This post is in honor of a very special friend who needs to know that she is not alone. I want her and all mothers to know that being overwhelmed, depressed and just plain frazzled happens to the best of us. Please feel free to post your own words of encouragement, understanding and support.
Dear Princess,
Please know that I am here for you and that all you have to do is ask. I have not forgotten your acts of kindness. I am here whenever you are ready. In the short time I have known you you have shown me glimpses of your strength, loyalty and generous spirit. I hope you rediscover all the amazing qualities that make you such an important and essential part of this world. I also hope you find the strength and support to not just take another step but skip with joy.
Mothers are expected to be selfless, tireless and full of unending love and devotion. Some of us give until there is just nothing left to give. It happens to the best, brightest and most intelligent mothers. Even high profile mothers from Sylvia Plath to Brooke Shields have crumbled under the weight of it all. Depression is timeless and mothers are not exempt. Depression can appear and extend long past Postpartum. Hugs, Jen
Mothers are expected to be selfless, tireless and full of unending love and devotion. Some of us give until there is just nothing left to give. It happens to the best, brightest and most intelligent mothers. Even high profile mothers from Sylvia Plath to Brooke Shields have crumbled under the weight of it all. Depression is timeless and mothers are not exempt. Depression can appear and extend long past Postpartum. Hugs, Jen
This passage from Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert really touched me,
"I don't think a woman in the whole history of my family had ever done that before, had ever sat down in the middle of the road like that and said, in the middle of her life, "I cannot walk another step further-somebody has to help me." It wouldn't have served those women to have stopped walking. Nobody would have, or could have helped them. The only thing that would've happened was they and their families would have starved. I couldn't stop thinking about those women."
I can't stop thinking about these women either. Women are stumbling, pausing, stopping and sometimes there is still nobody to help.
"I don't think a woman in the whole history of my family had ever done that before, had ever sat down in the middle of the road like that and said, in the middle of her life, "I cannot walk another step further-somebody has to help me." It wouldn't have served those women to have stopped walking. Nobody would have, or could have helped them. The only thing that would've happened was they and their families would have starved. I couldn't stop thinking about those women."
I can't stop thinking about these women either. Women are stumbling, pausing, stopping and sometimes there is still nobody to help.
16 comments:
Jen, your words are so true!
I do hope our special princess reads this and knows that we have all had moments when we wished we were better mothers, wives, friends, co-workers, but all we wanted to do was stay in bed and cry. Asking for help with the chaos is just a phone call or e-mail away. It makes me so sad to know you are hurting and I would love to help. Thought and prayers to you daily. Jodi
Nobody understands depression until they've been depressed. People who say "What's the big deal just snap out of it" "You have so much to be thankful for. How could you possible be depressed?" have no idea what it's like to be depressed. Baby blues, postpartum, bi-polar..it's something you just can't control. I don't know a mother who hasn't gone through it, I know a lot that deny it. Being depressed is nothing to be ashamed of. It happens to the best of us. The best thing anyone can do for a depressed person, especially a new mom, is love them, be patient, help when you can and reassure them they are not alone.
To this Princess: Our thoughts and prayers are with you! Thank you for all the encouragement and support you have given to us. Should you need the same we are here to pick you up and put you back on your thrown! You are an amazing individual and I believe you can overcome whatever getsin your way! God Bless you and your family. ~D
To our Princess,
You are a truly loving person and I am so sorry you are going through this right now. I will never forget all the support and encouragement you gave. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
To Our Princess,
Please take good care of yourself! We miss you!
Love and Hugs to you!
My thoughts and prayers are with a special friend today.
(((Hugs)))
:)
Dear friend in times like this we reach out to you and hold you close. We hope you recover and embrace a new begining of hope. Sometimes things seem so out of control, it happens to all of us, sometimes all you need is a friend to lean on....so "Lean on Me, when you're not strong and I will be there, I'll help you carry on.."
