Dreading Friday

[icklemssunshine1]

I'm a teacher & would have been starting my mat leave on Friday if I hadn't have MCed in February. Already starting to feel sick about it, especially as two colleagues will be starting their mat leave then too. Not sure how I'll cope with the goodbyes & them being called out to the front for speeches & the handing over of flowers & presents. If I'm like this now how will I cope on my EDD (14th Sept)? How do we get through these horrible anniversaries?

Can you just avoid the speeches and flowers? You can find something vitally important that must be done before the end of term as an excuse. I can see that is going to be a bit of a knife in the guts if you have to participate. Presumably you are starting your summer break then too and can plan some sort of start of the summer celebration and things to look forward to in the coming weeks?
14th Sept is a Saturday so you won't have to face anyone at work. Plan a nice day with your DH/DP and allow a little space if you need to have a while to think about the baby and cry and be sad.
I always do something to mark the occasion on a due date and first anniversary. I think the due date is a bit of a milestone in recovering and I've tended to feel better after it has passed. Something to do with grieving the loss of being pregnant even after you've accepted there is not going to be a baby.
Just find the easiest way through it. They will still be happy and excited even if you have absented yourself, don't put pressure on yourself to put on a happy face for them.

Unfortunately I can't miss the speeches. Two people are leaving in my department so I have to be there & I'd feel awkward getting up & leaving after their speeches were over & done with! I've got a hospital appointment in the morning & was considering not coming back - we break up at lunch for buffet/speeches - but knowing my luck they'd be a fire alarm & is be hunted for (extreme I know)!

Thanks for advice on coping with the due date. I just want it over & done with. 5 months on I thought I'd be coping better than I am.

Perfect out then - there was a long backlog at the hospital, you weren't seen until much later than you expected...
You can pass on good wishes for the future to all of them at one remove - sign the card, wish them well, spend the afternoon in the sunshine instead!