It seems I spend a lot of time thinking about my choice to leave friends and family (of the toxic variety) behind and while that adds vigor to my position, it can take it's toll. Today, I switch gears. for the sake of privacy I will not share too many details, but I do really want to share a story of why a family (a specific family) should stay together.
So I have this friend.... we used to work together. He is what made our awful job so fun and entertaining. My husband and I remain friends with him to this day. We got to know each other pretty well. Including things about our families. I used to joke with him that he married (and divorced, but still very much loved) my mother. The stories we would tell each other it could have been the same person. They had a small brady bunch of four altogether. Some before meeting, some together, and some after. However, through all their drama, all four kids have remained together. Siblings by marriage and by blood, they are all connected in one way or another.
We know the adage, it comes in threes, I hope that is true. A family can only endure so much tragedy. My dear friend was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last year, he has suffered its progression ever since. I will add that even though he suffers from MS he has amazing support for himself and his children.Then, not too long ago, their children's mother passed away. Though they had their ups and downs, I know that he only endured their relationship out of true love for her and their children (all of them). And now comes number three, In the aftermath of this tragedy their family finds itself in a custody battle.
My friend does not fight this battle for himself. He fights this battle for his four children. The other two parties that want custody, do not want custody of all four of them, just this one, or those two. It makes me so angry to see people be so selfish, to not consider what they threaten to take away from these children. In their time of grieving, do they not need each other? Their brothers, their sisters, their father?
I tend to stay out of causes and/or politics, I rarely speak my mind on such controversial things. Though believe you me I do have an opinion. But today, I see a dear friend in dire need, and in his four children, I see myself. As I know what it is to grow up with a mother just like the one that they had. I wonder what my life would have been if the same had happened to me, if then I was taken away from my brother and sister, taken from my father. I can't imagine the worry that has befallen their shoulders. What concern they must bear, for themselves, their siblings, and their father.
So today, I do speak on behalf of another, in hopes that my voice will carry their plea far. That help will come to them. That these children can take a sigh of relief and know the battle is over and they will remain together.
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