Right now.

[Windsofchange77]

What are you doing, where and age ish?

Feeling very down and lost and wondering what others are up to.

I’m mid 40’s, in the Algarve, sat in the garden, it’s very peaceful. Dh doing story in bed with Dd, he’ll fall asleep, i’ll go in in a bit and watch some tele. All around me is so beautiful, lifestyle amazing, from the outside it looks incredible…

How about you?

So sorry 💓 hope this new chapter is a happy one x

What a beautiful human thread…

I’m 44, in bed and hoping that our family break which starts on Sunday is restful and fun. We all need it. Have thoughts about needing a change at work, DD1 will go off to uni next year and feel change is coming. DH and I need a bit of a reset, but don’t know where to begin with that…

If it helps, my Dd was very ill from age 12 to 17. She's now mid 20s, done a degree, doing a job she loves and is 6 months away from the holiday of her dreams. Don't give up. Smile for them and 1 day it becomes natural again.

Ahh OP I am so sorry to hear you’re having to deal with your child being so poorly. I spent over a year in hospital with my child followed by two years of living on tenterhooks and frequent visits back for check ups and treatment. I was such a deeply, deeply traumatised person. I developed so many unhealthy coping strategies and was heavily medicated by the doctor. I truly felt like I would never recover, and never feel happy again. As you say about yourself, I was a shell. However, this story is a happy one! Once it became clearer that my child would survive, but needed long term treatment, every person and their dog told me that ‘time’ would help heal me. I wanted to scream and punch and shout when I was told that. But, it was true. It feels important to add that whilst my child will never live outwith the shadow of the hospital, now that treatment has stopped and we’re in the ‘live with it’ stage, life has improved immeasurably. It’s taken me two years, and I know I still have healing to do, but I am SUCH a different person now. I am not medicated, I feel joy, I feel contentment. I allow myself moments of cautious optimism about the future. I would say I am now a happy person. I will always be a person with trauma, but I’m not a shell any more. I would say to anyone that whilst you’re in the depths of something horrific you cannot lift your head enough above water to catch your breath, but when calmer waters come, so does happiness and life seems good again. So, this is me telling you that yes, you can feel happy again. It may not feel that way but it is possible. We got told the most, most devastating things about our child yet we have found our way through to happiness. And I am a grade A worry wort, I have an anxiety disorder which predates children, and I’m still in a good place. It is possible and I will pray for you that you can find happiness and peace again x

47, Antalya Turkey.
Trying to sleep as we are travelling home tomorrow after a week's holiday. Surrounded by almost packed cases. Can't decide to have air con on or off. It's been 37/38° and I'm looking forward to cooler weather at home. Dreading going back to work and childcare over the summer holidays.

It’s a bit niche so I can’t really say for fear of outing myself. But it’s true that if you love your job, you never really have to work. I just need it to pay me a bit more!!

I'm lying on the sofa, DH and I were watching a film together but he's now gone up to bed while I wait till it's time to go and pick up DS2 from a party. Feeling sleepy 😴

What a beautiful human thread

@Aboutmeabouttime Perfect words and I agree.

I'm late 40s. DC with exH so I'm home alone. I should be drinking champagne on a long haul business class flight right now but an accident this week put paid to that. Instead I'm eating crisps in my pyjamas and guzzling painkillers. I had a nice walk with a friend earlier and have quickly made weekend plans with my boyfriend and various other friends so the weekend won't be a washout. While I'm not delighted, I'm at peace and aware of all that is good.

Just got back from 5 days in Yorkshire. I'm 61 and me and my dh have responsibility our 5 year old GC. It was their first ever holiday and our first break for three years. All of the last two years has been spent dealing with childrens services and family court so this week has been more normal for us. Currently in her with GC reading my kindle and looking at MN.

I’m 44. I’m lying in bed with the cat on my knees switching between scrolling mumsnet and looking up recipes for a dish I want to make tomorrow. Just me as DH is away with a friend for the weekend. Dog and other cat are downstairs. House locked up, dishwasher on.

I don’t love sleeping without DH but I’ll manage so long as I have my animals.

My heart goes out to you both and anyone looking after unwell children.
My daughter was very mentally unwell for about 5 years starting from 14, before Covid. We’ve had some dreadful awful scares that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.
It’s been around 2 years since the last relapse and I can honestly say I think I’ve come back to myself a little. I don’t think I’ll ever not worry or sleep a full night ever again but gradually our smiles came back.
Sending you a lot of strength and love. Lean on people. I don’t know how or why you’re going through these turbulent times, the nature of the illness, but I can relate viscerally to the hollow, empty, going through the motions, feeling disconnected from reality, isolated, terrified and angry feelings. 💐
sorry to barge in to your conversation, I recognised so much pain and wanted you to know on most days now I see the light at the end of the tunnel and brighter days have returned. I will never know how long they’re here for but I never take it for granted. X

Oh, and I’m in the Midlands.

45, Cheshire. Scrolling Mumsnet with the news on in the background. DD(12) is at a friends for a sleepover, DS(14) is on the Xbox in his room, DH has just gone up to bed and our lovely dog quickly followed, he is a Daddy’s boy.

Spent the evening at the Trafford Centre with DS buying him swimming shorts for our holiday to the Canaries next week. Incredibly grateful that my boss is back to work on Monday, I have been ‘in charge’ for 2 weeks and our team have slowly driven me nuts!

32, at home watching coronation street (guilty pleasure 😂) with DH and a bottle of wine. Baby asleep upstairs. Bliss

Oh and I’m in Glasgow

I’m home alone with tequila
I’m quite happy considering I’m involved in a very stressful work situation and may be out of a job sometime soon along with making all
my staff redundant
On the other hand I’ve just taken on a new pt employment role at the age of 61 and am quite excited! Bought myself a huge diamond ring to celebrate!
Looking forward to going on a sunshine holiday with DD in September
However have got huge problems to come with DP (we don’t live together) who is in an awful situation himself and will need a lot of support and money from me to get through the next year
I’m exhausted with all my health issues and caring for elderly DM with Alzheimer’s but managing to carry on carrying on
Trying to help myself by losing weight and really pleased with progress so far
very mixed blessings but feeling optimistic tonight

I'm jealous!

Don’t be.. I’ve just had to put the heating on 😂

At home, going to bed shortly, as big day out with friends tomorrow. DH away last night and tonight, so took my DD out for a Friday night drink. 51.
whats making you feel like this?

😂😂

& @TheChosenTwo

Thank you both so much for your kind words, they made me cry, so sorry you have both been through so much with your Dds xxx

I'm at home in the U.S. Just me and the dog at home right now. I'm ill with shingles. No fun at all.

My DH is working in another state this summer. I can't wait for him to return home in a couple of weeks. It is a stressful time for us due to family issues, health concerns, career uncertainty. Here's hoping things look up for you @Windsofchange77and for all of us going through a difficult time.

34, laying on the sofa with 3 year old DD who is clearly much more jet lagged than me as I am shattered. Just got back from a lovely trip visiting family in Canada. 8 month old has taken it in her stride and upstairs in bed with my wife!

48, Yorkshire. Watching Ghosts and pretending it isn’t DSs party in the morning. Luckily it’s a trampoline place so we just need to turn up with party bags and cake and hope everyone remembers!

I'm sorry you're feeling down.

I'm 36. Sat at home whilst the kids are at their dads. Trying to get a uni assignment done but procrastinating badly. Ginny and Georgia is on in the background.