Thank you Fried Okra

We had just finished a great morning walk with a new friend and I was enjoying some quiet time in the car before we got back on the road towards home.  Both kids were tired from walking 2.5 miles around Green Lake and I was taking advantage of their sleepiness to play on my phone.  It was on my phone that a friend of mine had posted a link to a blog titled "Dear Mom on the iPhone, I get it."

At first I was a little annoyed, another post about how I am a terrible person/mom because sometimes when we are out, I will play on my phone, whether it's to check Facebook, my email, or answer a text from a friend.  However, instead of feeling annoyed, I was overcome by relief, someone got me.  Someone understands that I don't play on my phone to ignore my children or miss some spectacular smile on their face while they are playing.  Someone put into words things that I have never been able to before.

I got teary eyed when I read this:

You're the mom whose husband, due to a job change he couldn't refuse, has a 90 minute commute to and from work, which means he doesn't get to spend time with the kids except on the weekends.

because not only can I relate, but this is my life.  By the time Matt gets home, it's dinner, bath time and bed time and usually these times are accompanied by meltdowns of "but I don't waaaaaaant to go to bed" or "waaaaaaah" (from the one that isn't verbal yet).

I continued to cry when I read:

You're the mom, the dear friend of mine, who lives across the country from me but is as close to me as my own heartbeat thanks to our phones.

because since I do live 1,000 miles away from my dearest friends and a simple text such as this is enough to make my day, make me feel slightly less isolated, because even though I have made friends here, nothing can replace the years invested in my relationships from "home."

And when I got to the part where she talked about talking to your family, I had to put my phone down for a minute to wipe my eyes, because between my two kids, talking on the phone is near impossible.  Trying to have a conversation with anyone on the phone, to actually hear a voice on the other end, is usually interrupted by someone screaming, grabbing at the phone, crying, needing a drink, wanting to make some extremely annoying sound talk, or full out melt downs because I am just not directing my attention where I "should" be at that exact moment.

I applaud Fried Okra for writing such a raw emotion filled post.  I thank her for putting into words things that I haven't been able to.  And I want to hug her for understanding.  Completely and utterly understanding.