Tuesday, March 20, 2012

More Life Lessons with Teacher Katie

teacher clip art       Judge me all you want, but keep the verdict to yourself!  This quote made me laugh, maybe because I've  come across a handful of people who look at my life and don't like what they see.  They don't take my circumstances into consideration, perhaps because it's too painful for them to consider, or perhaps because they just don't care.

Some people have hinted that it's been long enough since Emma's diagnosis, I should be used to it by now.  Like just because it's been two whole years of hell on earth we should be okay with it.  Over it.  Moved on.

They don't understand that I can't make commitments because I literally don't know from day to day if we will be in isolation, the hospital, or having a really bad chemo day.  They don't understand why I insist on keeping a close eye on my kids even while I'm doing something else (this one is particularly mind blowing to me, but I have had others express annoyance with my child-care habits in the near past).  They act as if I should be able to put "cancer" aside and do something else with my brain.

So the life lesson?  Who cares what others think!  Put other people's opinions out of your mind and go on with what you know needs done.  You don't have to tell them off (that's not to say you have to take their mouth).  You don't have to explain to them.  You don't owe them ANYTHING. 

And this is the lesson I am trying to learn :)

10 comments:

  1. Good for you, Katie! You have to do what's right for you and your family. It doesn't really matter if others agree with you or not.
    Hey, I like the new About Me pic up there - very pretty =)

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  2. I think Dick Wolf (creator of the Law & Order series) once said about his choices in life, 'Never complain. Never explain.' We don't need to explain ourselves to others. We know what we're doing, thank you all very much. And if we don't, we'll find out. But not from people passing by with their passing-by judgments, for sure.

    It's so exciting to see the countdown clock at the top of your site. :)

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  3. I agree. Who cares what others think. I always say, I don't have to like or approve of the way others live. I just don't have to live that way myself. This goes the other way around too. Nobody has to live like me if they don't approve.

    You just keep doing what's best for your family.

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  4. Katie, I don't think anyone should make judgments on your life. You are the one living it. You know what's best for you and your family. Plain and simple. Keep doing what you're doing, Katie because I think you are amazing.

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  5. Thanks, everyone. I can say that MOST of the time things don't get me down. I really appreciate your words of encouragement.

    And thanks for the compliment on my picture, Ruth :)

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  6. Well phooey on those people. They don't have a clue what they are talking about and they also have no business telling you how to live your life or what to think. Just be the best mom you can and save time to love yourself as well. That's all anyone can do. You have to do whatever you think is best and don't worry about pleasing other people or what they say. Just smile and know that you are YOU and doing your best. And give that child every single bit of love, care, and concern that she and you both deserve!

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  7. Yep, gotta do what we need to do to survive and thrive in our new life. Others cannot understand what it's like. I am pretty OK at this. I have had to work at accepting that what works for other people doesn't work for me - even though I would like to emulate them. I can only do what my personality allows. I can work to cope better, but have to accept myself for what I am. xo

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  8. Thank you, Allyn. And Theresa, that's exactly right! What works for other people won't work for me. That's all there is to it, period.

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  9. Well I have to admit that one of my big "tell offs" is to say "You can think whatever you want, but keep your opinions to your self. I don't care what you think" Man the people I have ticked off with thatone. I agree with you Katie, I wish I could say I dont care what people say or think or judge, but I do. So I dont want to hear it. MYOB is my thought. You do what you have to for your family. That's all we can do. Take care.

    ctny

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  10. Katie, I love the quote. In a small way, I know what you are going through. For 15 of the 25 years my husband and I raised and trained Appaloosa horses for the showring, I fought Fibromyalgia on a 24/7 basis. Some criticized me for doing what I loved...what, I should just curl up on a bed, cry and suck my thumb?... others criticized me for spending so much time with the horses when I should be spending it with my children...what? they were all grown and married...so sometimes it doesn't matter what you do or don't do, friends, family, acquaintances, whoever, are all going to have an opinion, no matter how little it is worth.
    And cancer doesn't affect just the person, it affects the whole family...we're dealing with that right now, and getting once again opinions from people who don't know what they are talking about. You're doing the right thing, know that you are, don't change one thing about yourself or how you treat your children, and, to quote Courtney, tell those who can't keep their mouths shut, to MYOB !

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