Just checking in.

👋 all and thanks again for the support yesterday. My kids did what they do (turn the house into a circus) and it helped me snap out of it yesterday. It's hard for me to stay stuck in my mess when they're as full on as they are sometimes. I'm lucky to have them even if they drive me nuts sometimes 😉. I was so tired by the time it was bed and slept well enough last night. I feel better for it today.

@Zoe7 thanks for your support ❤ I can and do talk to my well person but their support is a different kind to what a MH worker could offer. While their listening ears are great, their well intended response is often a warning about taking on too much which I don't find so helpful from them. They also have lots of their own tricky to deal with (unwell one) and there's very little they can do to help me so I run the risk of dragging them down if I talk too much.

You're right in that group had an impact on me and that maybe there should be some kind of check-in or way to check-in if we need after it. The topic next week is about different kinds of abuse and their impacts. I've done enough of that and think the potential benefit vs the risk won't be worth it to me so I'm feeling 'nope' about it all at the moment.

I read about your day yesterday and wanted to say a big well done to you for what you've been working on and for getting to the awards ceremony last night. Go you 🎉! Hope your day today is a good one.

@BryanaCamp thank you for listening to my venty spill yesterday and for replying with such understanding. It's really nice to see you around 😊 I very much agree that government departments and systems can make it so hard it is easier sometimes to give up. It's not right and I'm sorry you experience it too.

You asked what my gig things are. I've taken on a parent office-bearer role at the school my younger ones go to. It feels good as it is a great way to be actively involved in the school and the wider community, and a way to give back as the school has been so awesome for our family. I'm well supported by the principal and staff so I feel OK about giving it a go but I'm learning the ropes at the moment which is probably making it feel harder than it actually will be (hopefully).

My other gig is in a mental health support service working in an area I'm passionate about and interested in, in a role I'm really excited about. It's also another very well supported thing which I am finding so refreshing. I have only just started at it and again I am very much at the learning stage so it's another one that probably feels harder right now than it will be soon.

Your volunteer role sounds like a great thing to be involved with. Do you enjoy it?

@MDT thanks so much for sharing that clip yesterday. What a big, beautiful, deep piece of music. I don't stop and listen to music like that very often (I'm into fast, thumping, electronic dance) and really appreciated the pause that it gave me. I hope your day is going OK.

Now I've written a novel 😉 I'm heading back up to the school to help some mini ones with a Mother's Day thing which I'm looking forward to doing. I'm feeling quite swamped with lots of stuff right now but hoping that with time I'll get used to doing more during the week again. That's the plan anyway 🤞 I have to ride out the bumps and wobbles along the way I guess.

Hope it's one with good in it for all ❤

Hey @CheerBear I'm glad you liked that song. I am very eclectic with my music tastes. I jump between different genres. I found that this song I linked you yesterday is quite cathartic. It takes you down but also builds you up. Music is funny like that.

Today I am taking it easy. Been to gym now just have to read and organise a bag for the weekend. Should be okay though I think.

I am glad to hear you found some distraction/greater purpose yesterday when your kids were playing about. You are a good mum I think haha 🙂

Hope the rest of your day is good

Hi @BryanaCamp

What a horrible environment you are volunteering in! It is not OK for anyone to say that "women who leave the house deserved to get killed." Your male co-worker sounds incredibly unprofessional, but also incredibly misogynistic! In this light, I totally get why it would be taking a toll on you and your sister, and why you would want to get a job so that you can leave this working environment. Given this is a very unhealthy environment to work in, have you considered discussing this with a counsellor? If this is something that interests you, you could always call 1800 RESPECT (1880 737 732) or our SANE Help Centre (1800 18 72 63).

Please take care of yourself!

Kindest,

Amour_Et_Psyché

I'm sorry to hear of the bad place you're in today @BryanaCamp That all sounds very tough 🙁

You're not raining on anyone's parade in posting. Sometimes it helps me heaps to vent and share how things are going and I hope it helps you a little too. I wish there was something I could say but I hear you and hope you can find a way through it soon. What a difficult situation for you.

@MDT glad you were taking it easy today and hopefully having a better day than yesterday.

👋 and ❤ @Faith-and-Hope

Aww @Zoe7 thank you. I thought of you today when I was at school. I spent a few hours there and my brain has done this 🤯 after hanging out and helping with the foundation kids lol. They are awesome but only in small doses 😆.

Teachers are wonderful and I'm so thankful there are awesome ones, like I imagine you would be, around for our kids.

❤