I haven’t had time to do a book review since my break, but I will likely bring them back in 2020. No worries, I haven’t stopped reading.
This post is a bit of a refresher or maybe even a first time read if you’re new.
Enjoy!
One of my top ten favorite books
A memoir of a mom in recovery- I hope she remains sober. It’s a daily struggle.
A mother has to make tough decisions.
Book? Movie? You decide which is better.
Friendship is EVERYTHING.
Many years ago, I knew I wanted to have kids.
At one point, four sounded great, but that got cut after Cameron was born. He was a tough baby and now he’s my most chilled-out kid.
Three is enough at this house. I have friends who have more than three, and I wonder how they do it.
Every parent that I’ve ever met has some sort of wish or dreams for their kids. Mine probably isn’t much different from theirs.
Doesn’t he look thrilled?
I want my kids to live a life that they love. College is still debatable for the boys, and Lily hasn’t said much about it. I don’t think a college degree is necessary to go into an occupation.
My career required a degree, but not all do. I could have become a CNA and possibly made more, but due to RA, I’d probably have to stop at some point if not already.
My theory is: if it’s paying your bills, legal and you like it, then I support it.
Our school system has programs at each high school that students can go into for a career if they decide not to go to college. I think this is a great idea. Cameron is in a machine tool, computer-aided design (CAD) and engineering program.
He’s following in his grandfather and uncle’s footsteps. Matthew was NOT interested.
Julian is looking at programs and thinks a graphic design program might be a good idea. He loves computers and video games and loved to draw when he was younger.
If this is what makes them happy and fulfilled, who am I to stop them?
Of course, there’s more to life than working, so I hope they have a partner that they can be happy with and friends who they can be themselves with and are there when they need them. I also hope they remain passionate about what they like and believe in.
You can read more on my thoughts about my kids going to college here
This was my grandfather’s biggest lesson to everyone in the family and it’s on his headstone.
In my kids’ case, I hope they remember that they can always come home and I’ll be here.
This also means being yourself and never running away from or changing that. That never ends well- I tried it and I was miserable.
In part of knowing who you are, I hope my kids never, ever accept being treated less than they deserve- because they deserve the best person for them. This also means never treating anyone with less respect because they’re different in any way. I think that lesson has been extensively covered.
Accepting people for who they are and where they are in life is a huge value of mine and I’ve worked so hard to teach my kids this. I think Cameron and Lily have learned a lot about acceptance, thanks to Julian.
I also hope my kids accept themselves as they are- nobody is perfect and I don’t expect anything close from them.
I joke about this, but adulting is tough.
My boys can’t wait to hit 18, then 21 years old. They can do all the “fun things”.. Like pay bills and work?
I’m huge on self-sufficiency. No kid in this house is moving out unable to take care of themselves. All of them can cook in the microwave (we’re working on the stove), do laundry, clean the house (some better than others) and other things.
At some point, I’m probably going to become a grandmother.
I plan to spoil them terribly and send them home.
I haven’t always been the best mom, but I’ve always loved my kids. I think they know this, and maybe my parenting will get passed down- the humorous parts, hopefully. They can do without the drinking part.
I hope my kids are great parents- they’ve seen me do my best with very little, struggle with my health (physical and emotional) and still be an okay mom.
Mainly, I want these kids to have more. We’ve struggled financially and it’s not fun for anyone involved. It’s stressful and can break a family.
I know their lives will hit difficult periods- I hope I’ve armed them with the tools to get through those times.
I’m just a mom writing a blog of my thoughts. I don’t wish or hope for much with my kids. I’d love to see where their lives lead them. I’m trying to stay healthy (and mobile) enough to do so.
For further reading:
There is a cemetery in Southern Indiana that holds a grave I never thought I would see.
I know exactly where Jake’s grave is and every time I walk towards it, my heart breaks.
I’m not supposed to be here.
He’s not supposed to be here.
