A Divided Heart: Just Thinkin' out Loud
Posted: Tuesday, February 12, 2008
by Teresa Ortiz
Freelance writer/Speaker
As a parent, you probably understand what I mean when I say I have a divided heart. I am experiencing the joy of one child, while experiencing the pain of heartbreak for another.
On Friday, my daughter and her fiance', announced that they have set a wedding date. August 23, 2008! Oh my, only six months away!!! I was so thrilled!
I can't wait to tell Justin! He is going to be jazzed!
Without a thought as to how J's day might have gone, I blurted the news with zeal. He was happy, but not as jazzed as I expected him to be. Oh-no, somethings wrong.
I was in the kitchen when he came and sat on the counter top. (A habit since he was a little boy.) However, these days it only happens when he wants to talk about something important.
He sat quietly, swaying his feet back and forth with his head down; for a split-second I saw my five-year old little boy.
I waited quietly as I stirred my noodles, then, with watery eyes and a broken voice, he let it out, "Tia decided she wants to take a break." "Oh, J, I'm so sorry." All I could do was cry with him.
At 17-years old, this is his first love. I tried to comfort him as much as I could. My heart was torn. I didn't want to say anything else about Brittany's wonderful news, it seemed so cruel, so I held it in.
As you can imagine, it was a rough weekend for him. Although, on Saturday, he went to play a game of paint ball with all the guys. He was thrillled and could hardly wait until game time. I think it had something to do with therapy.Sunday morning we were going to drive to the coast to visit the light house for a potential wedding sight. Do we invite J to go with us? Would that add insult to injury?
Britt and J have an amazing relationship and she felt that we should invite him. I was so blessed by the fact that he was able to put his sadness behind and be in the moment for his sister and his future brother-in-law.
Andrew's sister came along as well, so we had a car full of people-which proved to be the best medicine for J as Vanessa ended up hanging out at our place and they played guitar hero for hours.
There was so much laughter and I felt as if my son's heart was already on the mend.
I love my family and I feel so blessed by God that my children can come together to support one another and lift each other up during hard times.Thank you Heavenly Father, for all the blessings in our lives! Thank you for the love and the bond that our family has because of you! I love you Lord, you are my everything!
I am always amazed at how different men and women handle the same situation; all I wanted to do was hug my little man and tell him that she doesn't deserve someone as wonderful as him.
My husband, on the other hand, said he was going to go kick her and her horse.
Brittany said she was next in line... so much for my theory on men and women reacting differently.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Teresa, as a mother, I can imagine how torn your heart was/is -- you love BOTH your children and want the both happy and settled. It sounds as though your household is a loving one and that's what your son will fall back on -- thanks for sharing your heart!Hi Judi, yes, my heart is torn. One minute I am excited about wedding plans and the next I find myself sheding a tear. I know he will come through, he is a trooper. He and Andrew are so close and Justin doesn't know it yet, but Andrew will be asking him to be his best man! That should cheer him up quite a bit! Thanks for taking the time to read and for your sweet comments.
Teresa, Aw, what a precious "mother" moment. Thanks for sharing. Barbara
Hi Barbara, thanks for reading, I hadn't thought about that, but yes, it is one of those "mother" moments. I appreciate your sweet comment. Blessings to you! Thanks for being a fan :-)
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