Just running through the posts and getting the feeling that people are so very on edge during the holidays--this year especially as the dynamic of trying to be with family/friends is just not workable!
I'm seeing more and more deep frustration at aging family members who are really struggling with aging and covid and what they may perceive as abandonment b/c family cannot be there as much as they'd want.
My own mom lives with my YB and his family who ALL HAD COVID! Mother did not get it. Poor health and age 90+ and she was fine. And mad. She actually TRIED to get it, as she is ready to GO, already.
Being locked down with family, as much as you might love them, has proven to be such a stressful thing. My own psychiatrist called me out of the blue one day to make sure I was doing OK. His words were "I am not losing another patient this year to this stupid pandemic". Didn't take much thought to realize he's had to deal with more than a few suicides and hospital admissions due to the anxiety that does not end.
We are trying to navigate Christmas Day with 3 families, one of which never got covid, despite very poor isolation. We are getting together on Christmas, but DH and I have to stay away from 5 of the 'group' and we will leave early, b/c masking up gives us both raging headaches.
At least we DO get together! I spent the evening last night with a friend who has 5 kids and not one of them will come to see their folks on Christmas. 3 of them won't let them in their homes. Yes, these folks are 73 & 74, but in the best health of anyone I know. My friend is really hurt and sad.
I am hoping that we can find joy in the season, whatever it takes. I read so many posts that smack of total caregiver burnout and I KNOW if we were able to have 'normal life' it wouldn't be near so hard. Had we known a year ago that we'd be shut down for 42 weeks---could we have handled it differently?
Personally, being so grateful we have immune grandkids--makes me so happy. Both DH and I are high risk, so I know I am a third wave-vaccine recipient, as is DH. BUT, that won't be until end of January, or later.
The holidays bring out the worst in me anyway, my anxiety ramps up to an 11.
This too will pass. I just hope we've learned something good from it all. If it's just to not be so selfish and self-absorbed, that'd be good.
I wish all my friends on this board a Happy Holidays and a much needed calmer 2021. You've all been a godsend for me, as I vent away and read your posts and think "we're all struggling, it's not just me".
((BIG Cyber hugs!))
My horrid headache was a migraine and so that was dealt with. DH is planning to leave town on Sunday and my kids are losing their Sh1t, collectively. But WHO do they yell at ?
Mom.
Like I can make my DH do ANYTHING. They think I have some say in what he does--they have not been paying attention for the last 40+ years.
I am not supportive nor non-supportive of this 'last trip'. He's refusing to go to a jobsite in Canada, and for that, I am glad, They are really tight on business people--he couldn't even have had a car--he'd be escorted everywhere for the 2 weeks he'd be there...that alone offends his lone wolf mentality.
We have 2 Drs. in the family, and they are IN LAWS so they don't weigh in on stuff unless specifically asked. And we already KNOW what they're going to say.
Dh is going to talk to our SIL about the trip ( the kids don't know he's been traveling for several months now) but in the end, he's going to go.
I honestly NEED him to go away for awhile. This WFH is for the birds. And we have months more of it ahead.