Is meaningful change possible

[Faith-and-Hope]

❤️ it @Former-Member ..... ❣

Here at the moment we have been swinging weather-wise between fine days (15deg) and very cold days (3deg) .... Here the people say that that is when there are a lot of microbes about .... bacteria and viruses, and you are more likely to come down sick.  There seems to be some truth in that .... 🤒

If you do look up my travel thread you will see that we have actually been bouncing around all over the place here for a couple of months, based in Greece, cos that's where we have somewhere to stay, but taking excursions in this country and elsewhere ... 🌎

Our youngest three kids (of five) are with us, and also MIL ....  the dynamics and relationships are at times challenging, but the most challenging aspect is that everywhere we go our time-tabling is driven by WH's diet / exercise regimen, and it's intense.  That, and travelling, and juggling a disabled adult, a dependent senior, and then my D3 had a sublaxation of her knee first week out from Aus .... 😳😞

Behind this trip was a full-on year of D1's engagement, D3's 18th, S2's 21sr, D3's graduation from high school after four years of ill health and two knee dislocations, right before D1's Big Fat Greek Wedding ..... all with juggling WH's coming and going from home (he set up work projects elsewhere - it easier to be on his own because he has hidden e.d. behaviours and by himself he doesn't have the pressure of living a double life) and the circumstantial depression that has impacted all of us to differing degrees as a result of the mood swings and controlling behaviours WH was manifesting at the time .... :face_with_rolling_eyes:😳😔

Oh ... and my DIL has bipolar and wasn't coping either ..... whole other story there .... 😢

Gee .... I wonder why we've all got a really bad flu .... ?!! 🤒🤒🤒🤒🤒🤒 .... 😔

With everything that has happened, I am just grateful that the wheels have stayed on and the flu is all it is ...... ❤️💕 

[Faith-and-Hope]

@Former-Member .... just realised I didn't answer your other question ....

Greece gets minus temperature mid-Winter .... depends where you are as to how cold it goes cos there are a lot of mountains here.  Where we are based, it's not usually below -5 on a really cold night.  It depends a lot on whether there is snow around.  That drops the the operative quite suddenly by around 10deg ....

9:30pm here, and it's 6deg with 3deg expected overnight, but it gets colder into February.  It was snowing here in the last few weeks, as you can see on the Far and Away thread ....

[Former-Member]

Sounds like you have your hands full and you are the "glue"that binds your family.It sounds cold,but not the cold winters I do t think we get here with - overnight temps .Snow does make it colder if it hangs around.Pretty but you do get sick of snow after a while.thanks for sharing.

[Appleblossom]

Reminds me of the tropical paradise idea @Former-Member .. after a while even they get tiresome and you need to be careful of coral reefs and extra big bugs that bite.

[Former-Member]

I come from snow in winter,it's beautiful,I used to walk in the snow and when it's snowing, there's a quietness about it,a silence and sense of peace.But if it hangs around it does get cold then sloppy.

[Appleblossom]

Hi @Former-Member I have mainly heard my mother and husband's snow stories.

Your pic still reminds me of my old cat.  Small gardens can be nice and easier to take care of ...

@PeppiPatty  how are you going today .. I have to do my writing project too .. and eggplant for dinner ..

@Former-Member The wings on your angel are beautiful.  I have had a lovely couple of days with my son and it made me think about you and your daughter.  Please dont lose hope.  She is still so young.  Find ways to challenge her for her own self respect and your respect.  not as an attitude demanded, but the reality of what elicits your genuine respect.  I want to respect my kids as well as like and love them.

My darling approached me for a big favour this morning ... 

Hope it gives you a laugh and somehow find a place to ease things along with your girl.

We are all a work in progress ..

[Former-Member]

Hi @Appleblossom

That was a lovely story and interchange with your son - I can only wish for such with my daughter. It did bring a smile to my face which I very much needed today. It meant a lot that you were thinking of me as today has been hard for me. To be honest I am feeling down today. My daughter is in crisis, she has been drinking etc to excess and is now falling apart. She is still managing to work just, but is very moody, shuts herself away and can be abusive. After she snapped at me this afternoon she did not even remember doing it. It's a bad situation, one where I feel helpless in today. 

And the volunteer food charity shop where I work is closing its doors as big business has bought the premises we leased and is kicking us out. A much needed charity - and the people whom were running it (along with my husband) have lost interested in fighting to keep it open (my husband hasn't given up yet). Countless will suffer as a result. And that was a purpose I got up for. Gone.

But tomorrow is another day where I hope to find my way. But my world is closing in on me presently. Was lovely to read your post. You are such a lovely person, you help so many on here. Yes, the Angel is a beautiful artwork by one of my favourite artists S. Daluz. Hugs 💕

[Faith-and-Hope]

❤️💕 Oh that's rough @Former-Member .... but hold to hope .... sometimes they have to wallow about in it a bit to recognise it's what they don't want .... so hard to watch though .....

You stability in her life, and the fact that you love her are perhaps worth more than you know.  You are providing scaffolding for her whether she is conscious of it or not, and her behaviour is centred in internal pain.

Just keep that I Love You mat out there.

🤗❤️💐☕️🐠🌸❣

[Former-Member]

At least he showed interest Appleblossum,and he approached you to show him, that's rare.

[Faith-and-Hope]

A lot of background time and effort has gone into fostering the relationship, hasn't it @Appleblossom ..... 😊💕

So good to see you having these successes.  He will get there with it al.  You're a great mum ❣

How are you going @Former-Member ..... ?  Did you find the cat drinking with a straw image ?