Arthritis Mom

It's not even that hard. Well your hands start to hurt after a while from holding on - but it's not any harder than a day changing diapers for wriggling 1 year old twins.

This is the kind of thing that I want my daughter to think of when she looks at me. I'm not just a mom who has rheumatoid arthritis. I'm a mom who does things in spite of the arthritis. I'm a fun, adventurous mom (especially when I'm not stressed out and have managed to relax and enjoy something like a vacation).

If she can look at me on the bad days when I can't do as much and remember days like today - then she might grow up feeling that she can do anything no matter what challenges she faces. This is what I learned growing up watching my mom struggle with rheumatoid arthritis. I pray my children do not have any diseases to deal with, but I do know they will all have challenges of some sort. I want them to face those challenges head on and succeed no matter what they are.

Plus it was fun. I went a few times on the tube - with my 11 year old stepson, with my daughter, by myself and then with my stepson again. The outing was short and planned to end around the same time that the twins woke up from their nap (my father-in-law and oldest stepson stayed with the babies). The last run ended with my 11 year old stepson and I in the water - it happened fast and I'm not sure if we let go or flipped out (probably both). There were no injuries. I do have limits though; I am not going on the water skis. I leave that to the younger less chronically challenged family members.