Before we move on there’s one more part of this story from Six Flags that has been weighing heavily on my heart, and it’s something I need to talk about because the events of last night have affected more than just one evening out. Its not to air dirty laundry its just something I feel should be shared as a parent because it might help someone else.
It’s now affecting Charlie’s plans, his friendships, his ability to work, and the decisions David and I have to make about bringing income into our home. First, I want to make something clear. Charlie has told me that he doesn’t want to spend time with Joseph right now. I’m not saying they won’t be friends in the future. I’m not saying they’ll never hang out again. I’m simply saying that, after what
happened, Charlie needs some space, and I understand and respect that. He has every right to take a step back from a situation that left him frustrated and upset. But here’s where things get complicated. Charlie had already decided that he didn’t want to do DoorDash or Instacart with Bradley because Bradley wasn’t showing up when Charlie needed him to.
I understood that decision, and I respected it. Charlie needed someone he could depend on if he was going to make DoorDash work for him. So he was planning to do it with Joseph instead. Now, after last night’s experience, Charlie doesn’t want to be around Joseph, either.
I understand why he feels that way, but it leaves us with another problem to solve. Charlie needs to figure out how he is going to move forward with DoorDash or Instacart, because he has expenses and responsibilities of his own. And as his mom, I’m trying to figure out how to help him without taking on every responsibility myself.
Charlie has a driver’s license appointment on Wednesday, and there is a $40 expense involved. Right now, I don’t have that money available to simply hand over. Yes, I received the $150 payment for my sponsored post, and I’m incredibly grateful for it. But that doesn’t mean the money is automatically available for somebody else’s expenses.
That payment came from work I did for Greatful Moments. I need to be able to put money back into our household and continue building my business, too. I’m proud that my work is starting to pay off, and I need to treat that income responsibly and use it for groceries or bills.
I want Charlie to succeed. I want him to have opportunities to earn his own money, build independence, and learn how to manage his responsibilities. If DoorDash or Instacart is something he can do successfully, then I want to help him figure out a workable plan. But I cannot be the only person trying to figure everything out.
So now I have some decisions to make. Does Charlie want me to go with him while he does DoorDash? If that’s what he wants, then I need him to tell me so we can work out a schedule. I can adjust my plans, and I can rebuild my routine around that arrangement if necessary.
Or is it time for David and me to start doing Instacart ourselves, as we’ve discussed before, and let Charlie decide what he wants to do? Either option means making changes, and I’m willing to do that. What I need is some communication so I know what direction we’re taking.
We cannot keep putting off the decisions while hoping everything will somehow work itself out. We have bills to pay. We have responsibilities. And we need income coming into this household. Because one income and David’s hours being cut isn’t going to cut it Buttercup.
I love my son, and I want to help him. But helping someone doesn’t mean taking every problem off their shoulders. Sometimes helping means giving them the opportunity to make decisions, take responsibility, and work alongside you to find a solution. And I need to remember that my work matters, too.
I’ve spent the past couple of weeks working hard to rebuild Greatful Moments, establish relationships with businesses, and secure opportunities that will help us grow. I don’t want to lose that momentum because I’m constantly trying to rearrange everything else in our lives.
I need time to work on the blog. I need time to answer emails, write articles, and build the relationships that make future opportunities possible. And I need to take care of myself. As well as my dog and make sure she has the things she needs. As well as my home because it will not clean itsself.
As much as I hate admitting it, all this stress is affecting my health. I can feel how much I’m carrying, and I know Charlie has been affected by what happened, too. I don’t want either of us to keep carrying this frustration until it becomes even harder to manage. Or David who is stressed to the limit.
Sometimes it feels as though you’re building a house of cards, carefully placing one piece on top of another, and then something happens that makes the whole thing wobble. You try to steady one piece, and another starts falling. That’s how I feel right now and it isn’t fun to watch..
The events were supposed to be opportunities to build our business and spend time together. Instead, the disappointment has spilled over into friendships, work plans, finances, and our peace of mind at home. But I also know that we cannot keep looking backward and wishing things had gone differently. We have to figure out what comes next.
I can respect Charlie’s need for space from Joseph. I can respect his decision not to depend on Bradley for DoorDash. I can be willing to adjust my schedule and help him explore other options. But I also need Charlie to communicate with me and take an active role in deciding what happens next.
And David and I need to make decisions that work for our entire household, not just one person at a time. This is where I have to remind myself that I can love my family without solving every problem for them. I can offer help without promising money I don’t have. I can change my plans without giving up on the work I’m trying to build.
Most importantly, I can acknowledge that I’m overwhelmed without feeling guilty about it. I’m still grateful for the opportunities Greatful Moments has received. I’m still thankful for the people who believe in my work. And I’m still trusting the Lord to help us find our way forward.
But faith doesn’t mean sitting still and hoping things change. Sometimes faith means taking a deep breath, having the difficult conversations, making a plan, and doing the next thing that needs to be done. That’s what I’m trying to do now. One decision at a time. One day at a time. One prayer at a time. Because even when the pieces don’t fall into place the way we hoped, we can still find a way to move forward as long as we lean onto the Lord.
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed. ❤️🙏
GratefulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