It took three years before I could come to his grave and not cry until my eyes swelled.
This is not where I want to be, but it’s where he is.
Nobody saw the events of September 1, 2015 coming. Even if any of us had consulted a crystal ball, this wouldn’t have been in it. I’ve looked back so often- even though Jake was quiet the last couple days before his death, this wasn’t on my radar.
I thought he had a lot on his mind, maybe a depressive episode.
If it had been, I would have done anything to stop him. All of us would have.
There are no words to fully explain how I got through hearing of Jake’s death. I’ve tried to describe it to those close to me, including my former therapist. Shattered is the only word that can even come close.
The Day After describes how I began the process of crawling forward with my life and how it is possible if you have had this sort of loss.
I didn’t attend anything after the funeral service because I was far too broken. I simply walked out to my car and drove home.
I spent days in bed, crying and drinking. I even spent my tenth wedding anniversary in bed- it was only 9 days after Jake’s death. Matthew let me be.
What?
Stay with me.
He knew that he had essentially broken me. Verbal and emotional abuse is no joke, and it will put you in a place that nobody should ever be in. Matthew is a bright man, but this wasn’t one of his better ideas.
He had changed.
I had changed.
That’s no excuse for what occurred.
He eventually realized that even though I had cheated on him and ran our marriage even further into the ground, Jake put me back together. Anyone who knows me well knows this.
There were days that I couldn’t see a way out of the darkness that I was living in. I ate and drank my way through my feelings. I gained weight and didn’t care.
I still don’t. I currently sit at 170. I don’t weigh myself unless I’m at a doctors appointment.
At one point, I became angry and mean. I’m not like that. I will become that way if pushed and even at this point, I still should have handled things better.
I began talking to Jake’s brother’s girlfriend, *Lauren. One discussion went terribly and to this day, we aren’t on speaking terms. I’m okay with this.
I am not, however, okay, with the fact, that it destroyed my friendship with Jordan. We are barely back on speaking terms. This took a lot of time, work on my end, and a bit of help from Sara.
I realized that I needed a bit more help to get past my grief. Raging, crying and eating clearly weren’t working.
I found a wonderful therapist and slowly began to see a bit of light. I worked on processing my grief in healthier ways- this blog is one result. I also worked my way through trust issues (I’m still picky about who I like), issues in my marriage, with my kids and some other personal things.
I highly recommend therapy in any form.
I even got sober while I was in therapy and my therapist was thrilled. When I started, she was almost ready to send me inpatient based on my drinking.
There are days that hurt- Jake’s birthday and today, September 1. I think it always will. This is okay. I refer to it as “The Day the World Went Away”, which is the title of a Nine Inch Nails song. He loved that band.
As four years have gone by, I try to remember what I’ve been able to accomplish. I remember that Jake would be so proud of me, or so I hope.
I’ve become a volunteer for the AFSP Out of the Darkness Community Walks. I’ve also done a couple of the college campus walks at the University of Louisville. In a way, it helps me carry on Jake’s (and my) love of helping others.
I figure if I can live through this, I can help others somehow. I cannot explain what a suicide loss is like. I just know that this is something that nobody should have to live through.
I have been outrageously lucky- support isn’t something that everyone has. Matthew didn’t have to be there, but he was. My best friends and family have been there since day one.
Josh, Jake’s other brother, has been one of the best supports I could ask for. I couldn’t have made it through the first two years without my former therapist. I may have ended up in jail and/or rehab.
I have a really bad mouth and back then, unchecked anger issues. The mouth hasn’t changed at all, but I’ve learned to manage my anger. My kids have noticed.
I may have kept drinking had my doctor not called with the fateful lab results.
Grief is one of the hardest emotions for a person to manage. One day can be great and you don’t think about the loss at all- the next, you’re sobbing over a memory.
My short term memory is trashed, thanks to a mini-stroke shortly before meeting Jake. My long-term memory is intact, and I am grateful. This helps me hold on to the two years of memories.
