Pride Rears It's Ugly Head

(To read my story click here, here and here)

My co-worker, MA, asked my why The Man Beast and I didn't ask for help. To be honest, I stared blankly at her for a few beats.

Did it occur to us for ask for help? No.

But truthfully, looking back, I think pride kept us from asking for help. Were there people we could have called to help us? Chances are, yes. My family is not rich by any means, but I'm pretty sure that had they known exactly what we were going through exactly when we were going through it, they would have moved heaven and earth in an effort to help.

But it's only now, seven years later, that I realize that help did come. Yes, we had a few people come in our path to help us indirectly, but I think it was my MIL who moved in swiftly, did what she had to do, and saved our pride all in one fell swoop. (It's safe to say that by this time, our self-esteem and pride were pretty much in the gutter. What she did for us was kick awesome).

You see, my family is a bit different from others. My married-to-family, that is (meaning: The Man Beast's people - his people by chance, my people by choice). They are loyal to the end. They are real and they make no apologies for it. They are wonderful, and I love them.

But my MIL (and it took me a few years to really 'get her') is not the openly touchy feely person. If you need help, she'll help you...but it won't be until after you receive her help and think on it that it dawns on you that she's helped.

And it's this understanding that's finally dawning on me - seven years later (I'm a little slow). She came down there and saw her boy was in trouble. So what does she do? She suggests we move up to GA, closer to her. She tells us that things are going pretty good up there and I think she might have thrown in there that she missed us - but maybe not because that's not her way.

We moved up here on her birthday that February. I was already preggers with Baby Gurl (we told her once we got up here one afternoon at a skating rink. Funny thing: she wasn't surprised. She said she had a feeling. She had a feeling not too long ago. She thought it was me. Imagine her surprise when it was Monster Mama!)

It's hard to believe that we've been here eight years. Eight years! The Man Beast and I celebrate twelve years together this month. That means that we've spent more than half of our married life here in GA. There have been some rough times, sure. But we've stuck by one another.

After all, The Man Beast's people don't give up.

Until next time...