( continues...) back to what I was doing before Aidan freaked out because, really, it was a lot more comfortable pretending I was perfectly mentally healthy except for a few charming quirks (not charming at all). And now we're doing ego-state therapy and I have to tell you that it's not at all fun to be living in my head right now. I dressed by committee yesterday! Nothing matched because they all wanted me to do something different. I feel like the grinch. The noise, noise, noise, noise!
Whew. There's more, but I think that's enough to be going on with right now.
Oh Deena, I do believe teens have a lot more stress than existed when I was a teen. Possibly aggravated by social media. It sounds like you are on top of it. It is a lot easier to handle your own stuff than watching your kids suffer.
Also, note to self, many therapists suck.
Wow, Deena, that is a lot. It sounds like a lot of good moving towards goodness for all of you! And it's so good to see you here!
I had no idea y'all were so ready to relocate, Kate. I hope something works out for you!
Yikes, Deena! I think you had a crazier year than I did!
Goodness, Deena. That's a lot of a lot. I hope 2019 is less stressful for you and yours.
That is a huge pile of stuff, Deena, but as you tell about each thing, then tell us how you explored it more deeply and how things evolved toward solutions, it's almost like "Light broke, a choir sang chords of hope" so that's the impression I'm left with. It was pretty deep, and you all climbed out, boosting each other along all the way.
I wish you a more gentle climb, from here.
Deena, you are a fiercely strong and beautiful creature, just to have held it all together through all that.
But can I also say, I died laughing at all of you inevitably ending up with the same buffista spirit-baby therapist?
I love you guys. One of the things I did in therapy was toss out these ill-considered ideas and then figure out I didn't really believe them. I said I don't trust women...and she had me make a list of women I admire, and I could only think of three...until my next session with her when I started telling her about the imaginary friends in the box, and cried a bit over Ginger and ita, and she was so impressed with you all, and so was I all over again . . . and here I am. Aware that there are a lot of shitty people in the world, gender not important, but ya'll are not them.
Fred, I read your post and was glad that wasn't my year, so...perspective, I guess. You're such a great person and it made me really angry to read about you being shit on. I want to hug you and feed you and watch a movie together.
So, um, other stuff...Greg's been out of work since his car accident, 3 years now. There really isn't much in the way of work here. He's doing some online stuff now and that's picking up for him. I'm working part time as a proofreader for my court reporter sister and her boss. So, things are tight, but manageable. My health is weird but I have a good doctor (I'm reminded of Bev's note to my "poopyhead" doctors in Ohio) and things are going to be good this year. Christmas was really lovely and we're looking forward to what comes next.
I've totally forgotten how to denote actions or I'd curtsy.
Dear Secret Santa, your gift finally arrived yesterday. Thank you! I love the pens (I've already started journalling and plotting with them) and the pin.
Oh, Deena. So many hugs. I thought of you the other day, when Alexandra found the worry doll you made for me so many years ago, and I told her all about you and my lovely online family. She loves that doll so much now.