Thanks soo much for your help and support and believing in me.
Sweet Pretty Princess--
I just want to let you know that even though we really havent talked in a while I still think of you so often.. You and your family are always in my thoughts.. I love you and I hope you get better.. If you ever need to talk you know you can call me. I have been going through boughts of Depression since the birth of Katie ( actually everyone says it was way before that) I finally went and talked with my OB and have been put on Meds.. I have seen and so has my family a world of difference.. So with that being said Huney I am so here for you.. I remember a lot of our talks on the phone and on chat about our families and other happenings in other "groups". I want to get back to that.. I miss you terribly.. Please contact me if you need to talk as I am always here for you. BIG HUGS AND KISSES TO YOU AND "S"..
Dear Princess,
I personally know what it's like to be in your shoes. I've been there since I was 10. I don't know what is making you feel this way, but please know that you are loved and blessed. I will continue to pray for you and hope that you will continue to be blessed. I love you and I'm so sorry that you're going through this. We have our moments and I can say that I'm almost in the same depressive state. We just have to keep our faith and know that we are loved, cherished, blessed and no one can tell us any differently.
Love you, Princess,
Ritz
To Our Dear Princess~
I want to express my deepest & most sincere love & appreciation for you! You are a truly amazing woman & GOD knows who you are & what you are truly capable of. Please know that we are all here for you & love you endlessly hold know grudges of any sort. We've all been in some sort of the same situation at some point in our chaotic lives as a Mommy...so keep your head up...FOCUS on what's MOST IMPORTANT & REMAIN STRONG but most of all...TALK to someone...don't hold it all in & ask for HELP whether it be a friend, a parent, an outsider or Miss Sophie. I know she may not understand but sometimes to just talk to someone can HELP so much. HANG IN THERE GIRLIE!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!! We have FAITH in our Princess Claudia!!!
~Love & Hugs~
Princess,
Many prayers and blessing for you at this time. May you ask for and receive what you need most at this time.
Hugs Shelly
Dear, dear Princess...My heart has been aching for you, knowing that you are going through a tough time and not being able to reassure you that so many are on your side. Please know that you are being prayed for. I was in a low, low spot not too long ago. It was so hard for me to open up to people and ask for help. To be honest about what I was feeling inside. I pray that you can have the strength to reach out. I know that there are so many around who would love to support you through whatever you're going through. Many, many hugs, dear friend.
To A Special Princess,
(((((((HUGS))))))
Take care of yourself!
God Bless You & Your Family
Please know that we are all thinking of you and praying for you. Depression is a terrible thing. I agree with Idabel that no one understands it until they have lived through it. And you WILL live through it. There is help out there, make sure to reach out, or have someone reach out for you and lift you up to get you started. Meds do not have to be a lifelong thing, but they can miraculously clear the fog!! You have helped me in the not so recent past with issues that I was having, and now we all want to help you. We are thinking of you and praying that this too, shall pass. You are strong and you will come out of it stronger. Shelley
To our princess,
HUGZZZZZ!!!!
In the short time that I have known you, you have shown to me what a nice, caring, and generous person you are. I Just wanted to pass on the love and hope that everything will work out for you! take care! MLT
Wow. what a touching post. I can't tell if I feel like smiling or crying. I could use a friend saying those words to me. :) In college, I was surrounded by my x-c and track teammates. I had a band of sisters that were supportive and nurturing, and kept me at my best.
Most of the time, now, I am just pretending life is grand. I have the children that make me complete, but have found that I have horrible character judgement and have wound up married to someone who seems to be slowly poisoning my soul. (how's that for melodrama?) I try so hard not to break down in the middle of the road, because I have my children and I want so badly for their lives to be magic and beautiful and for them to never be in the kind of situation I am in.
So I keep it all a secret. And no one who knows me knows what I'm going through.
So I'll just pretend your words were written for me. :) deal?
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