To the Women Carrying the Weight of the World
Cheers to all the working wives with husbands with disabilities or loved ones who have had to step into the role of provider while still carrying the weight of being a wife, a caregiver, and, somehow, still taking care of themselves.
Double burden? UNDERSTATEMENT. That doesn’t even begin to describe it. Not that our loved ones are burdens. But this life is really hard beyond words. It’s working multiple jobs to keep everything afloat, dealing with clients and coworkers all day, only to come home to a husband who is struggling in ways most people will never understand. It’s not just hospital bills—it’s rent, medicine, groceries, utilities, and every single expense that no one else is picking up. (Good thing, I am blessed enough that I got some of these things taking cared of by work as of the moment). And through it all, PEOPLE STILL EXPECT THE BEST FROM YOU, as if you’re not already pouring everything you have into just making it through.
I got married thinking I’d have a partner to take care of the things I couldn’t, someone to handle the heavy lifting—literally and figuratively. But instead, I find myself hauling heavy groceries alone, fixing things around the house, and taking on the unseen, unspoken burdens of life that were supposed to be shared. This is not the life I imagined. But it’s my reality. Steve isn’t even a worst case. There are still so many things he can do and help me. He still can walk do things around the house, we can even eat out. But he is very limited. I can just imagine those who have to go through worse.
To the women who have been doing this for years, I have nothing but the deepest respect for you. I don’t know how you’ve survived this long. I’m still new to this, and already, it’s exhausting beyond words. But I know I’ll have to get used to it.
To all of you out there holding everything together—your strength is immeasurable. You are warriors. May God bless you and reward you.
If this isn’t what you call unconditional love, I don’t know what is.
