I Want to Fix the World with You
It has been one of those days, one of those days when I wish I could wrap my arms around the world, give it a hug, and then reach into my toolbox and pull out just the right thing to fix all of the heartbreak.
I wish I had a tool that could give two kids back their father, their father who was murdered senselessly while protecting all of us.
I wish I had something . . . anything . . . that could fix the pain for a mother who buried her child today.
I wish there was a way to undo all of the damage and destruction that has been done in Haiti, a way to make it all OK.
I wish I had a plane in my toolbox so I could fly to Haiti and help these Pittsburghers make sure that the families who are waiting to adopt these beautiful babies will get to do so.
I wish I could fix it all.
Instead, I'm left to fix the problems that overwhelm a 3 (almost 4)-year old. I reach into that toolbox and find the right thing to make it OK that there are no Chad Danforth fruit snacks in the High School Musical fruit snack box. I use my arms to comfort her when she gets frustrated trying to write the word, "Dad." I cover her with another blanket when she cries that she is cold.
I'm grateful for the tools that I do have, the tools that allow me to remember that after a long, chatter-filled bedtime delay, that 3-year old turned to me and said one last thing before falling asleep:
"Momma, I have one more thing to say. I love you."
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Reader Comments (25)
You are a wonderful friend, and this post is another notch in the belt of why we love you...
Lemme know when I'm needed on Sunday. :-)
I so know where you're at. I was up last night thinking about who else I could call about this plane situation for when those babies are granted refugee status and as the clock was turning into tomorrow I realized I'm going to still need to function today....and one thing I can do is continue on and try to find more ways to help.
Great post. Sometimes we have to remember that we can't help everyone even though we want to. And that is a hard lesson to learn.
This is exactly how I feel right now as well. I spent the night holding a feverish little boy wishing I could help him feel better, thinking of my friend's parents in Johnstown who will bury their oldest son today. I thought it was rough dropping a sick little boy at daycare. That's nothing. The world is a dark, ugly place today. Here's to hoping something beautiful blooms from it somehow...
I know how you feel. Times like these I feel so helpless. You may not be there to help physically but all you are doing to spread the word on your blog, facebook and twitter is wonderful. I just pray the word spreads enough and someone can step up and help.
I love your focus. You're always right where you should be.
I think, as moms, we always want to fix what's wrong with the world. When we can't, we're left to wonder why those magical powers we seem to have at home to fix anything broken don't work in the rest of the world. But, as moms always do, we'll keep trying, and do what ever it is that we can to help out the rest of the world, while still being super heros at home.
Thanks,
Lisa J.
She's sweet. Like make my teeth hurt sweet. Love her :)
I hear you, and I am right there with you. It's times like this when we feel helpless, that we can turn to where we are needed most, within the cernterfold of our family, all the while keeping our hearts wide open to the world that needs our love exponentially.
Thank you again for speaking my heart.
between personal, local and international tragedies, my heart has hurt for days, and I am not sure when relief will come. That said, you get this so, so right - we need to fix the problems that cross our path, and continue practicing good will to the best of our abiities.
You are helping your wonderful girl, and she feels the love. Who knows what your support and modeling helping behavoir will inspire her to do? Keep up the good work!
I'm going to still need to function today....and one thing I can do is continue on and try to find more ways to help.
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It's so hard to just watch. I gave $ yesterday and I'm praying, I've Shared and tweeted about your friends and the babies they are trying to get out.
It feels so lame in the face of a tragedy of this scope.
No words...great post!
Tragedy like what has happened certainly makes enjoy our small problems a little more than usual. Great post.
My employer now, and a previous employer work for the Steelers. Can you let me know if the refugee status is taken care of, and then I will contact them?
Way to make me cry at work. If anyone can figure out how to fix the world (or even just help it a bit), it's you. Alexis is so lucky to have you as a mom and a role model.
I think as parents we sometimes forget to focus . . . we look too hard at everything around us and scramble to fix what we can, and forget that some of the easiest (and most important) things to fix are right in front of us. You? You rock.
What a beautiful, moving post. Thanks for the reminder!
Beautiful.
I <3
Aside from feeling completely helpless in this situation with BRESMA (which is the overwhelming emotion I have), I find myself feeling incredibly grateful for the health and safety of my kids.
*sigh* I know...
Wonderful ending. They can drive you 1000x crazy, and then just melt your heart with one phrase. And they always know JUST how to deliver it...
I wish I could help everyone in the world, too. Some days, I do whatever I can from where I sit, and other days, I just focus on my daily tasks and try to push the rest out of my head, knowing that nothing I am capable of at the moment could help the way I want to help... *sigh*
I know. Some days I don't know how I get anything done, and I filled with frustration and anger. And then something bigger than me changes my perspective and makes me remember what is important. The fact that we can all look beyond our lives is what makes us amazing. And the fact that many of us have kids, spouse, family, who look at us at the end of the day or call us on the phone to say "I love you"... that speaks volumes.
Great post. If your friend who lost her baby ever wants to talk, you know where I am. I'm so sorry for her loss (for all the losses).
They have a way of helping us through some of the toughest times, don't they? There is so much I wish I could fix too...so much.