The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Staying Springy In Their Quest For Sobriety.

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse I have an shockingly abusive relationship with alcohol, mainly vodka.

This Bus is full of drinkers, non-drinkers, thinkers and Babes, all trying to find their way to a happy, sober life.

Some are there, some are almost there and some are not. It really doesn't matter, we're all in this together.

Why not find a seat? Everyone is welcome, drinking or drunk, come and say hello.

HERE is the previous thread, with a link to all of the other wonderful journeys so far............

sorry, I was trying to get her back to bed. She has never slept well but a stair gate has contained her. This week she learnt to climb over it. Each bedtime has been a battle but we have managed. Tonight DH is not home and I just couldn't get her in bed. Every time I put her in she followed me out. I have to work at night, all I do is work and care for her and I am so tired. So we both ende dup in my office downstairs crying.

I have tried again and printed out some pictures of me for her to try and keep her in bed and feel secure. I just feel so useless.

everybodybreathe!

Do you know what? I think the weather has played a part today. It has been so shite that I went back to bed this afternoon.

I am on my second glass of white, which I will nurse til bed time. I am not disheartened, before Friday I was on a bottle and a half a night, I had 4 booze free days which is an accomplishment in itself as prior to that I cannot remember when my last alcohol free night was.

MsGee what is wrong with DD? (mine is 5 so I can empathise!)

Have you tried the 'it's bedtime', 'bedtime!' silent return? It really does work!

Yes, she is so stubborn, she cries for cuddles and kisses. What she really wants and always has is to co-sleep with me. DH and I have discussed moving the rooms around so that this happens but I don't want to lose my DH - I rarely see him as it is. Plus I can't work if I have to go to bed at 7.30!

I think a hard line approach is needed here, you need your OH on board too, make her room as pleasant as possible so she wants to be there.

Ah MsGee, you know what, you are just such a soft touch

I love the idea of sending her to bed with a photo, that is so sweet.

But you know what, she is cleverer than that. She wants the real thing and she will pull every trick in the book to get it.

Just keep putting her back to bed. Don't talk to her, just return her. Eventually she will get fed up and stay there.

You are a fantastic mum and even the most amazing mums doubt themselves at times like this. Everything you do is for her, you know that. She is loved, she is well cared for, you are doing brilliantly.

Just stick with it. I know it's tough and you have to get your work done but if she realises you mean business, she will stay put x

Put her to bed and then she needs minimal contact, if you keep going back and giving her what she wants it s reinforcing the behaviour, NEVER let her in your bed again!

ah thank you lovely babes, I needed that. She is now quiet and I hope is asleep. Perhaps the picture worked. I am a soft touch but she is so stubborn .... Isinde she can keep up the screaming for 3-4 hours if she doesn't want to sleep.

she sleeps in my bed on holidays and weekends away .. so I know its not really consistent but she is old enough to understand that is special time ... I hope.

Lordy I am just so tired.

On the negative I just texted DH asking him to bring home wine.

On the positive I have a roast chicken that I just cooked. I cannot be arsed to cook the rest, so I am going to pick at it, glutton styleee.

Oooh MsGee just eat the chicken . Remember HALT, you are probably at least 3 of them. Don't drink the wine! Tell him to hide it or tip it away. What's a fiver in the grand scheme of things?

msgee what you texted was a stress response - between you texting and him bringing wine back, you can get yourself in a better place. You do not need the wine xx

True. I will eat the chicken and then report back...

Thank you lovely babes, I feel bad jumping on when I need help when I have not been around but you are all wonderful and have made the difference between me feeling ok and sobbing all night

I know that your dd crisis is over now msgee but for the future when you have to work, how do you think she would respond to a 'snuggly nest' in the corner of your office? I resorted to something similar - gave dd a choice: being completely silent in my office (it was dark and cosy as I was working with just ny desk lamp and computer); or a single squeak and she was off to her room on her own. She seemed to go to sleep pretty quickly.

I will eat the chicken and then report back...

This has to be my favourite sentence of the year - I feel like I am a spy

Well done MsGee, get that chicken down you girl!

