Smiling through my kid's birthday party while my mom's health news was all I could think about

I had to act happy at my son's party in our backyard last Saturday, but my mind was stuck on the call from my mom's doctor in Cleveland. She got her scan results and they found a new spot. I kept handing out cake slices and cheering for the pinata, but inside I was just counting the hours until I could call her back. Anyone else had to fake it for their kids while dealing with a sick parent?

4 comments

4 Comments

henryp402mo ago

Yeah, the "smiling through the birthday party" part really hits home. I had to do the same thing last fall when my dad was in the hospital. My daughter was opening presents and I was just nodding along, but my brain was completely stuck on the last update from his nurse. You keep the routine going for the kids because they need it, but it feels like you're split right down the middle.

avery_ross2mo ago

My son's third birthday party happened the same week my mom got her diagnosis. I was cutting cake while mentally reviewing treatment options. You get real good at faking normal when the kids are watching.

uma_williams2mo ago

Remember how you have to keep it together for the kids? I once had to host a backyard barbecue the day after a huge family fight. You just put on the same face and flip the burgers, but it feels totally fake.

gibson.avery28d ago

Feeling that split right down the middle is maybe the worst part. I remember helping my kid with homework one night while waiting for a call back from a doctor about my own results, and I had to keep my voice totally steady like nothing was wrong. You get so practiced at it that sometimes you almost believe the act yourself, until you realize you've been staring at the same crayon drawing for ten minutes without seeing it. It's like you're running two separate operating systems in your brain at once and neither one can fully shut down.