Let's Get
Together
Copyright © 2003 Andrea
Simanson All Rights Reserved.
There's nothing like appreciating something you have until you
don't have it anymore.
Two weeks ago, I ruptured my achilles tendon playing softball.
I'm 39 years old, a wife and mother of three, and found myself having
emergency surgery to repair the tendon. I wasn't scared and actually
the pain wasn't too bad. The lack of function in my foot and ankle was
the strangest part, so I was anxious to get that fixed. It all happened
so fast that I didn't have much time to think about it or consider the
aftermath that would take place after the surgery.
We had planned to be off from work with our 3 children that
week, so at least that was all squared away. But, little did I know, I
would be on my back most of the week, only getting from bed to couch
and
back for my day trips. Not exactly the miniature golf and water park
experience that we had written on the calendar. The kids settled for
bike rides around the neighborhood and a sprinkler on the hot days. The
only water experiences I had was "Dasani" combined with Tylenol 3 and
occasional brief showers with the large garbage bag over my "ankle
boot." The bottom line is that instead of "vacation" we went into
"survival mode."
I think the best part of the whole thing has been how it has
brought our family closer together. It's amazing what a husband and
children CAN do when mom CAN'T. Dad really CAN cook. Big brother and
sister really CAN help with younger brother. All kinds of chores that
are usually done by mom now become doable by anyone. That's not without
some moaning and complaining, mind you, but when you need clean laundry
and mom won't let you out of the house in the dirty shirt you wore
yesterday, well SOMEONE has to do it. My husband and I had more
face-to-face conversations this past two weeks because I would say
"Honey, please stop working and come talk with me. I'm lonely." And he
was wonderful! I really appreciate how our family has become a "team"
instead of five individuals doing their own thing. It feels great!
I'm starting physical therapy now and should be off the
crutches in a couple of weeks, but in the meantime, I'm enjoying more
time with my husband, my kids, and doing some things I have more time
to
do - reading, writing, contemplating, setting new goals, more
conversation time with family members - it's been great!
I even got to be a part of a research project by letting the
doctor use some of my soleus tissue for a study. Instead of allowing
this accident to send me into a time of depression, I've seen God use
it
to do so many great things!
Romans 8:28 And
we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to
those who are the called according to His purpose. [NKJV]
You don't have to experience an accident to build teamwork in
your home. You can start today, right now. Think about the changes
you'd like to see happen, write them down, set some goals, and then go
for it. The quality of your life is a choice away.
Andrea Simanson is a wife
and mother of three children, and the website and ezine editor of
Successful Family
Chores - Putting FUN and ENERGY into everyday tasks.
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