It's been so long since Ive seen my smile

[WhatAMum01]

Caught a sight of my face in the mirror as I was hurrying my kids out of the door this morning and was saddened to see how sad my face looked.i genuinely dont remember the last time I was truly happy and smiling.thats really sad I know.ive got a really difficult family life due to a severely disabled DC and the daily toil has taken a strain on me mentally,but this morning I see its physical too.i miss being happy.i cant change my situation and find it so hard today accepting that this is how my life is to be.not looking for anything really just had to get my feelings out there.

@WhatAMum01 How are you today.
I hope thing's are a little brighter.

A penguin walked into a bar and asked the bartender, “Have you seen my brother?”
The bartender replied, “I don’t know. What does he look like?”

Thinking of you.

@Emeraldshamrock thank you,I'm ok hoping that tomorrow I wake up and it's going to be the start of wonderful times ahead. i live with this optimism.hope you too are wellx

@cakeandchampagne well that made me smile,I love the silliest of jokes which require not much thinking,I'm awful at telling them though as i cant without laughing midway through!thank you xx

OP you have my sympathy too. DS2 was very ill for years and it was so time consuming and emotionally draining. I decided to try and get tiny moments of happiness into each day - start by putitng favourite uplifting music on first thing - playing throughout the house as you get breakfast ready.

End the day watching a comedy for half an hour - any box set or reruns that make you laugh out loud. And I used to set myself a goal of having three giggles a day with DC - about anything at all - just mucking about pulling silly faces or putting on silly voices, or playing a game or singing songs. Didn't matter if it was short and sweet but it really kept me going. On bad days it would get to evening time and I'd have a mission to get those three giggles in. It probably sounds forced and insane to anyone who hasn't cared for a sick child but I had to make it happen or it never would naturally, because we were so caught up in coping. to you.

Reading this thread you actually sound amazing OP

@newdeer I'm sorry that you had it hard too, is your dc better now?unfortunately my poor son wont improve much as hes severely disabled and dependent on me entirely. I like your suggestions, I'm certainly going to try .I'm desperate to be happy once again. Thank you

@lotus90, what a lovely thing to sayxx

OP, my son was pretty much fully recovered by age eight (still has a very mild physical disability and SEN). I feel so much for you. It's impossible to do big things to raise your happiness when every minute of your time is taken up with caring, but that's why the tiny things matter so much.

Wearing outfits you feel good in. Bathing in smells you love. Listening to great music, comedy shows on radio, TV comedies. A few healthy food and drink treats every day - good coffee, nice fruit etc, a bunch of flowers for yourself after a tough day. Reward yourself for your hard work with these small things. You are doing an amazing job with no thanks, so you have to learn to thank yourself.