Comments on: No Outlet

By: Anna

Anna — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:09:18 +0000

Rachel- I third what gramps and darth say- please write a book in your 1/8 of a second of free time!!!

I love what Jill says, but would amend it to say we are all women, we are all people. We all contribute, we all share, we all connect. And we all MATTER.

Also, my sister and I were just talking about this last night, except in a different way. Neither of us are married or have kids (and unfortunately aren’t those successful & rich 80s career women, either!) and we both feel like WTF– are we really this old and HERE?? We aren’t where we thought we’d be, we don’t know where we are going, or even where exactly we want to be…. but who does???

I hate to add some mustard to your sandwich, but ALL of us do something important. Your blog is important. Your kids are important. Even those damn hotdogs are important. Because when you add up all the little things in life, you can see the whole picture of your life- and that whole picture, much like your family photo collage- is of meaningful goodness.

haven’t seen you in years, but love love love you!

By: ginnymom

ginnymom — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:37:23 +0000

Racher and Rebekah: to see you two on Oprah even I, as in (aye!) would stay home. Great idea for the whole TV watching world.

By: rebekah

rebekah — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:51:28 +0000

I think we should trade lives for a while, since I am feeling the polar opposite. as in I am on the open road and it is good but I left my kid at home. If we can figure that out, perhaps we will find the elusive “perfect balance,” patent it, sell it, and be on oprah and stuff.

By: Elissa

Elissa — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:27:46 +0000

I’ve got that “Something That Is Next” feeling, too and I haven’t a clue what to do with it. If you find the answer, please, PLEASE pass it along.

By: racher

racher — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:33:51 +0000

You guys are the best at inviting me out. Unfortch, I’ll be in Mississippi. We need to do some SYTYCD get togethers after our move though – before it’s over for the summer and life has no meaning anymore.

By: Allen

Allen — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:30:40 +0000

candace and I are going to a cookout on Saturday, come with!

By: Kimie

Kimie — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:06:58 +0000

Oh girl you have so captured exactly how I am feeling right now!!!! I just quit my part time job to be home with both my boys, 16 months and 6 weeks. I sometimes feel like a robot, feed, change, put to sleep. Do it all over again, never any time to even get dressed or have a life outside the house. When the rare moment comes when they are asleep at the same time am I ejoying the quiet? No! Then it’s time to clean. Oh what fun
I too am super blessed and was so happy to quit my job and leave the world of youth ministry behind: even though it’s been my life for the past 8 years. My babies are amazing and motherhood is such an ethereal state. But STILL!!!!! I think we all must feel this way at some point right? God bless ya for sharing about it so others realize they are not alone

By: Gramps

Gramps — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:13:34 +0000

I second the idea in Darth’s last paragraph.

By: Darth

Darth — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:09:47 +0000

I want to be consoling but fear that anything I could possibly write would come across is trivializing your frustration. Nevertheless . . .

In the Horatio Hornblower saga (more than a dozen novels, probably not read by anyone reading this comment) there comes a time when our hero realizes he is damned to always be unhappy: when he is at sea he dreams fondly of home; when at home he misses the sea. I have experienced this and don’t have an easy answer. I’m sure the Buddha would advise you to “enjoy the moment” for what it is, know that things will not always be thus, and that you will look back some day . . . . yeah, I know how unsatisfactory that advice is. Still, cliches become cliches for a reason.

Meanwhile: you are an incredibly gifted writer. I don’t know if you LIKE writing, although you sure “sound” like it. Among the college students in my classes not one in a hundred (maybe not one in a THOUSAND) can match you. Have you thought about some serious writing? (Not that blogging isn’t serious, but . . .)

By: Abigail

Abigail — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:35:11 +0000

Thank you, Rachel, for this post. I have so often felt this way since Helen was born. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one with such conflicting feelings!