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Someone always has it harder than you; but it doesn’t make your struggles any less valid, and certainly doesn’t mean you can’t speak about it.
I am very blessed to have a husband who works, and earns enough so that I can stay home. We also own our own home; I know I am fortunate to be in this position.
I am also well aware that so many more people out there struggle and have it so much harder than me.
I still have my own struggles though – I have depression (not just Post Natal anymore), and battle a lot of inner demons on a daily basis. I also struggle when my husband goes away overseas and it’s just me and the kids.
So many of you are solo parents and do this every single day – you guys are amazing. I know you find a strength to make it through, and often you have no one to turn to for help. You have to battle on through sickness, work, and so much more. I don’t know what it’s like, but I try to understand.
However, just because I don’t have it the hardest it can be, doesn’t mean I am not allowed to admit struggling with what some might call “the easy stuff”.
Someone always has it harder but it doesn’t mean I don’t struggle and it certainly doesn’t mean I am not allowed to talk about it. If we’re not careful people will soon feel like they can’t talk about anything for fear of someone attacking them for not actually know what it’s like to struggle …
After I posted this morning about how my daughter had a cold and was throwing up (day 4 into a 2 week trip overseas by my husband), a few people messaged me on Snapchat (and even emailed me!) saying that I don’t even know what it’s like to struggle, and that I shouldn’t be complaining at all.
I truly feel that is so unfair to say. I mean of course I don’t know what it’s like to TRULY struggle, but I still struggle. What’s easy for some is not easy for others, it doesn’t make their situation any less difficult.
Telling someone to “toughen up” isn’t particularly helpful advice either. If ‘toughening up’ was as easy as it sounds so many of us wouldn’t have depression, or any struggles at all.
Just like a parent who has 1 child vs a parent who has 5 children. Each number of children brings different challenges and struggles.
No one knows what it’s like for anyone else, please remember that.
