Moms Don't Have Time for Physical Therapy
Adventures in healing while parenting
Join me as I attempt physical therapy while parenting four kids. I’ll share some insights gained along the way about writing life, all of those “self-care” practices, and learning ninja life skills.
Many of you know that I have been recovering from shoulder surgery over the past few months. When I first scheduled surgery, my medical team was clear that this particular surgery recovery was long and hard. I believe the word “brutal” was used. I was aware that I would need physical therapy for a while to heal. So, yes I was warned but I hadn’t anticipated what that would be like in my life. This has been one of those experiences that has been both frustrating and enlightening—lemons and lemonade so to speak.
I know that in terms of health needs, this is challenging but it is not life-threatening. Many others have much more complicated health struggles to navigate. I also have access to excellent healthcare, health insurance, and a great support system of family and friends. Gratitude has very much been on my mind during this process.
In some fields, they say that “disruption” can be a valuable force for change. I would agree that this disruption to my life has stirred up some insights, but before we get to some of those, let’s get some exercises done.
Let’s get physical…therapy-ing
I am about four months out from surgery and have physical therapy appointments twice a week. I drop off my kids, go to PT for an hour and a half, hop back in the car, and pick them up. I then have my daily at-home program of exercises. If done fully, my at home program amounts to over two hours a day, not done all at once but throughout the day. I didn’t really have two hours just lying around in my schedule before surgery. Trying to do exercises at home goes something like this…
I do one or two exercises. Then I hear, “Mom, I can’t find any pants! Where are my pants?”
“Yes, where are your pants?” Why do small people lose their pants so much? Pants are found.
I return to my mat to find:
“Yes, you are cute, but I need that.” After some negotiations, I return to exercises.
One set down and then, “Mom, I can’t get the oven to work…”
I am up. Prefer to not blow up the house today, thank you.
Back to the mat…
“So funny, you are back. Mom needs that.”
Half a set done… and I hear, “Mommy, I need help going potty!”
“Yep, I’ll be right there!”
I only have a few more exercises to get done for now. And…
“You were just in the bathroom, I was there. And when did you get sunglasses?”
Next day, rinse and repeat. Look, now there are two of you…
You get the gist. There are a lot of interruptions. A nice routine has not been feasible. And yet, it is important to do. I need to do it to heal and have the level of function that I want for years to come. So time for some insights…