#wonderfully well done gifs OP

[aeris-blue]

Guys. Guys. Guys. You don’t understand. I love them.

new ghost puppy, greavard ~

[rvexillology]

The flag of the United States if it was a barbershop

from /r/vexillology Top comment: Can a shitpost be so wonderfully shit that it ceases to be a shitpost? Here we see evidence supporting this supposition. Well done, OP.

[hangonimevolving]

Silver linings

There are obviously a zillion shitty things about breaking your leg. That whole “I can’t walk” thing sucks. That whole “my leg hurts” thing sucks. Also “geez, this bandage is hot and itchy and my leg feels sweaty and disgusting!” thing isn’t so great either. The whole not being able to work out, not keeping up with hyper kids, and not being able to wear normal pants/shoes stuff isn’t fun either.

(Oops. The title of my post is “Silver linings.” I was supposed to be focusing on the positive aspects of this injury, but I got started on the list of shitty stuff, and now it seems I can’t shut the door on it. Whoops. REDIRECT. Sorry, not the smoothest transition I’ve ever written, but here goes - let me redirect myself)

But, okay. There are some silver linings. I’m going to attempt to make a list of them.

1. My family has been incredibly sympathetic, affectionate, and helpful to me.

2. Specifically, Dr. Spouse has taken on a LOT of responsibility and chores, and has done so willingly and cheerfully. As if this isn’t nice enough - he has even made mention on more than one occasion how nice it is to be able to take care of me for once, since I’m always taking care of him and everyone else, and I rarely seem to need help. He might be just blowing sunshine up my ass.... but I was touched.

3. The kids. They’ve been troopers! I’ve been smothered with hugs and kisses, offers of massages, and all kinds of help. They were literally thrust into the position of having to step it up at home, doing chores and household duties that they’d never really done before - clearing the table, putting their clothes in the hamper, retrieving items for me, taking themselves to the bathroom or helping each other, etc - and they have handled it all WONDERFULLY. I am very proud of them both.

4. Related to that - this injury has made me look at my own parenting style and technique, and also the phase of life we are in right now, and reevaluate some things. It’s made me realize that we are in a different phase than we once were, but that I’ve inadvertently not adapted my parenting style to reflect that. All along, though I’ve intended to be a mom that fosters independence and self-sufficiency in my kids, I’ve actually done a lot of work around the house that I really ought to have been teaching them and helping them to do. I’ve done this just in the name of efficiency and getting shit done - but in the long run, it hasn’t ready been right for the kids. I’ve necessarily had to take a step back and become more of a guide and advisor than a maid and personal assistant, and I think maybe for me, it had to take something dramatic like an injury for me to commit to this new role.

5. I had just been thinking, in the weeks leading up to the Spartan race, that I ought to build in some recuperating time from all the physical strain of training. But I hadn’t really acted on this impulse, and to be honest, I feel like I’ve become a bit exercise-addicted in recent weeks. I’m now sidelined from a lot of fitness things. I regret the reason for that - but sometimes, there are hidden blessings to other parts of the body when one part is laid up. My knees, for example, may be better off for a little hiatus from running.

6. I get to enjoy this view, a lot. It’s not a bad view.

I hated my legs, especially my thighs, as a preteen and teenager - but I’ve learned to love them in my 40’s. These thighs have gotten me far in life! They deserve lots of attention!!! 😁

6. Pixels LOVES my splint. She brushes up against it all the time. It’s kind of cute.

7. I haven’t gotten to work on this quite yet - but I was just thinking in recent weeks how it would be nice to cultivate some more sedentary hobbies and interests. I’ve had some sewing and music projects in mind that I haven’t had the time or energy to sit down and flesh out in recent months. But I’m hoping in the next few weeks, I’ll make some headway.

Okay, well that’s a decent enough list for now. I’m sure there are many more silver linings I could name, or will be able to name soon. For now - I am on Day 12 in this splint. Day after tomorrow, I go in for my post-op followup appointment with the orthopedic surgeon, and if my surgical incision has healed okay and all looks well, I’ll be graduated to a removable walking boot - which will mean I get to WASH MY DIRTY LEG. I am hoping and praying that all goes smoothly - I can’t take the thought of this gross leg anymore!