Life is full of ups and downs and I have certainty experienced both in the last little while. We were fortunate enough to have our Meg home for a full week over her reading week. It was an absolute pleasure to have her here for leisure for a change. She and I had a lot of time to just be. She and her Dad skied, walked in the woods, and snowshoed through the week. I was able to join them on the lake one day for a short snow shoe and a walk. We also went ice fishing.
Times like this are always bittersweet for me. I love having my girls at home but their activity level with their Dad reminds me of how much I have had to give up.
That's just a fact, and one I don't dwell on; but it is something many of us with chronic pain deal with, it's a loss like any other. It means we have to be more creative to find things to do that are both interesting and not to physically challenging.
We filled our time in different ways that were more conducive to me, and we had a great week.
From the little bit of activity I did do, there was residual pain and discomfort but I had time to recover after she left.
What was exciting for all of us was an overnight trip I had planned. Knowing Meghan a typical "girls" night does not excite her the same as an outdoor activity, so I searched for the perfect thing. It had to be rustic enough for her but comfortable and doable for me. It was a tough combo but I found just the thing. We rented a Mongolian yurt and it was only a forty minute drive from here.
It took a lot of organization with packing and making food but with Meg doing most of the heavy lifting it was a breeze. We headed out on one of the mildest days of the winter. We had to carry food, bedding, clothing and games and it was about a fifteen minute walk through the bush to get to the yurt. Meg was a trooper, I just had to get myself there and she carried the backpack and dragged the sleigh behind her.
I have to say it was one of the most unique experiences we have had. It was like camping in the winter. Once we arrived our only job was to keep the fire stoked and enjoy ourselves. It was too mild for the outdoor activities and we didn't make use of the sauna. Meg climbed trees as she always does while camping and we played a rousing game of Catan, cooked on the wood stove and just hung out. Time stands still when you're in the middle of the forest and there's nobody else around. It was a wonderful experience and one each of us will likely remember for a long time.
It was a stretch for me as it took me out of my comfort zone,walking through the bush, and generally roughing it for two days but it was so worth it.
Times like this are always bittersweet for me. I love having my girls at home but their activity level with their Dad reminds me of how much I have had to give up.
That's just a fact, and one I don't dwell on; but it is something many of us with chronic pain deal with, it's a loss like any other. It means we have to be more creative to find things to do that are both interesting and not to physically challenging.
We filled our time in different ways that were more conducive to me, and we had a great week.
From the little bit of activity I did do, there was residual pain and discomfort but I had time to recover after she left.
What was exciting for all of us was an overnight trip I had planned. Knowing Meghan a typical "girls" night does not excite her the same as an outdoor activity, so I searched for the perfect thing. It had to be rustic enough for her but comfortable and doable for me. It was a tough combo but I found just the thing. We rented a Mongolian yurt and it was only a forty minute drive from here.
It took a lot of organization with packing and making food but with Meg doing most of the heavy lifting it was a breeze. We headed out on one of the mildest days of the winter. We had to carry food, bedding, clothing and games and it was about a fifteen minute walk through the bush to get to the yurt. Meg was a trooper, I just had to get myself there and she carried the backpack and dragged the sleigh behind her.
I have to say it was one of the most unique experiences we have had. It was like camping in the winter. Once we arrived our only job was to keep the fire stoked and enjoy ourselves. It was too mild for the outdoor activities and we didn't make use of the sauna. Meg climbed trees as she always does while camping and we played a rousing game of Catan, cooked on the wood stove and just hung out. Time stands still when you're in the middle of the forest and there's nobody else around. It was a wonderful experience and one each of us will likely remember for a long time.
It was a stretch for me as it took me out of my comfort zone,walking through the bush, and generally roughing it for two days but it was so worth it.
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