Response

                                                  Coping

Everyone has a life they have built for themselves. Our own experiences are very private and personal. No one else knows what it feels like to be you. We live with ourselves twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. No one knows what we are thinking unless we tell someone. So, how do we cope with it? What do you use to cope with everyday life?

I have been married for 25 years; have two children, a cat and a dog. Recently, I decided to return to college. My children are young adults now, and don’t need me in the same way they used too. So my role as a parent has changed my life. One thing that hasn’t changed is I enjoy chocolate and caffeine. They have always been my friend. I have had a relationship with them for long as I can remember.

Coffee helps me wake up or stay awake when needed. Chocolate boosts my mood. I started drinking coffee after my second child was born. My son at 2 weeks was up every hour for the first two months. I had my two year old daughter to take care of also. So, coffee became my friend when I was dealing with sleep deprivation.

I look back now and laugh at the things I did to stay awake, while raising my children. One morning my daughter asked me why I was pouring coffee into my son’s bottle and formula into my mug. I didn’t comprehend what she said until I went to taste the coffee. What do you use to wake up in the morning?

As my children became more active music played a big role in my life. We listened to Barney and Blues Clues in the van. It kept them occupied and helped them to deal with the ride. It personally drove me crazy but it made them happy. My daughter took ballet lessons. That started our interests in classical music.

Music is a personal taste. People listen to it, and continue to listen to it, based on how it makes them feel. What excites you? Does it enhance your creativity and imagination? Does it enhance intelligence and learning?

The Older my children got the more active they became. My daughter had gymnastics, girl scouts, cheer leading, and softball. My son had martial arts, swimming, and boy scouts. They both loved to camp and hike.

Exercise can benefit your body, brain, and mind. It has preventive and therapeutic benefits. It can reduce the risk of depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. It can enhance the academic performance, reduce memory loss, and extend your life. What ways do you get exercise? Do you do it alone? How does it make you feel afterwards? Are there different types of exercise you use for more specific reasons?

Most of the time, I found myself having to make something for my family to eat, or baking something for a school functions. So, cooking and baking has always been an expression of love and creativity for me. I take great pride in making holiday meals. I found it a great to connect with my family, and friends. Going out to eat was something we did on vacation. While raising my children I usually ate what I served them for meals. I had a piece of chocolate at the end of day to reward myself.  

It is important to eat properly, but challenging. Our relationship with food is first introduced when we are infants. What type of relationship do we have with food? Is it a healthy one? Do we eat to live or live to eat? When do we cross that line? Are there things we eat that make us feel guilty? Are there social stigmas attached to overindulging?

 What do you use to cope with everyday life? What type of music do you enjoy? Do you have a favorite sport that you like? Do you go to an aerobic exercise class with a friend? Does sitting and reading a book relax you? Does playing with your pet make you laugh? Enjoying our lives while coping with the everyday responsibilities is a challenge. Two things that have always comforted me are a piece of chocolate and a cup of coffee.