The other night I went out to dinner with a friend. My pain ended up being her joy. Let me explain. She has been going through a lot of difficult stuff with one of her children. It has been months of one thing after another. I have hardly known what to say to her.
While we talked a little about her circumstances, I found myself opening up about a few things concerning my teens and all of a sudden she started to laugh and laugh. I kind of sat there looking at her and wondering what is so funny about what I am sharing.
She apologized and said, “I’m sorry but you don’t know how good it feels to hear that others have issues too.” I guess she had gotten the impression that somehow my family was near perfect and that we don’t go through struggles.
By the time the evening was over, I found myself laughing right alongside her. She later expressed in her Facebook status how much she had enjoyed having dinner with a friend…that was me…and how therapeutic it was.
Several years ago I used to get together once-a-month with three other friends. We called it “Sanity Night”. This was our chance to get away, eat out and enjoy a time of just talking and laughing. Eventually Sanity Night went away but the need to do that has never disappeared. It really is therapeutic.
So I told my friend that for now on we will call our dinner dates “Therapy Night.” I have a feeling we will be doing more of them. The point is really to get away and connect with other moms. It’s a wonderful opportunity to share, encourage, laugh, cry or whatever the occasion brings.
Raising teens isn’t easy and having the support of other moms can really help. Why don’t you implement your own “Sanity Night” or “Therapy Night?”
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