Pull Your Own Wagon™

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Hi, I'm Crisis Gertie  and I'm here to help.

I'm so glad many of you are emailing me and telling me your stories.  As you know, I was abandoned and thrown away like a used up food container.  I needed help.

Even now, I feel panic sometimes but I'm getting better each day.  It took me a long time to trust again but now I feel secure and loved.  It helps to have someone to reach out to when you feel sad or are worried. It took my family a while but they kept trying to understand me and finally they did.

Below are a few questions I received and I thought they might help some of you out there.  Even though we are all different in how we feel about stuff, many of us have similar situations. 

If you would like me to email you Seven things your parents need to know about you, please contact me and tell me your age.  Adults need help too!

 E-mails:

Dear Crisis Gertie,

I am writing this for my 7 year old brother, Tommy.  Last year grandpa died right after Christmas.  I asked Santa to bring Grandpa good health but I must have been bad cause he didn't.  I feel bad and lonely.  My grandpa was always at home for me.  My mom cries and is in bad moods.  She says she misses him too. What am I suppose to do this year at Christmas.  Is it my fault my grandpa died.  I feel like it is even though mom says it isn't.

Dear Tommy,

First, it is not your fault your grandpa died.  Sometimes a body just wears out.  Nothing you could have done would have changed things.  Second, your mom could use a friend not in the family to listen to her problems.  Sometimes that friend is a minister, a professional listener like a counselor or a support group.  Now as far as Christmas goes - why not make an ornament in the memory of your grandpa.  Think of a time with your grandpa while you are making the ornament.  Put his name on it and write that you love him and miss him.  Try to remember all the fun times and all the things you learned from your grandpa.  Even though he is gone, he will never be forgotten and he will always be remembered in your heart.

Dear Crisis Gertie,

Hi, my name is Ashley. I just turned twelve and my cat died. I have had him forever. He slept with me and I was the one who fed him. He was my best friend.  He always knew when I was sad or sick. No one understands how I feel and think it is stupid to be so upset over a cat. My dad says I can have a new cat but I don't think that will make it better.

Dear Ashley,

It is a shame people don't see how important us critters are to the family members.  As a matter of fact, we are family members.  You shouldn't hide your feelings about your loss.  If your friends aren't being nice maybe they aren't real friends or friends that have compassion.  You are very wise to know that getting another cat isn't the answer but it is always a good thing to give one of us animals a home when you have room. Getting another cat won't take your long time friends place but your heart is big enough to love two cats, right?  Before you get a new cat, try to think about all your feelings you have about the death of your cat. Make a memory album with pictures and notes you write to him.  Remember him for the great friend that he was and be glad for the time you had with him.

Dear Crisis Gertie,

I am ten and my name is Nathan. No one ever picks me for their soccer team in school. I'm always the last one to get picked.  It sucks! I even try to play sick so I can get out of gym class. Will this ever end? I feel like such a loser.

Dear Nathan,

The answer isn't to get out of class. The answer is to join in class. I know it hurts now but those kids aren't the boss of you. You are the boss of you and their actions can only hurt you if you let them. People can be mean.  Unfortunately, that is part of life and you are learning it early on.  This is just one little part of school and it will pass.  Keep looking forward.  Meanwhile, practice soccer as much as you can to get better at it.  The next time you play with a team you just may surprise them as well as yourself.  I'm sure you are very good at many things. So what if soccer isn't one of them?  If you want it to be one - practice, practice, practice and if you don't, well then, work on what you do want to be good at.

Thanks for visiting me and let me know how I can help you. 

Your friend in need, Crisis Gertie