Thanks to those memories, I’ve created two hashtags: #ForMySuperman and #SpeakNow
They are seen with many of my mental health/suicide related posts on social media. I’ve often referred to Jake as my Superman. Even though he wasn’t perfect and our situation definitely wasn’t, my life was better with him in it.
He saved me from myself sometimes, but even more, the world I was living in. For two years, he was always there for me. I could be myself again, I was able to breathe. I could be happy and not pushed into a corner.
Those memories have gotten ne through the last four years, the good and bad days. I don’t have any pictures of the two of us together, but Josh and Sara have helped me with a collection of pictures of Jake and even a few of his kids. His daughter looks just like him. Of course, she’s taller than me.
All of the pictures have been carefully saved- they’re all I have.
The last week of August and the first couple of days of September are hard for me. I try to do things for others during this time- it helps. I also try to take care of myself so that I don’t fall into a pile of tears.
Before I met Jake, there was another Jacob in my life, my grandfather. He died in May 2016, and it broke my heart. He was the first man in my life who really believed in me.
I called my Granddad “the sunshine of my life”. He gave great advice and had a great sense of humor.
It took over a year to finally feel like I was living again. This doesn’t mean I was fully healed and living my best life. It means I felt like I wasn’t stuck in a daily grief pattern.
I struggled to move past the anger that eventually came, sadness, and other emotions. I never went through the bargaining stage. I knew Jake wasn’t coming back.
I’m at the best I’ve been so far. I’m past 2 1/2 years sober, and every day still remains a challenge. If someone tells you that sobriety is a breeze, it’s a lie. I don’t sit in meetings or read the Big Book every day, but that doesn’t mean I don’t do the work.
Happy? Am I happy? Probably. I’m living the life that Jake made me strong enough to live. As long as I keep that promise to myself, I’ll be okay.
My kids are growing up and I’m attempting to figure out where I want to go next. A few years ago, they were smaller and I had all the plans in the world. I know what it’s like to have that ruined in a minute. I don’t like making long term plans.
I do know that I’m going to be okay no matter where life takes me. I’ve got three people watching out for me- my grandparents and of course, my Superman.
Pics courtesy of pinterest
This month’s book review is for another movie/book combo.
Feel free to comment or email me with your thoughts at wraemsanders@gmail.com.
I’m not sure which I like more- the book was intriguing, but the movie is a bit more in-depth. I guess it depends on whether you are more of a book or movie person.
**TRIGGER WARNING** This book review does briefly discuss suicidal thoughts, attempts, and similar topics. Please read at your own discretion.
Title and why I chose this book:
“Girl, Interrupted” by Susanna Kaysen
It’s not often that people tell their story of mental illness- at least not from the time frame that Susanna does. This book was based on her story in the 1960s when it wasn’t acceptable to tell anyone you had a mental illness, much less write a book about it. I think it’s interesting to look at a person’s story from another angle, even if it’s a different time.
Who do I think this book is intended for?
If you aren’t familiar with what it was like to be a patient in a mental health facility during this time period, Susanna’s story will give you a peek into it. Many of us are a bit curious about that, myself included. I think it’s because of my work in similar facilities. I’ve read quite a bit about facilities in the past and how patients were treated, and it wasn’t always positive.
What did I like about this book?
I like Susanna’s honesty. She breaks down her thoughts and the events that occur in the story so that the reader can understand exactly what is going on. Some of those events may be a little hard for us to comprehend because we weren’t there to witness them, but she tries her best.
What didn’t I like about this book?
I thought that the book could have been a little longer, I think it ended a bit abruptly. Everyone has their opinions on this, so maybe it’s just me. The tone of the book was a bit formal for me, but I had to remind myself of the time the book was set in.
Plot:
Susanna is hospitalized at McLean Hospital in 1967. Her hospital paperwork is actually included in the book, with some things blacked out. This wouldn’t have happened today, thanks to HIPAA. I’ve seen this in other books, but it still astounds me.
