Battle Within

         I seem to have a daily battle with integrity. From as far back as I can remember I have had a deep desire to do what is right. Rules have been something I feel comfort in keeping. Sure, as a teen I broke a few rules and kind of enjoyed it. Let me share, I can count on one hand how many times I broke the "rules" as a teen, I kid you not. I take great pleasure in being trustworthy and honest. When I disappoint someone I am in turmoil until the issue is corrected. I am faithful to relationships to a fault. This integrity has hurt me, as it places a firm line between what is right and grace.
         As a kid I had only a few friends. I was loving and happy, but totally intense and obedient. Then the teen years came and I maintained even fewer friends. It didn't help that I was raised in a super conservative home with many rules and guidelines. My teen years were like everyone elses confusing, and I was lost. Most teens around me were dating, lying, drinking, smoking, drug using, R rated movie watching. I ,on the other hand, felt like a complete outsider. I didn't care that I didn't fit in with them, I cared that there didn't seem to be anyone like me. I had no trouble at all refusing the "bad" things. No trouble losing friends over silly things like cigarettes. I felt safe within the bounds of my parents and church leaders rules. Slowly things began to change as I fell in love with a boy. This boy messed up everything I had ever worked for! He swept me off my feet and showed me how to enjoy life. He was honest, and brutally so. Through our mistakes I learned grace, perhaps even for the first time. This boy with his dimpled smile and gentle sturdy voice, shook my world. He told me I was sweet, kind, and loving. What?! I was always hearing abrasive, condescending, and self righteous:/
         This grace tasted better than rules. Don't worry, I am still a full fledge integrity junky. However, I have found grace and witnessed it's delicious fruits. I desire to be gracious to all, as my Lord has always been for me. Even gracious enough to save me, the rule police. This dilemma between grace and law has reared it's head in my life once more. I started a new job last week. Lets just say I was less than thrilled with how the facility was run. Since I had never worked in this particular setting before, I researched it until the minute before I started my first shift. I went over policies, procedures, and protocols. I was nervous I would slip up and ruin this experience for myself. From the minute I walked in the door, when the receptionist told me to "Run away" I knew something was wrong. I got a sickening feeling in my gut, but I pressed on, as I am well aware of my weakness regarding rules. That shift was the worst experience I have had in 10 yrs of nursing. I used every ounce of strength I could muster in finishing out the night, and not open my mouth to anyone. Now, I was in a serious pickle. 1.Do I go back? 2.Quit and never return? 3.Call the Director up , give them an earful and submit a written letter? You're correct, I went with option #3. I just couldn't live with myself if I did not let them know all I saw and heard and made sure they were aware of how terribly flawed their facility is. UGH! So, I spoke with the director over the phone and then sent her a very detailed 2 page word doc. of my 8hrs there.
         I breathed in a breath of relief, whew. Then the next day I received a phone call from the director to the director, asking me if I would be willing to come in and meet with him in regards to my letter. No, no, no, I am not getting further involved! So, I agreed. Now what? Besides the panic at the thought that they may be upset with me, I am intrigued to see if they actually may value my unwavering honesty. Man, do I struggle with this. I DO NOT need to be in the right all the time. Things CAN be messy. As far as relationships go, I think I am making great progress in understanding grace, and having it for my friends and family. On the other hand, there is the workplace, where I am lacking in this area. Is there really any room for slack in the work force? I mean, everyone seems to abuse it, like a lot. Must I be the one to constantly be pointing out the errors? Must I KNOW all the rules? I do, I really do.
        

The Mommy One Uppers

We all know those people, the ones who know everything about everything. They seem to speak out of turn and embellish every story. I live in terror that I may be one of them! Someone who is ignorant to others struggles and talks on. The one who has a story for every single thing you share. Like you say " man I'm tired" they say " just wait till you have kids" you say "my job has been so stressful lately" they say "you have no idea what it's like to work in healthcare". Every statement is met with a greater expression of pride, stress, strength, or defeat. What is it about hearing someone's story that we feel the need to respond with something more than? Can we simply acknowledge the joy, or suffering without adding our own issues into the mix? I personally find this difficult at times. It's tough stuff to remove myself and my own life from someone's experiences. This is something I've learned a bit about as a mom. We moms can be brutal. Lets just face the fact that being mommy is ridiculously difficult and move on. If you have one child or 20, you're a parent. Moms are a very special breed of friend. If you are lucky you will find a few ladies who are non judgmental  (at least to your face), keep them forever whatever it takes! I have been bombarded in grocery stores, malls, libraries, and the like. Moms of all ages criticizing and judging me, my children and my parenting "style". I have fled from stores in tears. Is this the goal, a goal of belittling other moms until they break?! We are all guilty of this to some degree. You think you will never do it, and then you are faced with the new mom. You suddenly have thoughts "she has no idea, just wait until...". We moms need to stick together instead of tearing each other apart. Clearly this does not just apply to moms, but this is a group dear to my heart. I became a mom on a rainy spring day 8 years, four months, and 6 days ago. From that day on, I have faced more self reflection than I ever thought possible, self doubt and flat out GUILT! That's right folks, mom's walk around with 24/7 guilt trips! There is not one decision I make from what we eat for breakfast to where I work, that I don't feel guilt over. It starts with breast feeding vs bottle guilt, than we upped it to crying it out to rocking and coddling guilt. There is no end to the madness. The thing is, I would feel overwhelmed and reach out for a shoulder and get smacked in the face with an ignorant response. Look, if you are currently wrestling with how to feed your baby its a BIG deal for you. If in a few years it turns into potty training issues, guess what, its a BIG deal for you. It doesn't matter the struggle or guilt trip, we all have them and one is not far greater than the next. We only know what we experience, but we could make a choice to treat others moms with the respect we ourselves would appreciate. There is no need to match and up every thing said to me. I know, I know, the guilt makes us have to respond to the other mom with a better story so we don't feel so bad. It doesn't work to "one up".  Just this morning I had a mom tell me that she can't believe I would bring four kids to get groceries with me..then asked if they were all mine..then onto how do you do it..and all by yourself too..you must be exhausted...are their fatherS around much to help...do you work...well GOD bless you! This lady must have lost her mind, or so I thought. In reality this is the norm. Outspoken moms are everywhere. They spit their mommy venom on innocent victims from grocery stores to school parking lots. Why so judgmental of me and my trip to the store? How does this affect her? Guilt, that's how. We all allow guilt to eat us alive, we speak and act out propelled by its venomous serum. So, ladies, this is my public apology to all mommies. If I have ever treated you as less than, please forgive me. Not one of us knows the complete story of the other. I'm not sure I will ever completely overcome the guilt trip I'm on, but I can possibly make better choices and consciously act instead of react to other moms.