I went to my first NAMI support group meeting the otehr night. By and large, a very positive experience...
I have been thinking a lot about the group's advice to "See the person...not the mental illness." This is a tough one for me.
So much of difficult child's condition manifests as aggression and deceit. It's very hard for me to dismiss that and continue to try to have a loving mother-daughter relationship. Especially now, at holiday time, when difficult child is being extra hateful and extra hurtful while at the same time, making a lot of demands about the kids of gifts and fun things she wants.
I'm having a hard time getting into the holiday spirit and planning fun things with difficult child making it clear how much she hates us all...
For my part, I still love my daughter....but it's hard to spend time with a person who constantly stresses you to this point. What is the saying? I love you, even though I don't like you very much right now. I guess that's where I am...
How do you manage to get past the "difficult child-ness" of your difficult child ???
--DaisyFace
I have been thinking a lot about the group's advice to "See the person...not the mental illness." This is a tough one for me.
So much of difficult child's condition manifests as aggression and deceit. It's very hard for me to dismiss that and continue to try to have a loving mother-daughter relationship. Especially now, at holiday time, when difficult child is being extra hateful and extra hurtful while at the same time, making a lot of demands about the kids of gifts and fun things she wants.
I'm having a hard time getting into the holiday spirit and planning fun things with difficult child making it clear how much she hates us all...
For my part, I still love my daughter....but it's hard to spend time with a person who constantly stresses you to this point. What is the saying? I love you, even though I don't like you very much right now. I guess that's where I am...
How do you manage to get past the "difficult child-ness" of your difficult child ???
--DaisyFace