Can you imagine a parent forgetting to register their child for school? Because I have done that. I forget not just my own commitments but my kids’ and I get so angry with myself over it. What kind of a mother doesn’t pack an afternoon snack to bring to school? What kind of mother sees that her children’s rooms are in shambles but does nothing about it? I’ll tell you who. This mother with fibromyalgia.
- What is Fibromyalgia?
- What Are Common Fibromyalgia Symptoms?
I am a very disorganized person. I make lists then forget them. I make appointments and miss them. I have two calendars but can’t remember to use them. I am in a constant state of brain fog, affectionately known as “fibro fog” to those of us with the disease. While I’m sure this is an incredibly frustrating thing for everyone dealing with it, it is exceptionally tricky for parents and caregivers. Not only is it annoying, it is embarrassing and scary. People tend to look down on messy houses and skipped commitments much more when it involves children. I take extra care to try and remember things, at least for my kids, but a lot of the time it just doesn’t happen and I am constantly afraid of the consequences. I’ve been berated: “I cannot believe you keep forgetting your daughter needs new shoes!” I’ve been told I am careless and self-absorbed and that is why I forget such basic things. I’m not, I really just forgot. I want to scream this at everyone who accuses me of being careless or lazy. I forget everything all the time and I feel bad enough. I don’t need others to make me feel even worse.
Not only are my children perpetually late for everything, but it is guaranteed that they are missing something, whether it be a snack or a permission slip. My 7-year-old keeps better track of her due dates and school functions than I do. Some might say, “Well, get a calendar so you can keep everything organized!” Yeah, that makes sense to someone who won’t forget to write things on the calendar and/or look at the calendar.
I am afraid of being judged by other parents and by their teachers. I am afraid of my kids getting left out or teased because of me. I am afraid of someone coming over and going and telling other people, “You won’t believe how messy her house is — I can’t believe she has kids!”
But so far in my seven years of “momming” none of these terrible things have happened and my kids some pretty much unaffected by my foggy brain. We have learned to laugh things off for the most part. My husband is in charge of keeping track of everything. My keys, my doctor’s appointments, what day it is, what planet we’re on, etc. There have been a few monumental screw-ups on my part like when I forgot my daughter’s dress rehearsal for the ballet recital she had been prepping for for a year. She wasn’t allowed to be in the performance because of it. My daughter was over it in a matter of hours but I spent the better part of a week verbally assaulting myself over it. I forget birthdays on a regular basis. I’m a mess.
But I am training myself to stop abusing myself because of it. Just like everything else that is a result of fibromyalgia, this is not my fault. I am learning to be more open and honest about how my brain works (or doesn’t, I should say). I set myself notes in my phone with an alarm to remind me and make sure to pass information along to my husband immediately before I forget. Someone who loses her glasses 10 times a day and spends her evening walking into room then forgetting what for should not be in charge of anything important. We have found a good balance and the missed appointments and forgotten performances have gone down to a bare minimum.
And if I do forget something, it’s not the end of the world. No one has the right to judge me if they aren’t living the life I have. My house isn’t messy, it’s lived in. And my children are not going to be ruined because I forgot a schoolmate’s birthday party. However, they will remember a mother who constantly apologizes and beats herself up, so that is the behavior that has to stop.
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Joanna Dwyer is a mother of two, a dog groomer and lives with fibromyalgia, . She uses her dry sense of humor to get through it all. She has been writing for two decades and recently published her first book, Confessions of Butterflies, which is available now on Amazon! Read more on her blog Chronic Parenting .
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