I'm off sick this week and today I have

[QualityChecked]

• got the washing and ironing up straight
• made a start on some online Christmas shopping
• arranged a counsellor for DS1
• booked a table for DS2 and I to go out for dinner tonight
• arranged a social event to look forward to next weekend
• done the IHT declaration for DH's estate
• finally applied for probate
• finally spoken to the right people about his army pension
• arranged for the house deeds to be amended
• Now I'm off to collect an order from the butcher

I've been very honest with work, admitted I've been limping on for the last few weeks and that I'm not coping so well and asked for some time to regroup, which they've been very good about. I've been putting off some of these things for 4 months and it feels soooo good to get them done, although I know some will disapprove that I've done it in sick time.

I might go for a walk in the woods after the butcher and then see if my mum's in for a cuppa

This time has done me the world of good but almost impossible to get in the usual course of thing. For the first time in ages I'm looking forward to the weekend and raring to go for Monday.

@Mantlemoose

Yep I disapprove you should have taken holiday or unpaid leave imo. Being off sick is to rest and recuperate nit to get a backlog of personal stuff done.

Did you read the reason why the OP has been off?

@Mantlemoose

Yep I disapprove you should have taken holiday or unpaid leave imo. Being off sick is to rest and recuperate nit to get a backlog of personal stuff done.

FFS 🙄 She’s signed off sick As a bereaved partner You go right ahead OP and take as much time off as you need to sort yourself off.......am glad you are being well supported

Well done on sorting so much out. So sorry for your loss

@Mantlemoose

Yep I disapprove you should have taken holiday or unpaid leave imo. Being off sick is to rest and recuperate nit to get a backlog of personal stuff done.

Aren't you just a ray of sunshine? I'm off sick too, due to mental health and work related stress, and after reading this, now feeling guilty like I'm not sick enough because I've also managed to get my head sorted around some household tasks.

So sorry for your loss, OP, but well done. Sounds like you've gotten a hold of some things you needed to tick off your list. I hope you and your DC have some comfort

I'm so sorry for your loss.
It sounds like such an extended trauma and thank goodness your work are allowing you to navigate this in your own way.

Well done for getting things done OP, and I'm really sorry for your loss.
When I lost my son I found that in the first few months I was a ball of energy, "carrying on regardless" and just trying to keep going for my family and other children. It was actually a year after that the grief and trauma properly hit me. So I think it's perfectly understandable that you need this time off work now, but might not have done earlier - shock and trauma definitely affects how someone reacts at different points of a loss, so you've very much done the right thing.

And clearly don't listen to people being twats, you've been open with your work about why you're off, and so during that time, you have every right to do the things which will help you feel any better, calmer or even just time to connect with your grief.