The Weekly Friday Feast

[pip]

Hi @guys. Just to let all of you know I am tied up with jury duty at present, which is why I haven't been on the forums lately. I don't get home most nights till after 6, quick tea, bit of watching t.v then I fall into bed absolutely exhausted. Hopefully the case I'm on will end by Tuesday at the latest. I've never done jury service before and it's an education, believe me. I was asked to make myself 'available' for 3 weeks, the first week is over, whether I'll be needed again remains to be seen.

[Shaz51]

Hello @pip

I've never done jury service before either , it would be interesting

very different

[Shaz51]

Hello @pip

@CherryBomb said she  forgot to mention to everyone that it's MH week next week and as part of this @NikNik and I have set a mindfulness challenge. @Shaz51 just shared what she's going to do.

Please join us! Let's try and have mindful week together and share updates on here. 

[Former-Member]

Sorry @Shaz51
I keep going off here. Tired and watching TV.
Not the best at chatting tonight. 😊

Tomorrow we are going out socializing. A change for me. I've been keeping to myself for a long time, due to PTSD etc.
So I hope it all goes well.

I hope you have a nice weekend. 💕

[utopia]

@Former-Member. I'm so sorry. I posted hello here and then got stuck watching a wonderful Robert Downey Jr movie called the Judge - & I completely forgot to come back on here. Sorry.
Yes my son and his dad only went for the weekend. He hasn't told me much. But from what he told my mum - I've gathered it was not that good. Appears he wants to process this alone - I'm hoping also with a friend or two. I think he is starting to recognise that this is just who his dad is and it's not the sort of father he wants / needs. I've made sure he knows I'm here for him. Just wish I could have given him a better roll model.
Yes I've become a Community Guide. Although I haven't contributed much this week or so - as have had some rough news from an old friend. Lots of confusion and emotions were going through my head - as to how I could help him. Just found the idea of helping someone I love - so much harder to get my head around - than offering help & support to fellow members here. Took my psychologist to show me that there is no difference. That I try to listen and offer understanding (when I do have an understanding of that situation or emotion) & kindness or a laugh - that that is exactly what I need to do with my old friend.
You'd think that would have been easy to work out - but nope.
So sorry I haven't been around. As all of this started the weekend my boy was with his dad.
How have you been? I haven't had the chance to look at your earlier posts. But I hope you have been traveling well.
Hopefully this weekend - I'll be back online more and we can catch up.

[utopia]

@Former-Member. Oh and I forgot to eat dinner tonight. Lol. My boy had pizzas and ice cream. But I don't seem to be hungry at the moment. All good. Time for tablets and bed

[Former-Member]

@utopia, live that movie too 'the judge'
You've been busy. I like to give a lot here when i can on the forums but have to pull back too when things are tough. Sometimes the stories make me really sad and anxious. But i think I have life experience with MH well enough into recovery to offer plenty, when i am able. That's the best i can do. Can't afford to worry about who's ticking boxes.
Give your boy a hug from me plz,

[Former-Member]

hi there @Faith-and-Hope,
the kids know that i'm happy so long as they are happy and ok. we talk positively about their time away and i try to reassure them when they are worried and upset and dont want to go. i talk positively about their dad and they dont know anything of the difficulties that i have with them being away. my daughter gets very anxious and upset about going, but we work through that and shes getting support next term with a group for kids who have serparated parents. ive got a daily schedule with heaps of physical exercise included in it to try and lessen the anxiety. i just focus on getting through that at the moment. if the anxiety is less then the rest is supposed to get easier. though i honestly think the theories suck and are wrong for me somehow... im trying so hard to get through the daily necessities but just not really managing. thanks for being always so kind. seriously i wouldnt be surprised if someone just said seriusly lj i could just shake you and slap you out of this nonsense... get on with it already. suck it up. but... i just crawl on lol

[Faith-and-Hope]

Hey @Former-Member ..... 🌷💗

I have just come back on after spending the evening with a cooking friend ....

We have a special dinner going on tomorrow night with FSIL's family ahead of my D1's wedding.  We were trying to paint some sticky gold foil-ey stuff onto some dried rose buds from the garden, but we got a bit too smart for ourselves .... gold foil-ey stuff was sticking everywhere but the rose buds .... so two hours later ...

.... this is all we've got to show for it ..... 😳:face_with_rolling_eyes:😉 .... mental note ...... leave it to the experts .....

Its clear how much you love your kids @Former-Member, and I am glad you are working at keeping things as sweet in their  perspective as you can manage ....  it is worth a lot in the long term even though it sux now ....its not nonsense cos there's an integrity to how you feel ..... 

It sounds like you are applying all the self-care you can ..... sometimes it's enough to just breathe and get through the day .... I call it "having a day" .... and they are usually pyjama days for me ....

Hugs 💐

[utopia]

Thank you @Former-Member. That's all any of us can do. Offer support and friendship when we feel strong & then move away from that when we are not feeling so strong. And hopefully thats when others will offer us support and friendship.
Thank you so much for thinking about my boy. It's nice to know that you recognise that this journey I'm on - also has an effect on my son.
Hugs to you. Night