By Gretchen on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 04:41 pm:

Here is one for the books. Yesterday was a great back day. Very limited pain and I got careless. After my boys swimming lessons we ran into the market to buy
milk, butter etc. Just a few items.I thought it would be smart to let my sons push one of the child sized carts around the store instead of my pushing a full size cart for
two half gallons of milk etc. At the register the small cart vanished while I was paying. Another parent probably grabed it. The boys went to get gumballs out of the
bubble gum machine. I crouched down on the floor to help the little on. Here in lies my error in judgement. I put the bags on the floor, helped Jakey get his gum. The
boys headed out the door. Unfortunately I was stuck grouched on the grocery store floor. Unable to pick up my groceries and stand at the same time. It took a few
tries and I made it. I have to give the boys credit. When they realized I was not right behind them they sat down on bench outside the door. I was so upset that they
were able to get so far ahead. I try so hard to keep up with them and give them a normal life. I should not have to count on a 3 and 6 year old to watch out for me.
My husband does'nt under stand how frustrated, angry and guilty I feel. Finding this forum has helped a lot. I feel like a whimp when I even mention any of this to my
friends and family. reading your letters has helped me come to terms with myself and my limitations.

By Andrea on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 04:42 pm:

Dear Gretchen

My heart goes out to you. I know, oh don't I know how you feel. But what hit me most about your account were the words "I try so hard to keep up".
Why is it that our condition always makes us feel that we have to keep up, even catch up, be normal, function properly, make an effort and pull ourselves together?!
Is it because our conditon does not show? Or is it because we (or most of us) are women? And with regard to husbands here is (yet) another one for the books:
One of my New Year's resolutions was to try to eliminate as many stress factors in my life as possible. So one of the things I did was to return all these keys we
were holding (and sometimes the alarm code numbers to go with them) to their rightful owners since being a keyholder involves being possibly worken up in the
middle of the night. One of these keys came back, via my husband, with the explanation that they did not want to have to change their insurance documents so they
did not want to change keyholder. And my husband accepted that!! Excuse me, I said, what is the one-off inconvenience of changing an insurance document versus
my health and well-being?! ... or the lack thereof, I thought.

Keep your chin up and all the best - Andrea.
PS: e-mail me if you like.

By eric on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 04:42 pm:

where is the part where you get brutally maimed?

By Andrea on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 04:43 pm:

This comment is the most patently insulting thing I have ever heard (read) in my life!!! I sincerely hope that you were just having a bad hair day. And I think if you
had made that remark to me I would have asked for a public apology!! How much more bloody-minded would you like to get??

By eric on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 04:43 pm:

well, I thought it was a bad luck story, and in my experience, I associated having a loose joint with having the misfortune of easily tramatizing yourself.
you know, just one of those moments.

By Gwen on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 04:43 pm:

Eric, something tells me you are indulging in sarcasm. Please assure me that I'm wrong and that you just have an alternative sense of humour.

By Gwen on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 04:44 pm:

Gretchen, please don't think this is meant unkindly but your little tale gave me a chuckle when I read it. A while back I was in a similar situation except in my case I
was trying to retrieve something the cats had rolled under my sideboard. Down on my hunkers, a quick wriggle to reach under and there I was stuck until daughter
came home from school and hauled me out. I can see the funny side of it now but it was far from laughable at the time.
A thought, do you have to take your boys with you when you shop? Is there a care facility at the mall where you can drop them until you've donw the big shop or do
you have a neighbour who'd mind them for an hour or so. How about making the wekly shop a family expedition and let your husband chase gumballs. Best wishes,
Gwen

By Gretchen on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 04:44 pm:

Dear Gwen,

I also saw the funny side of the whole thing by the next morning. I usually shop while they are in school. I was having a great day and had a moment of temporary
insanity to try and shop even for a few items at that time of day. I fell into my old habit of running to the market which is conviently across the street from where we
swim. And I have to say the boys did a great job of staying put once they realized I was not right behind them. Had I not been so angry with myself I would have
noticed how anglic they were sitting on a park bench with their feet swinging and chewing their bubble gum. I probably should have hugged them instead of scolding
them for leaving the store with out me.

And to our cranky little friend. Your right I was not mamiamed and neither were my little boys. So as you say alls well that ends well.