Marvellous mum and marvellous Kaisa
At the moment I feel like my life is revolving around PND. I usually find it easy and enjoyable to sit at my computer daily and shape some thoughts into a blog post, but I’m totally coming up blank. All I can think about is PND… PND… I’m starting to bore myself and am getting worried about boring other people.
It’s a pretty exhausting thing to be dealing with. I’m experimenting with the medication I’m on at the moment as it makes me a bit fuzzy and sleepy – if I take it before bed it makes getting up the next morning impossible. Taking it after lunch makes me nap like a MoFo so I was at a bit of a loss until yesterday: taking it in the morning and then doing some sort of activity (even going for the shops, or for a coffee with a friend) seems to keep me awake and then leaves the rest of the day free from snoozeville. We’ll see.
I’m exercising, and that’s exhausting too. I (predictably) feel good afterwards, but the act of getting my trainers on and going out in the cold is bloody hard.
Post-run hair, oof.
The whole effort of it all is just leaving me knackered. The actual mental strain of being consistently positive, always looking forward, being happy. It leaves me wanting to go to bed and put my covers over my head but I don’t want to let myself do that. I need to keep going.
Despite all this effort and exhaustion I think I’m doing pretty well. I can’t remember the last time I spent all day in my pyjamas, I’m getting the kids out the house daily, feeling happy with my housework, drinking a small amount of wine rather than the bottle, EXERCISING! Some things are still sliding – I have people I’ve owed emails to for weeks (sorry!) – but at the end of the day I’ve been collapsing on the sofa rather than logging onto my computer.
A couple of weeks ago I had a setback thanks to something that I wish didn’t matter to me as much as it does. I took to my bed for an hour with Elfie while Hux napped (Peppa on the iPad = SAVIOUR) and then picked myself up, did some jigsaws and was rescued by my mum and dad who popped over to help with bedtime and give me some hugs. Am I concerned that at the age of 27 my parents still need to pick me up and make me better? Nah! After a couple of days I was back to thinking positive but it made me realise this journey is going to be a long one, nothing will be changing immediately.
Last weekend was brilliant. We went into London with some friends (and my parents, for they are FUN) for Future Cinema who have been featuring The Shawshank Redemption. It was something I wasn’t sure I’d like at all, but it was AMAZING. I had an absolute ball and the experience was totally made by our friends, my sisters (and brother) in law and those parents. Topped off by a hugely spicy curry at one of our old haunts Tayyabs and home super-late… it made me feel happy and alive and I’ve been on a high ever since. The next day’s hangover was not as life-giving but it was definitely worth it (and would completely recommend it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience!).
If you want to know what this was all about you’ll have to go yourself…
So for now I’ll keep plodding along, looking forward. Accepting help and hugs from my family and friends (seriously… it takes a crisis like this to realise how wonderful those closest to you are). Getting tired and giving myself a break. I can do it, I’m not scared anymore.
Sorry to read about your trubs, Alice. Glad to hear you’re on the up and up. It can be a trial this motherhood thing, can’t it. I keep thinking we live near each other – I’m in high Barnet. If this is true, we should hang out one day.
xxx
You don’t need to be scared. You don’t need to be worried that you’ll bore us, because anyone who comes back and reads this lovely blog does so because they love it and you. If you aren’t feeling something, don’t write. If you don’t want to reply to an email, don’t. Your life is for you and you don’t need to feel guilty, because you’re an awesome mama and a fabulous person. And I can’t wait to tell you this to your face at BritMums Live. xxx
The exhaustion from trying to keep positive and active and happy and EVERYTHING is one of the things that I have found the hardest and certainly one of the hardest to articulate. It’s constant and it’s endless and the tiredness it brings hits like a brick wall.
It does slowly start to become second nature again though. And in the meantime make sure you force yourself to have a mini celebration at the end of each day and pat yourself on the back because you did this shit and you made it and you do rock a little bit!
And everything Charlotte said too x
How old is your mother?!?!? :)
You’re doing amazingly. And please never be worried about boring people by being honest with your feelings. It’s a brave thing you’re doing, writing and sharing yourself like this and I’m sure it’s an inspiration to others experiencing the same feelings. Keep strong and keep going. And be KIND to yourself. x
Please toddle off for a quiet moment by yourself right now and jot down ten things that are fabulous about yourself. I am a long time reader slash big fan so can get you started quickly….1) wonderful, funny, creative and caring mother to two gorgeous children, 2) clever, honest and natural writer with well observed comedy and a beautiful turn of phrase…..I could go on…..
Silly you – you are not boring anyone. Lots and lots of hugs. It will get better over time. Dxx
What a lovely and honest blog! I will definitely be reading more. Well done x
Your blog is a huge support and has been getting me through many a sleepless night reading through your blog your journey so I wanted to send some support back in your direction – it only seems fair. I’m 32 weeks pregnant and my body seems to be keen to try out how little sleep it can cope with already so having discovered your blog recently have been spending the small hours catching up and you certainly aren’t boring :-) (although at times that might have been helpful as it might have helped me to fall asleep more quickly!) What I have discovered in reading all about you and your lovely family is that you’ve been through huge change in the last few year, on multiple occasions. You’ve coped with so much and you’ll cope with this too. I guess it’s a case of tackling one day at a time it I’m looking forward to sharing it with you x
PND is such a pain in the bum. And no body talks about it, we all just suffer in silence – which can’t be good.
Thanks for your honesty, it’s great to read.
x