So we decided as a family that having a brain tumor was not going to be who I was, I am me and this tumor is an intrusion into our happy busy life. With that being said you need to understand that we have been going back and forth to a large university hospital on a regular basis now for four (4) years…McKayla now being 11 years old has grown up with this intrusion in the background of our lives.
I am more than thrilled that she has shown an interest in running with me, and there are several reasons, the obvious its GOOD FOR YOU (obviously) another it presents a great opportunity for connecting with my tween. We recently went for a run together and she began to vent about how its not fair that people we love, who are good people, have cancer then moves on to how its just not fair that her mom has a brain tumor. The mom in me was bursting with pride as she opened up, the conversation continued and she eventually moves on to ask questions. As she questions me I can see these questions are something she has been mulling on for some time. She begins to ask how and where the tumor is and I explain that its wrapped around this over and under this and that / also explain that its benign but unfortunately is in a terrible place and your head is the boss of your body so it being in there is just INTRUSIVE – she wants to understand what parts of my body is affected where it is placed at and we talk it through…… but you know as I provided her the answers she needed I refused to let it govern our life again I say it is not who I am its an intrusive guest that I tolerate….. so I have to finish the heart to heart with this explanation, and OF COURSE IT IS OBVIOUSLY PRESSING ON MY ROCKSTAR GLAND!! THAT IS WHY YOUR MOM IS SUCH A ROCKSTAR!!! Obviously, right???
I encourage you to refuse to let an intrusive guest govern who you are my friend, challenges will come into your life it is so unavoidable but you can choose to not let it become who you are. 
