Sunday, February 1, 2009

A Place To Fall Apart

Let me get this out of the way & then I can move on. People respond differently to stress and crisis. I've pretty much always been the kind who does the jump right in and take care of business thing and then later have some sort of release. Thankfully I've only really had to deal with two major losses in my life and then two or three times I would label as times of crisis.

For the losses, one was my very best friend. One of those friends who knows all about you but loves you anyway. She died in a terrible car accident which just so happened to be on her birthday. My dad had to call me at work, over two hours away from "home" to tell me the news. One of the hardest days of my life.

The second loss was the death of my father who lost his battle with cancer. On both of these terrible occassions, I jumped in and did whatever was necessary to help either my friend's family or in the case of my dad - my family. For both, the grief hit me much later. Weeks after Lila's death I was heading south on I-35 toward Ft Worth when sobs just overtook me. I remember pulling over and crying my eyes out and letting all that grief escape. My place to fall apart.

I was in Oregon on business a couple of months after my dad passed away and had gone a day early in order to spend some time seeing an area I had never been to. Driving down hwy 1 along the coast, I drove up into a scenic area and found a beautiful water fall ... and that's when the same grief hit again. My place to fall apart.

It's been pretty much the same with crisis. I deal best by determining what the fix is and then making a list and start crossing things off. Then later I find some place, off by myself - a place to fall part. This right now is more of a loss right now than it is a crisis, maybe that feeling will come in time. The problem though is that for some reason, maybe jet lag - maybe just needing to be a mom right now and not wanting the kids to see me being emotional, but for some reason I don't have the answer this time. I don't have the list. I don't even have it in me to even make a list right now. All I have is faith that it will all work out. But I'm feeling that need to find my place to fall apart. A chance to get it all out so I can get back to normal.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I felt the same with my first adoption. I locked myself in bathroom and cried for a hours. Rest and give yourself time to grieve for all the changes.

Unknown said...

Oh Carolin, take all the time you need, find your place to get it all out, again and again if necessary. I had an 18-month stretch of one thing after another: death of my FIL and my mother, 4 failed adoption attempts, 2 held babies, and then my husband was laid off and didn't find a job for 6 months..all while we were readying ourselves for China for Caroline. Take your time and God will show you the fixes soon.

Norma said...

Cross the days off the calendar and hope that time is all you need. I am thinking of you and praying for peace. Love the "hurtin' music".

trina said...

It's amazing how much adopting really is like giving birth. We still have all those hormones...and changes...sleep deprivation...and a child that needs us. We put our family before ourselves...and before you know it, you think your losing it. Hang in there. It will pass. And before you know it, you will forget the "new baby" pains and will want to do it again. Maybe..wink!
trina

Sharyn said...

I think we can all relate on one level or another so give yourself a much deserved break. What I always do is fake it. That's right, fake it 'til it feels OK again. Kids don't know the diff. Smile, even though you don't want to. Give answers even tho you don't care about the questions. Play, even though your heart isn't in it....and soon your heart catches fire again and your love of life comes back. It'll come. Believe it.

Jodee said...

Hopefully, the kids are a good distraction right now. Hang in there!

sierrasmom said...

Hi Carolin, I was worried about you and your family when I heard about the storm. I am praying for you and I miss seeing you and your beautiful family.
Kathie

quilt'n-mama said...

praying for you my friend...
gayly