She is hospitalized following a suicide attempt- I won’t include details, but she does detail the attempt and events that follow it. She also discusses suicidal thoughts and means.
I had a laugh while reading her description of “maximum security” and McLean’s checks system. This is the way that mental health workers (“orderlies” in the book) are able to assess patients on a 1:1 (constant), 7.5, 15 or 30-minute basis for their safety. Try doing 7.5-minute checks while hugely pregnant. I did this while pregnant with Lily and it was a bit challenging.
Susanna signed herself in voluntarily and thought she would be there for two weeks- this became almost two years. She got along with her roommate and the other patients around her, and after her release, was able to find two of them. She was released after she was offered a proposal for marriage.
What was Susanna’s diagnosis? I won’t spoil that for you. It’s in her paperwork.
I’ll let you find it in the book.
Quote that I liked:
“Crazy isn’t being broken or swallowing a dark secret. It’s you or me amplified.”
Just because you’re broken inside doesn’t mean you’re “crazy”. Everyone’s a little broken, right?
Come back next month for another book review!
Picture courtesy of Google
Three words can help a lot more than you realize.
“Are you okay?”
This question can start a potentially life-saving conversation or start a complete shut-down- but it’s worth trying.
If you’re asking someone this question, there’s likely a good reason, maybe more than one. Think carefully- has he/she been quieter than usual, or have you seen changes in their personality? Other changes?
If so, good move.
You may be on the right track.
Some people, however, are not good with expressing that they need help, or even talking about their feelings when they really should. These are the people you may want to be gentle with after asking if they’re okay.
I am one of these people. It’s a struggle. I worked on this in therapy and still, it’s a struggle. Let me explain- I know that I get stuck in my own brain, which is not a good thing. My thoughts can get pretty bad. I also know that I need to talk to someone about those thoughts. Don’t freak out, because I don’t have suicidal thoughts or anything like that, but stay with me.
I just freeze up when it’s probably time to reach out.
Why?
If we remember that horrible time in which I cried constantly and drank my pain away, I probably got on everyone’s nerves. That’s how I saw it. My former therapist explained (very patiently) that people were there for me because they wanted to be.
Okay, then.
She went on to say that if they were truly tired of all my crying and sadness, they would have left me alone at that point.
Once I felt a lot better about my life, I began to feel as if I didn’t really have a right to burden people with my problems anymore, because I’d run out of people’s patience. I have friends who will listen to me anytime I need them to, but I don’t always talk.
I really need to work on this.
So what do you do if someone says, “No, I’m not okay?”
What if the person says “I’m good, thanks,” but you feel like they are not quite okay?
This is a hard one. As someone who falls into this area, all you can really do is wait it out. Give the person some space. We have our own reasons for not talking, and we may do so on our own time. Unless the person is an immediate danger to themselves and/or others, there’s not a lot you can do. Just watch out for the person as much as you can and give gentle reminders that you are there for them if needed. My best friends do this quite often.
If the person says “No, I’m fine” and becomes angry and/or aggressive:
Absolutely back up. I don’t advise taking this any further because someone can get hurt trying to push the conversation. Stop what you’re doing immediately and get to a safe location.
Talking about our mental health isn’t a bad thing. We need to check in with ourselves and each other. Every day. Every week. Every month.
The stigma is still present while many of us fight the battle daily. We go to therapy, take meds, and do other things to make sure that we remain stable.
If you know someone is struggling, reach out to them. You may be helping them through the darkest hour of their lives. If you’re the one that’s struggling, you’re worth it. Take a minute and text someone you trust.
*picks up cell and texts bestie*
#SpeakNow #ForMySuperman
Do you struggle with talking about your feelings?
If so, BetterHelp can be a good place to start. This will help Georgia residents find a therapist, but can also lead others to what they need.
Photos courtesy of pexels
