I have several support systems, but on a daily basis my family provides the support that I need. Lately I have been so busy trying to juggle family responsibilities, school, extra curricular activities, social functions, and most important take care of myself (i.e. exercising). It is easy to get stressed out with my current lifestyle, but my family helps me to find balance and calm me down when I get a little overwhelmed. My husband is a football coach outside of his normal job as an officer in the Navy. He typically comes home Monday-Thursday evenings, changes and heads back out for practice along with my 13 year old son. The games are on Wednesday nights which I attend because I have to be out there cheering loudly for my son and hubby. Then, every Monday night I have another class that I am taking at the University of Oregon from 6-9, so the babysitter comes over for a couple of hours until my husband comes home. She is amazing and I am so grateful that I have found someone that is reliable and who I can trust. Usually, I do not get to do my school work until 8:30 p.m. and I'm exhausted by 11. Most times I can read while my youngest son is napping and get my discussion question answered. I have learned how to maximize my time and find what works best for me. My husband is amazing at taking the kids off of my hands and letting me lock myself in the bedroom to work uninterrupted on the weekends. My oldest son loads the dishwasher and does a lot to help out also. Although, I am busy, I know that this is only a temporary situation. I chose to attend school at this present time because my husband will not be deployed for 2 1/2 years. I have to do what is best for me and utilize my resources and time. It is hard and I feel tired all the time, but this is what has to be done so that I can start my career when my husband has to deploy again and all of my children will be in school. I am so blessed to have a wonderful support system. I could not imagine my life without my family because they are my everything. When I complain, I have to remember that some people have it far worse than I do.
I do not want to imagine myself with a specific challenge, but battling a major disease such as cancer would require lots of emotional and physical support. I admire people who have overcome illnesses and live to be a support system for others who are going through the same struggle. Without my family, I probably would not survive such a disease because I tend to feel sorry for myself and with a major illness, self motivation is the first step; family support is equally important. I know the spirit of my husband and I feel so safe and secure with him because I know that he will be there for me and my children through better or worse and I for him.
