. Stabilize your yourself once again. Maybe try to not let it get so bad until the next time you step out. Here are some great ideas, I'm sure there are tons more! If you are one of the billion people that happen to know a family that has fostered or adopted, you can gently guide them to some self-care and maybe even take a kid or two for them to run away for a bit. Sell something if you have to... your sanity is worth it. Have a garage sale. Find something in the basement to put on eBay. Work that second (or third job) and go. It can be an hour or seven or 56... do what works for your life and family. Be creative. Take advantage of local respite nights at churches if you need to. Swap babysitting with another family. Be intentional.
*WARNING* Inevitably, one of the kids in your home will sabotage your time away. It happens almost every time. You'll get that dreaded call or text from the babysitter or the stuff will hit the fan when you get home. I wish someone would have told me that along the way. It honestly happens to us every single time. GO ANYWAY. You can handle it when you get home. #youcandohardthings You've got this. Have fun. It'll be there when you get back. It's not only OKAY to take care of yourself and get a small break to catch your breath, it's one of the most important things because LIFE. IS. HARD. What are some of your creative and favorite was to handle life? What self-care tactics are your favorite? Author, Alyssa TracyHis Darling, Jesus. Wife to Adam for 18 yrs. Mom of 8. Missionary at the core. Encourager by design. |
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November 2018
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