I remember a long, long time ago, someone criticized me by saying I have a hard time "rolling with the punches." I guess I never really understood what that expression meant. Does it mean going with the flow? Getting knocked down and getting back up?
I took it to heart and actually now think I do an ok job "rolling with the punches." I mean, yes, I had my freakout when Doug lost his job, but in reality, I did ok. I got up everyday, I got Michael off to camp, I went to work. I functioned as a human being. One thing people may not realize is I use this blog as an outlet, and in reality does not really have much to do with my daily existence. So when I'm complaining about something on the blog, that doesn't mean I'm sitting around complaining about it in everyday life.
We have had "kind of" a hard year. Michael's kindergarten year was less than stellar. I went through this personal, existential friend crises that left me feeling really sad and lost. DOUG LOST HIS JOB. Hey, guess what? Last night he was in a car accident coming home from the new job. He is fine. The car, not so much.
I know, I wouldn't believe me either. Pro tip, don't tweet about how boring your life is. I had literally just tweeted that maybe 10 minutes earlier, before I left karate. Yeah, I blame me too.
Michael and I were coming home from karate when Doug called to tell me he had been in an accident. At that same moment Michael was in the car, and could hear the phone because my phone comes through the car speaker, and he started to freak out. And I did what I do best. I calmed Michael down. I got him home, fed, helped him with his homework, and got him in bed. My parents came over, stayed with him, and I went and picked up Doug from where the car had been towed.
Rolling with the punches.
And now we wait to find out if the car is totaled. I'm pretty sure it is, the car is 9 years old and the damage looked bad to me, but what do I know? And we just bought me a car, because what we need right now, coming off the heels of a layoff is 2 car payments.
I can roll with the punches. I know I can. But I'm just wondering how many times you get hit before you don't get back up again?
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I think you just described dead. The getting back up is what life’s all about.
I think you just described dead. The getting back up is what life’s all about.
I think you just described dead. The getting back up is what life’s all about.
I think you just described dead. The getting back up is what life’s all about.
Don’t ask questions that you really don’t want to find out the answer to. Just have faith that with each stumble, you will pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again.
So glad Doug is ok. Not a fun phone call to get, and certainly not in front of the little one. Good for you for holding it together and helping Michael calm down!
I’d say you’ve had your share of punches, and you’re doing better than fine at rolling with them.
I do like to think that we’re never given more than we can handle (even though I’m not particularly religious, so I’m not sure who I think is doling out the crap) but it certainly seems deep lately for so many.
My very favorite saying (which my mom says is very depressing, but I disagree) is: That which does not kill me, makes me stronger.
Dude, we are going to be so freakin strong! Superhero-type strength!
I’ll let you know.
Glad Doug was ok.
The answer is, at least for me, more times than you think you can. In the past 12 years I have lost both of my parents and a beloved Aunt, moved cross country four times (twice in the middle of a pregnancy) due to my husband losing his job and getting another, had to quit my job to move three times, had to sell my dream home that we had custom built, and our son was diagnosed with ADHD. Each time I leave everyone and everything I know to go to a completely strange place. This last time I hadn’t even seen the house we bought. My husband is in the middle of another job search, and I am preparing to apply for tenure, that I will most likely not be here to get. Our marriage isn’t great, but we are committed to keeping the family intact. I am constantly waiting for the next punch in the gut. I will be strong, because I have no alternative.
That’s a lot going on Jodie and a lot of punches to have to deal with. Glad your husband was OK but sorry about the car x
And sorry for name mispelling.
Speaking of punching, I kind of want to punch that person who told you that! We all deal with things in our own way. I’ve seen other people go through things and think, I don’t know if I could get out of bed. Then again, there are some people who think that of what I’ve been through. You get through it how you get through it. As they say in Next to Normal, “What doesn’t kill you doesn’t kill you.”
Geez. You can’t catch a break, can you.
You get back up as many times as it takes. Think of it this way… if you don’t get up then the bad sh** wins. And that would suck.
Oh hon, I am so sorry. I’m glad Doug is okay, though how incredibly frustrating about the car and the idea of investing more money into things right now just coming off the layoff.
Those punches certainly do keep rolling in.
I can say I think you’re dealing a whole lot better than I think I would be.