To Men Everywhere… from the Suffering Vessel

I have no apologies for my crabby attitude, my aching back, or the throbbing headache that has kept creeping into my days and nights in the past week…

I know you think that I always seem to be in a foul mood, or that my back is always aching or that I have chronic headaches. I know that you have started doubting my story, thinking that somehow I am trying to get out of whatever plans I am bowing out of. Or that I have the lowest pain tolerance of any human alive… or that I must be dying because no other person has as many headaches/cramps/irritable days as me…

But let me tell you something:

You’re not very observant.

Every single 28 days this happens. Why? Because I am a woman. Hear me roar. Yes, I am roaring because I have to deal with the side effects of a reproductive cycle that could care less if I’m comfortable with it or not, it is just doing its job in my body.

And my body knows this. My mind knows this. I have made peace with the fact that I am going to become a raving lunatic each and every month and I embrace it.

Because I have no other choice.

And neither do you.

Let me tell you something… being a woman is no easy task. We are emotional, we are detail-oriented, we are nurturers by nature, and caregivers to all. We are selfless mothers, doting wives, and suffering vessels.

Yes, suffering vessels.

I’m sure you read my post yesterday about passing a chicken through my vagina. Childbirth is no joke. Now, let me tell you something else: each and every month, a woman’s body goes through the same motions, but without a baby on board. The contractions aren’t as fierce, but there are cramps. Bad ones. There are hormone surges. Bad ones. There are all sorts of things going on inside a woman’s body each month that a woman can somewhat temper, but not completely paralyze, no matter how hard she tries.

So, when you think I’m being bitchy?

I am.

I own it, and I’m not going to apologize for it because I am suffering right along with you, and believe me, you have the easy end of the bargain.

Now hand me a hand full of Midol and leave me the heck alone!