Don’t Mistake My Kindness for Weakness
I’ve thought and thought on this subject.
I’ve taken every inflection and word to heart.
And, I simply don’t agree.
I’ve been told on more than one occasion, “Why don’t you put down your phone and bleeping take care of your kids?!?”
First of all, I am not anything like you!
I do not have the luxury of going to get my nails done, or a facial every other week.
I don’t get to go on weekend mini girls trips every once in a while for self care.
I don’t sit at a bar stool watching all the action that surrounds, or going out to eat at a restaurant with friends is a once in every six month event.
Hell, I am lucky if I sleep a full four hours on any given night.
So before you judge me for getting ‘on my phone’ to write about how my life is different than yours, and how my children are every ounce as wonderful as yours, please know this…
My children are very well cared for. I assure you.
They are taught empathy and compassion.
They are taught Grace and God’s word.
They are taught accountability.
When I write, I am decompressing from my day. I am taking a moment, maybe 15 minutes for ‘self care’.
My self care; writing, advocating, normalizing Autism and Type I.
I am spreading awareness about Epilepsy and hearing loss.
I am truly connecting with my tribe from around the world. The tribe who understands nonverbal, the tribe who knows Diabetic lows and emergent adrenaline.
The parents who speak the language of love and acceptance.
These parents know my joy when my little Autie girl stims and signs new words to me.
They also know the feeling when medical professionals are on a first name basis and they care about our children like their own.
So while you are judging me for advocating and normalizing my families life, and being ‘on my phone’ please take a step back from your barstool or your so called ‘perfect life’ and realize that not all of us have that luxury.
Written by, Erin Maser
I am a mother of four beautiful girls ages 13, 8, 7 and 4. My youngest just happens to be nonverbal autistic epileptic. I am a Title I Elementary teacher in Wyoming. You can follow our story on our blog at Keep room in your heart for the unimaginable.
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