7 Quick Takes: Things I Wish People Would Stop Saying to Me

7 Quick Takes

T’is the season for me to become Scrooge-like as I’m being accosted with bad versions of Christmas carols and winter songs any time I leave the house. To deal with this, I decided to lay down some snark. So… here are 7 things that I wish people would stop saying to me.

— 1 —

*pointing at Daniel who is berzerking* “He has a lot of energy.” What was your first clue? That he runs everywhere instead of walking? That it’s only 11 a.m. and I’m already looking tired? That my pants are falling off because I’ve lost so much weight from chasing him?

— 2 —

(referring to my depression) “You should think happy thoughts and maybe you wouldn’t be so depressed.” Seriously, if that would make my depression go away, DON’T YOU THINK I’D BE DOING IT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Now please go away while I retreat further into myself and curl up in a fetal position with the covers over my head.

— 3 —

“I heard your father-in-law has cancer. I saw something/read something/heard about this person who had cancer and was cured by [insert snake oil remedy].” No… just no. We believe in this amazing thing called “scientific research” which has *proven* ways to fight the cancer. By the way, those peach pits you were suggesting I give him? They’re full of cyanide. Just thought you should know!

— 4 —

“I heard that autism can be cured by a gluten-free diet. Maybe you should try that with Daniel.” Yeah, no. I already have a kid who is usually underweight and is in a picky eating phase. Trying the GAPS diet isn’t an option unless you’d like to come and cook for us because there aren’t enough hours in the day to take care of Daniel and mastermind what happens when.

There’s also the fact that every nutritionist I’ve talked to has rolled their eyes at the idea of being on a gluten-free diet if you aren’t sensitive to gluten or suffering from celiac disease.

— 5 —

“Have you tried [insert some homeopathic cure like essential oils] for your fibromyalgia? My neighbor’s cousin’s college roommate’s niece was cured from her fibromyalgia when she tried [insert homeopathic quackery].” *sighs* Why are you still here? You are not helping. Seriously, my Old Testament professor from seminary claims her fibro was cured by body talk and she has become a practitioner of it. I think it’s all just quackery.

— 6 —

*upon seeing my raccoonish eyes* “You need to take care of yourself.” OK… so would you like to drive me to the local nail place and babysit my kid so I can have a mani-pedi and some reading time? Please and thank you!

— 7 —

A prayer request. Mary Lenaburg of Passionate Perseverance and her family are dealing with the impending loss of their daughter Courtney. Please keep them in prayer as they’re trying to let go while being present with her in her last days.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

5 thoughts on “7 Quick Takes: Things I Wish People Would Stop Saying to Me

  1. Oh people….they think they know everything!! My friend thinks that GF is just a big fad going around. Like I will see GF signs on food that shouldn’t have gluten like ham….Praying for you friend!

  2. Okay then. #2 – Yeah, happy thoughts work so well, because all depression is just a choice. Fools! Tell that to 8yo me, who will be 50 in 3 weeks, and who has had depression my whole life.

    #3 – As PT Barnum once said, “There’s a sucker born every minute” to which I add, “but it doesn’t have to be you.”

    #4 – Getting the child to eat is hard enough without restricting his diet. You are a VERY good parent, Jen, so just blow those people off.

    #5 – Things like Lyrica work for some people for fibro. For the snake oil stuff, I’d guess the placebo effect. And here’s a link to an article about the uselessness of homeopathy: http://www.livescience.com/8543-homeopathy-shake-global.html Finally, did you know that October 24th (or is it 26th) is international homeopathic denial day – since the cures are diluted by water at the ratio of 1:10 to the 24th power, people gather and OD on homeopathic meds – taking handfuls at a time.

  3. You’re not a Scrooge. People think they are being helpful, or maybe they don’t think at all. Either way, I hear you. I have experienced some of the same. Clicked on Mary’s blog… heartbreaking. I can’t even imagine. My prayers go out to her family.

  4. Gosh, if all it takes to end depression is to think happy thoughts, I sure wish someone had explained it to me before I spent 5 years in the middle of that! Oh, wait. How is it that people still think you can cure depression by just “bucking up”? I’m sorry that everyone’s too busy trying to give you the fixes instead of just being there with you in the midst of it.

  5. #6: Every time I give something to a homeless person and they say “Merry Christmas” or “God bless you,” I echo those words or I say “take care of yourself,” and I writhe inside. What in the world can you say in such a situation? :/

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