We all live in our own realities. And they’re different. Right?
Sometimes we forget, or can’t even imagine what it takes for to another person to do something.
Before kids, I had a large group of friends and colleagues from work and organizations that I would socialize with. Different activities, events etc. It was only natural for my friends to want to support me in ways they knew I liked. So I would get invites. Most of which I declined. Once, I got a call from my friend Judy Hunt. We have been friends for years and were talking on the phone. The Burlington Sound of Music Festival was happening that weekend. She had never been, so I encouraged her to attend with her girls and husband. “We should go together!” Judy volunteered. “Come on Diane, it will be fun! And there will be 4 of us. We can help you with the kids.” “Okay”, I thought… “this might work”.
“My brother Cam is running the security for the festival, so why don’t we just meet you at their tent?”, Judy continued. “it is just at the bottom of the hill, by the water, so it’s easy to find”.
This is where the disparity of our worlds collided. An innocent enough, and seemingly helpful suggestion. Right? I immediately burst out laughing. “Judy, that isn’t an option. If you want us to go with you, you’ll have to come to the house and help us get there”.
Okay… responded Judy, (who thankfully is game for any adventure with me)… We’ll see you at 1. We started getting ready at 10. Finding and piling up the items needed to bring.
- The special needs jogging strollers had to be folded down to put in the van
- Extra changes of clothes for 3
- Briefs, diapers, change pads, wash cloths,
- Label for the back of Jarrett’s sweater and Jacket. “My Mom’s phone number is: _” No name of course, since I didn’t want people calling him by name and stealing him away. But he was a runner, and I was bringing him to a very crowded festival. (If they wanted to stalk me I would simply put them to work!)
- Snacks that were easy and healthy
- Emergency supplies – homeopathics, anti-seizure meds
Even now, thinking back, I can’t recall everything that it took. But when Judy, Ivan, Sarah and Laura arrived at the house to help, I don’t think they were anticipating that it would take 30 minutes to load all of our stuff and Carling, Colton, Jarrett into the van before I could drive away, following them to the parking lot. When we arrived, it took another 15 minutes to unload. Set up the strollers, transfer suction machines to the back of the stroller, position the head rests and pillows properly behind the back, around the neck, between the knees, under
the legs, and off we went. Two girls pushing one stroller, me with Jarrett on my back in the backpack (for a few minutes anyhow), Ivan pushing another stroller, Judy carrying the fold up chair that we needed in case we had to take one of the kids out of the stroller if their legs cramped to sit with me while we stretched them out… When we finally got to the tent where we popped in to say hi to her brother, Judy just turned at me… smiled and said…”Yes, I can see how meeting you here wouldn’t work”.