What life transitions are you going through at the moment?

[ThatGreatNavyHedgehog]

Changing the way my home looks

Just had a new baby - DS3 will be 3 weeks old on Saturday! Also we're moving house, hopefully in December but may not complete until the new year. Trying to clear out loads of stuff as will be a significant downsize particularly in terms of storage space. Both DS1 and DS2 have started new schools this term so we're all still getting used to that, we're going through the EHCP process for DS1 and trying to organise ASD/ ADHD assessment for DS2. More upsettingly, FIL has recently started to show signs of dementia, so we're also trying to get him assessed/diagnosed, sort POAs and work out how supporting him is going to look.

So quite a lot at the moment!

My DH uses a walking cane. He had an injury years back and avoids it a lot, but it's reached a point of pain where he needs it more. I don't really have much advice - he's very ashamed, very sad. He's only 40 and an active man. I've just bought him two nice sticks; one a walking pole and another a really posh thing, so I hope that helps. Also a heating pad. I did a thread recently asking for advice and got some gorgeous recommendations.

Sending love. It's not easy, and I'm not even the one going through it. Also, DH doesn't use a stick "properly" because it's more difficult. He uses it on the same side as his injury because it's easier, despite what the doctor says. He couldn't fathom it the "proper" way and this has really helped him take control. His physio is fine with it.

We just got married 4 weeks ago. He went back to sea for the longest period since we met (3 months)

Peri menopause is well and truly kicking my arse

Wellness journey, friendship group and planning to move early next year. Lots on, and all good, but dear god it's hard

Well done!!

Issues with my 20 years old son
elderly parents needing more input
moved house
job I really don’t like anymore
feeling very alone

Hair loss alopecia

Ds24- back with old girlfriend and have everything crossed it works out.

Ds19- back repeating first year of uni, as he chose to repeat instead of resitting. So praying it works out. He's studying chemistry and it's not the easiest.

I've severe MH issues, am medicated to my eyeballs and work well over 40 hours a week. Oh and peri menopause has started!

But I've started my Xmas shopping, the kids are happy and I've food in the cupboards. Just wish I could save some money!!

I'm changing virtually everything. I love my new home but there's so much to do! I'm applying to change jobs after a truly awful summer and start of Autumn. I'm closing down a long friendship (well she closed it and I'm still processing it).

Trying to complete on a house in the next 4 weeks without everyone throwing their teddies out of the pram (which they have spectacularly today), DH having health investigations due to super high stress job, DC3 having major health issues (consultant appointments in 10 days), DC2 considering surgery (trans), DC1 having 2 major job interviews in next 3 weeks, which if they get neither, will put their 3 year training and huge financial outlay into jeopardy. Trying to keep it together and just keep smiling and supporting. Thank the Lord for Jesus is all I can say.

I can understand how it feels as being in pain a such a young age is hard. I am late 70s and look it, so I don’t mind being taken for a young 90 year old .

i have tried to find out how to use it correctly. I have had a couple of tries at the GP to see if I can self refer for a physio. Mine is about dizziness, brain problem, so not really physio territory.

Similar here ;)
Am questioning all my life choices as although it's worked out well I wonder if my life choices have been good for my independence and satisfaction. Everyone seems stable and happy but me. Am 50 xx

Wow how brave and blummin wonderful.
Wow that sounds exciting and scary but ultimately amazing. You are brilliant xx

Both my Husband and i going through major illnesses. We have gone from fit, healthy and able to not being so able. Our lives have changed so much, our animals have gone and nothing has been planted as we get ready to sell our smallholding. Part of me will miss it so much but i feel excited to have a new chapter.
Like Lytlethings the walking stick is a constant companion and we don't have a great relationship. I am alive and that is a bonus. My Husbands illness has it me hard, knowing one day one of us will have to live without the other is heartbreaking.

This is going way, way back now and my memory of that period is frazzled...but if you can afford a visit to an osteopath (usually around £30 a session depending where you are, we're North West), some of them have experience and can help you with walking with one. Lots are trained physios and the one we went to (which my DH then told his own physio about) spent a few hours with DH.

I appreciate yours isn't a pain problem, of course, but they're surprisingly good. Went to one for my shoulder pain from stress, and it was better than a massage...so they do something!

Best way I can describe how DH uses it is as a leg support. So he leans into it. For dizziness, it might be similar but depend on where is comfortable. Have you got one that supports your wrist? DH hates the hooked ones because his wrist aches, but flat tops or the rounded ones are more supportive. For him, of course. It'll all vary!

DD going off to uni so there are now 3 of us.
She was home at the weekend and I felt like we were whole again as a family.
I am trying to figure out how it all works without her

Thanks! I'm so glad I made the choice to retrain, I dithered over it for a couple of years and then just decided I needed to do it now or not do it at all.
Just excited about the job, the scary bit is over with already as I did 10 weeks work experience there so I know I love the work and that I can do it (and what I can't do yet, I know I'll learn)

Working full time out of the home after flexible from home job after 14 years.

Starting at the bottom trying to navigate being in an office all day, new tech, no paper and not really seeing people at all as everything is on Teams.

Plus I'm exhausted!!

Separated for three years and in limbo as I don't know if we will divorce. No discussion either way.

Bringing up 1DC as a single parent. Navigating co-parenting.

Started in a new job this year.

Living life with a renewed sense of exhaustion every year!

I'm 60 today. I can't actually believe I'm now in my 7th decade! Lots of transitions for me too and an aging parent in the mix.

The aftermath of a serious hurricane (Helene), something that I did not expect to experience in my life!

Separated for a couple of years but coming to final stages of divorce. Whilst it is on the whole amicable, ex has virtually disappeared from DD's life and I'm struggling to contain my anger and disappointment at him for that.

DM has dementia and declined very rapidly over the summer. She's in full time care now and am readjusting to a relationship with her when I'm not sure she remembers who I am now.

Have done 20 years in my public sector job. Feel kind of done with it in some ways, but being at top of scale don't think retraining/starting something else would be viable now.

I think that’s probably a really common experience for women at our stage of life. It’s cliched but mostly true that many of us put our all into our families for years on end. We get used to putting everyone and everything else first and keeping all the plates spinning. Then hormones change and the children begin to drift away and we’re left wondering who we are now and where we’ll go next and whether we’ve actually lost a bit of ourselves somewhere along the way. Maybe this is our time now to invest our time and energy into ourselves. 💐

Starting a new job in a completely different field on Monday. Am nervous but mainly excited!

In the last two months I got married, lost a parent and lost a sibling. This week the dog was put down and next week Autistic DC is about to go travelling, alone. Next month I'm having a hysterectomy. Bit of a roller coaster.