In reading various posts this am (which btw, thank you all for helping me stay grounded. I feel so isolated sometimes then read situations of others that make me realize I am NOT isolated) I see a recurring theme. Feeling bad with our performance followed by others’ responses of “we’re only human” or “cut yourself some slack” or “breathe, center, move on”. It occurred to me we as caregivers we are like the dog going to the vet. Our LO steps into their next level (whatever that may be) and we, being on the leash, are pulled...scratching and clawing into the next level with them. We have no idea what will happen as we get pulled in, but once we are there we adapt, adjust and dutifully wait for the next command. The next step is made, and here we go again...scratching and clawing into the next level as our LO pulls us along.
Thank God for all of you who are already in that “next level” and can help those of us still scratching and clawing to get away. Telling us “we’re only human”, “cut yourself some slack”, “breathe, center, move on”. Thank you.
There are many times that I think back and would have done thing differently. It was like being placed into a job where one has no training and everyone expects you to be an expert on day one. But who knew? Eventually I found time to read the forums and I learned a lot. Did everything work out, well part of the time, but it was worth a try.