A while ago I read a blog about FOMO! At first I had no clue what this even meant, but I soon learned it stands for Fear Of Missing Out.
I'll admit, missing out on things definitely sucks, but I'd say my FOMO isn't mainly directed at myself, my FOMO is directed at my husband and 2 boys. I absolutely HATE the thought of them missing out on something just because I can't do it. Now I know what you're thinking, let them go on without you.....trust me I try to encourage them to do things without me, but if you've ever met Trevor you know that to him, leaving me behind is not an option. (I'm working on this with him)
My biggest struggle with FOMO is when it comes to family functions now that COVID-19 is in play....
I want nothing more than for my boys to be able to hang out with their cousins and extended family, I would love nothing more than to hug my nieces (my nephew's not a hugger, neither am I actually....I like niece hugs though)
and sit side by side with Zoe and read her Momo the monkey book (it's a book I got my one niece for Christmas a few years ago) Unfortunately though, my neurologist believes I have been having a flair up since early spring and has advised me to be extra cautious (she says she would've advised this whether COVID was a thing or not) to avoid catching anything. Her concern with me is that every time I come down with something I get a new symptom, and unfortunately they don't go away....so much for relapsing remitting, I seem to do more relapsing than remitting.
Now with holidays coming up my FOMO for my family is the worst it's ever been....
Since March we have had very limited contact with people, we've camped with both sides of the family separately over the summer (with sanitizing and physical distancing),
my mother-in-law has been by twice, and my oldest son has ONE friend that he hangs out with outside of school, and we have a friend that also works with Trevor that comes around. Other than that, we have basically stayed in our bubble.
So to all of the sudden try to make holiday plans that work for EVERYBODY has been a little difficult!!
It's difficult to plan things with my family as my nieces live with their mom's and spend weekends with my brother who lives with my Mom, who works in the hospital. The reason this is difficult is that there are so many households involved and they don't all hold the same views on how to handle the current COVID situation, as well as my Mom working in the hospital.
As for my husband's family, again there are all differing views on this situation as a whole, as well as there are people from regions that are more affected by COVID than the region I am in that we would like to invite. Unfortunately inviting them, automatically makes it a no go for me (remember the whole being extra cautious thing?)
I hate that it's an either me or them situation (This is on all sides, not just one particular situation)
I hate that I feel like I have to set "rules" to be around family, I'm sure they hate it too...
I hate the way this whole situation (not people, the situation) is making me feel (disposable, less than, lonely)
I hate EVERYTHING about situation
I do know that one way or another my family will be having a Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner with all the trimmings (minus cranberries, they're yucky) whether that's with extended family or not I'm not sure yet. I'm hopeful that we will come up with a solution that makes everyone feel welcomed, loved, and safe. I don't know what that looks like but I'm not giving up quite yet.
I'd like to add that I know there is no perfect solution and everyone is trying to do their best given the current situation.
