I'm working on a column about how everyone's life has a "packet of problems", and sometimes we wish we could trade our problems with other people. If your life has more drama than a Lifetime movie, I'd love to hear it :)
I invite you leave an ANONYMOUS comment here with a few short details about your "packet of problems". You may also e-mail me privately, if you prefer.
If your "packet of problems" is shared in the column, it will be done in complete anonymity for the benefit of others.
Please do not share any identifying information about yourself or other parties involved. (divorce, death, job loss, etc.)
Thank you!
Let's see last time I worked I had 2 choices before spending a dime (or 10%) - or in my case almost a 100 bucks - *Note, that was 2 months ago from todays date. Knowing the promises that We have been given, I paid my Tithing and am still waiting for work, but at the moment I have not bounced any checks, my most basic needs have been met - how much better can that get, and oh, I have a job interview next week - wish me luck.
ReplyDeleteMy mom and I are taking legal guardianship of my niece and nephew who are 3 and 4 1/2 years old because my sister-in-law thinks that keeping them in a one room former hotel room with her boyfriend (who has no contact with his 4 children because of a protection order)is better than them living with my brother-who is their father.
ReplyDeleteBeen married for 10 years and been in school for all of it. I have 4 children and live in a 2 bedroom apartment. My husband is working on his PhD and recently failed his exams to advance which sets us back a year. My husband is working 2 jobs as well as going to school so I can stay at home with my kids. I am going to homeschool my 2 oldest next year because the school system here is awful. We are living below the poverty level and have been since we were married. My family lives all over the world. We have never all been together and one of my sisters has never met 2 of her nephews and 1 niece. (I feel weird spilling all this, because I am honestly quite happy. I just wish that for a moment there was nothing to worry about.)
ReplyDeleteHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, you're serious? I don't have enough time right now, but will try to remember to get back to this.
ReplyDeleteDuring my husband's year long military deployment I endure quite the packet of problems.... my mother-in-law, who battles MS, broke her leg (as if MS wasn't enough, she was immobile for 6 weeks during healing); I got a root canal (does anyone like the dentist, and then a root canal, holy anxiety!); my son was stung 5 times by yellow jackets (at only 5, I am sure that began a lifetime fear); we battled head lice on two different occassions (two girls with incredibly long hair down their backs, one of my worst times ever, I wouldn't wish lice on my enemy); I had to have surprise gallbladder surgery (how do you fit that into your calendar? my world was flipped upside down), took in a dog (that I knew my husband would love but was still 3 months from meeting her) and I successfully campaigned for an elected official position (still wondering how I achieved that incrdible honor). Did I mention I am a mom of three with the world's most amazing husband? Upon his return his company couldn't "find an open position" for him. We are now on Packet #2 for our problems. I embrace all our life has for us with grace, and wouldn't trade my packet for another's for a second. I will forever and always share how blessed I am!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the above I hardly qualify to add to the discussion, but since two friends directed me here... My current problem packet: pregnancy for Baby 5, which has included home nursing care, hospitalization, prolonged nausea, and now the threat of early delivery; a three-year-old who likes to flood bathrooms, climb trees, surf on a banana-smeared kitchen table, cover walls in marker, scald goldfish, and conquer all things "childproof"; three other children whose needs and wants and demands leave me breathless; a husband who works ridiculous hours but still loves home improvement projects; difficult in-law relationships; few social connections for myself; and living too far from extended family.
ReplyDeleteI said I'd come back and I did. My life has been full of problems. I guess I don't think about it as much as I have when I was in the middle of them.
ReplyDeleteA couple examples: elementary school was bad because I was smart, got in trouble a lot in church because of my dad's then temper, 1993 was the worst year of my life...ever (almost lost job, apartment, and a few other things). From 1997 through 2004 I lost my grandparents and then my parents. Had to take a long journey of forgiveness in order to help me move on after my mother died. My mother was abused emotionally, ended up becoming mentally ill, refusing treatment and messed me up pretty good in the process.
I guess I can laugh now because of the time that has lapsed between being in the events and looking back.
I have a packet of problems! So, I joined the church in 2004 as a single mom. I was baptized, and my daughter followed 6 months after me (thought she turned 8 two weeks after I was baptized, I wanted it to be her decision). I was single and in grad school for two years when I was planning to move to Utah (land of plenty-a-single man, in my mind) and that fell through, but a man more my age (and not 18 like most of the "men" in my singles group) moved here and we were married 10 months afterward. He lost three jobs (fired) in just as many years, while I worked 2 jobs. I went back to work 7 days after an emergency c-section and delivery of a preemie. I literally went back to work the day after he was released from the NICU.
ReplyDeleteThen my husband told me about his pornography "addiction" (I do not consider it an addiction, as there is no physical dependency). So... I get a full time job (and am judged by all the mormons) and I have a lot of frustrations so that we are ALL (my family) judged by the mormons and I realized my husband was molested by his sister when she was well into her teens leading him to try to make the thoughts of his naked, gyrating sister (she apparently was fond of the strip tease) out of his mind while anxiety sets in (which is often), so he makes the images go away by... watching porn... to the point he has lost three jobs.
We lost our home, our car and were on welfare for six months until I got the job I have now. the job that so many LDS people judge me for having. I love the teachings of Christ and the Book of Mormon, but I really have major issues with the people who make up the chruch often and this is only the tip of my packet of problems. I may be back. It feels to relieving to talk out loud, albeit anonymously.
Well, after reading the above comments, I can honestly say I would rather have my packet of problems...but here it is anyway:
ReplyDeleteI am a person who has to fight with herself everyday to ensure that I don't lose my "cool" with my chidlren - I call it anger issues. God helps me a lot with this. And somehow, this anger issue mom is now homeschooling 3 highly intelligent, but very normal (mis)behaving children.
I am a member of the LDS church, but my husband is not...honestly, I think that says it all (though he is amazingly supportive).
We are currently living with his parents because we just went through a foreclosure. The majority of my belongings are sitting in storage. My husbands grandmother also lives with us because she requires round the clock care.
I am thankful for my in-laws, but miss having my own kitchen and my own laundry room. Every day there is a discussion about how much laundry I do and a battle about the "not so healthy" food my mother-in-law wants to feed my children (it is her house so she does all the cooking). I also fight the "can we have dessert tonight because once again grandma has bought ice cream/cake/cookies/pudding, etc.).
My schedule is not my own because I am the secondary/default/practically the primary care taker of the elderly grandmother - who enjoys the control of having me at her beck & call (despite the fact I am trying to teach my chidlren).
On the plus side? My children love being with their grandparents and great grandmother and my husband recently started attending church to set a better example for his children (although he has no desire to attend).
So, yeah, my life seems a lot easier than others, but it is hard for me and there are days I would trade in a heartbeat.
I recently found out that my husband of two years has been cheating on me and that he was cheating when I was pregnant with our now-9-month-old daughter. I know live with my parents and 7 younger siblings and my husband and I are going through a divorce. On top of all this, I'm trying to get my GED (since I dropped out of school) while receiving no support whatsoever from my soon-to-be-ex.
ReplyDeleteDon't get my wrong, I'm not complaining about my life; you just asked for problems haha I have many but I have even more blessings.