When the pandemic began I remember the nightly news showing inventive ways people were "hugging" without touching and how much people were saying that not being able to hug their loved ones was one of the most difficult parts of "staying safe". I remember thinking how ironic this was because we had been living in a "No Hug Zone" with my daughter for years because of her fibromyalgia.
I grew up in a family that were not big huggers, but with my kids and now my grandkids, hugs are everything to me. Yes, I was one of those crazy grandmas that made my own protective suit using trash bags so I could hug my grandkids.
When my daughter first starting having issues but long before the actual fibro diagnosis I would put my arms around her to give her a hug and she would flinch and pull away.... the simple act of hugging my daughter was causing her physical pain. It broke my heart. All the times she was having a major flare up all I wanted to do was hug and comfort her like I used to when she was a child but Fibromyalgia has made this impossible. Its not to say that I have not hugged my daughter at all but when she is having a good day and I can hug her, I still have to be careful not to hurt her. Hugs are one more thing that Fibro has taken from my daughter and those of us that love her.
Going through this past year more people have discovered how important physical contact is and how much those hugs contribute to our well being. The big difference is that once the pandemic is over most of us will go back to normal, hugging family and friends and not thinking twice about it, but this is not the case for my family. We will have to continue to live in a "No Hug Zone". Thankfully, the products I make help my daughter so that I get more hugs than I used to but I hope and pray each day that someone comes up with a cure for fibro so I can go back to giving her a true Mamma Bear hug.
Until next time... Mrs. Crowley
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