< has a strange hankering for roast chicken >

casa glad to see you are still around, but sorry that you are feeling so bad. Keep talking to us.

saf are you dry yet (ha ha, good alcoholic pun for a rainy day )

Evening, tis me, Mouse

MsGee - massive (((((((hugs))))))) to you re DD. Bedtimes can be so super horrible for the entire family if just one little drama crops up, like DD not wanting to go to bed.

I feel your pain, you know I do because you remember that Nemo thinks that sleep is for the weak.

Please don't let this ruin 4 whole weeks - one whole month of NOT DRINKING.

You know, I know, we all know that if you do, you'll be posting here later tonight or tomorrow feeling utterly gutted that you gave in.

You're so much better than that. Kick it's ass lovely xxxx

hello hello

First I want to apologise for my silly attitude last night when I bragged about drinking a whole bottle of wine 'and no-one can stop me!' I know it was childish and pathetic. And not fair on you guys who are all trying so hard.

When mia took her wine out of the freezer, and jesuswhatnext threatened to spank her bottom I thought it was really funny - but I was exactly the same yesterday. I take the same attitude when anyone else tries to talk me out of it too.

Apart from that, the rest of my plan (drink on Tuesdays and Fridays only) is working - even after last nights binge I feel strong enough to resist tonight. I like that the decision has been made already.

To greyhound I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling good. Look after yourself!

And venus thanks, I do need to hear it.

alias I didn't read it as bragging, I read it is you being totally honest. I so well know that feeling of begrudging every sip that dp had from my wine. We have all been there / are there / teeter on the edge of being there / swing bwtween the two.

Who was it that wanted links to books?

Here they are, brilliant books for both of you to share and read or just reference to

THIS ONE is great for girls (and boys if they want to know about the female form) but have a look around on Amazon, there's lots of books out there.

Addams Family? Oh, I'm too late as per.

Saf - I so feel like that at times, especially when a period is creeping up on me. The last one arrived with no warning so yet more bedding and PJs were ruined.

I love that you're trying to do the two things a day. Really motivating to read that from you, I know I should be attacking my lists too. I just CBA right now. I miss my get up and go, think it's got up and fricked right off!

Anyway, where are my DB's? (Diet Buddies). I've lost 4lbs since Monday but I'm paying the price with my IBS just now. I look like this ----> HUGE BELLY!

Nemo is in bed after a funny sort of a day, maybe he's missing the builders?

I'm hoping he's not sickening for germs..........

Time for bed. I feel utterly drained but I think it's because of the last few days' conflict, if that makes sense?

Just utterly exhausted. I'm sending soothing wishes to the lovely IsInDe in the hope you'll feel better soon xx and JWN's tooth hole. Keep it clean and tell DH that only a new pair of shoes can ease the pain long term xx

Night all xxxxx sorry not to say hi individually. xxxx

PS - Day 2

Haha Mouse love the pic! Diet's going well. In the staffroom today - giant milk chocolate chip cookes, white choc chip cookies, double choc chip cookies, toffee butter giant cookes, jammie giant cookies - and I didn't have a single one. Not even a lick! How's that for self-control

evening - sorry this is a quick one, i need to get to sleep before the painkillers wear off! jaw is still really bruised - sorry if this is tmi, but, i have not had a period in years, i have a mirena coil, (my 3rd, it will now see me through the menopause and reduce symtoms) i know they arn't for everyone but i have never had a problem with it, i honestly think that there is no need to have a period every month unless you are ttc, i would say to anyone to go and have a chat with gp about the mirena, periods and all that go with them are the bloody ('scuse pun! ) pits. go and discuss your options!

see you in the morning lovely babes! XXX

evening.

i did go and i'm glad i did. have also worked out why i've felt crappy emotionally/mentally for the last 24hrs or so (aside from hormones). it was something relatively small that someone did yesterday that annoyed me and made me feel taken the piss out of. it spurred a state that would normally have been met with a drink but i didn't drink the feelings under the rug so they were still there.

the feeling = drink on some reflex level and then i was experiencing the discomfort of the feeling plus the discomfort of not doing what some part of me expected to follow that feeling so it was a bit like having a sentence dangling without a full stop.

hard to explain but it kind of makes sense to me, i'm learning.

hope everyone is ok.

msgee i really hope you didn't drink - you don't deserve punishment and that's what it would be imo x