Life with MS is never easy, even when you are as functional as I am. I am a mom, a wife, a homemaker (temporarily), a cook, a chauffeur, a comforter, a supporter, a grad student. I am sure most of the mom’s that I know could add many more to this list. We moms are hard workers, whether we are stay at home moms or we have a job outside the home. The MS mom deals with all these same things and more.
An MS mom also deals with pain, depression, loneliness, fear, and many times a physical disability that she no longer has control of, but she still has to take care of her family. Some days she feels energetic, happy and motivated. Some days she just doesn’t want to get out of bed. Some days she just can’t get out of bed. How can she manage her MS and be a mom?
Having MS and being a mom makes me cry. I know that I am the best mom I can be. My daughter knows that I love her. I know that my daughter loves me no matter what. What makes me cry are the days that I know I can’t keep her entertained all day! Whether it is due to lack of energy, pain, or lately depression.
But, what I really want to know is, “where is the depression coming from?” For the most part, I have been feeling pretty good. But, why, then have I been crying. As I reflect on this question, I realize it’s my daughter. When I know she is out playing with her friends and having fun, I am happy and motivated. When we are at home and I have school work or housework, or I am feeling unmotivated, then it turns into depression.
As an MS mom, I still can do things with my daughter, but I can’t just go, go, go anymore. I need an outlet where I can play with my daughter a little bit and at the same time she can play with other kids her age. To many, this might sound like a play date, and yes, it can be characterized like that, but I want it to be a play date for the moms just as much as the kids. How many other moms with MS are struggling with the same issues I am and then to try and keep their kids entertained without wearing themselves out.
Moms with MS need to come together. We need to support one another. We need to have an outlet were we can do things with our kids and yet have a network of support when we need it. As an MS mom, what is your outlet, what do you do to cope with the juggling act of being a mom to your child/ren and dealing with all the symptoms of MS? Do you have a support network? If you don’t have support network, what do you do, how do you cope? I would love to hear what you have to say about this! Take a minute and tell me how and/or what you are doing to cope as an MS mom. Answering these questions here might help someone else. How many people can you help?