Creative questionnaires yield the most fascinating results about our beliefs, habits, fears, and dreams. Who is more deserving of a chance to share their personal wisdom and make self-reflection fun and inspiring than caregivers? “Q& I: Questions and Inspiration” is a series that spotlight’s a different caregiver through a Proust-style questionnaire.
Today’s Q&I featured guest is N. Californian mom, Christina Adamson. Here is Christina in her own words:
I am very fortunate to come from a very large family. I’m the oldest of seven kids from blended families. I learned from an early age about mothering and taking care of other people. Some of my siblings feel more like my kids than a the typical brother/sister relationship. I’m very close to my siblings and am so thankful for all they have taught me. My husband, Joe, and I have been married for almost 18 years and we have three kids, Samantha, Joseph and Ashley. My family means the world to me. Without all of them, this journey just wouldn’t be as fun, interesting or bearable.
Thanks Christina!
1. The perfect day in 3 words:
Saturday, coffee and lots of laughter
2. If you could be best friends with anyone living or dead, who would it be?
Jaycee Dugard. I just can’t imagine the hell that woman has been through. She shows a level of strength and grace not many people have. She exemplifies my motto of “just put one foot in front of the other.”
3. The secret to happiness is:
being happy with yourself and surrounding yourself with people who are supportive and positive. A good ‘ol belly laugh every day can’t hurt, either.
4. Worst habit:
Time management. I always think I have more time than I actually do. I have to work at this every day and hopefully I’ll actually get it at some point.
5. Best feature:
My eyes
6. A skill I am proud of is:
My work ethic. I believe in working hard to get what I need. I hope this is something I can pass down to my children. Nothing in life is free – you have to work for it.
7. Fill in the blank: “Dear _______, please _________”
Dear God, please quit testing me.
8. My dream job is:
To start a foundation to help fund things that that can help improve the quality of life for families living with Duchenne. I’d love to see this foundation help with things like respite care, helping fund a trip to a conference or paying for a modified vehicle, just to name a few. There is such limited resources for families living with “just” a physical disability. My fun dream job is to be a Barista. How fun would it be to talk to people every day who love coffee, just like me? They would be happy to see me, I would be happy to see them – it would be a win-win situation.
9. A talent I wish I had is:
Dancing skills. I do NOT have moves like Jagger, but I wish I did.
10. One time-saving tip:
I know so many of these (see #4) that need to be put into use, but the best one I have actually tried would be to cook meals in advance and freeze them. I have done this in the past and it truly was the best time saver I can think of.
11. My personal motto is:
Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Some days are tougher than others. Rather than wallowing in the emotional crap a tough day can bring up, I think just moving forward can help you get through it. It’s not always easy, but sometimes, it’s the best I can do.
12. Three words I love to say:
I love you.
13. If reincarnation exists, what would you come back as?
My daughter, Samantha. I’m so excited for the life she has ahead of her. She’s a smart cookie and is going to do great things. She’s one of my heroes for the strength she has and the life lessons she’s had to learn at such an early age (and has taught me, as well).
14. One way I combat stress:
Sleep. It’s not working, anymore, so I’m following in my husband’s footsteps to use walking and exercise as a way to help combat stress. My goal is to walk in the Disneyland 5k on Labor Day weekend. There is no greater motivator than my husband and Duchenne family.
15. What the world needs now, is:
Trust in one another and a smaller “To Do” list.
16. The best part of my day is:
Coming home and having my 9 year old squeal with excitement and hug me like she hasn’t seen me in a month. The dogs are also there wagging their tails and smiling, simply because I came home. It’s a simple thing that can turn around a lousy day in a heartbeat. There’s absolutely nothing better.
17. What I know now:
There is no such thing as Super Mom. No one person can be everything to everyone. It’s been a hard lesson, but one I hope my daughters will learn early.
18. Courage is:
Not giving up.
19. Love is:
Complicated. It doesn’t mean being happy all the time. It’s forever changing and requires hard work and dedication. I believe it means accepting others for who they are and supporting them to be the best they can be, all while being kind and empathetic to whatever they are going through.
20. I am:
Strong and empathetic. I didn’t realize my strength until my mid-twenties when life threw a lot at me. It was a tough time with the loss of some very special people and the crappy Duchenne diagnosis, but I am a better person because of those times. My only wish is that I didn’t have to go through the bad to get the good out of it.
