barneysmom
Member
Well, I stayed home from my annual birthday trip. Our family (me, husband and boys) have gone to Chicago for my birthday for years. We didn't go last year because gfg17 was not well. To be honest I have never really enjoyed the trip because of all the fighting in the hotel room and lots of oppositional behavior when we are trying to enjoy the city. I usually just sucked it up. One year I had a panic attack in Water Tower Place and had to go back to the hotel room.
This year, I had been telling husband I was reluctant to go, because it involves five nights in a hotel with the boys and I just don't have the energy for that right now after the rough year we've had. I'm tired. husband said I was pre-judging the boys' behavior and that if I went with a bad attitude it would be a bad trip. He said it would be good for the family. We even talked about it in family therapy and worked out a family plan for team-building and solving disputes. When I look back on the meeting, I still think my personal needs were overlooked (even though I love and trust our therapist).
But what about the fact that I simply don't want to go and don't have the physical or emotional energy? I want to and need to protect my energy right now -- it's precarious and I'm tired a lot. Plus I was having an inordinately hard time leaving my dogs. They are trustworthy.
So I decided not to go. husband and the boys went anyway. Actually I think it has worked out OK -- a little disconcerting that they went on my birthday trip without me, but now I have some time and space to rest and think.
Jo
This year, I had been telling husband I was reluctant to go, because it involves five nights in a hotel with the boys and I just don't have the energy for that right now after the rough year we've had. I'm tired. husband said I was pre-judging the boys' behavior and that if I went with a bad attitude it would be a bad trip. He said it would be good for the family. We even talked about it in family therapy and worked out a family plan for team-building and solving disputes. When I look back on the meeting, I still think my personal needs were overlooked (even though I love and trust our therapist).
But what about the fact that I simply don't want to go and don't have the physical or emotional energy? I want to and need to protect my energy right now -- it's precarious and I'm tired a lot. Plus I was having an inordinately hard time leaving my dogs. They are trustworthy.
So I decided not to go. husband and the boys went anyway. Actually I think it has worked out OK -- a little disconcerting that they went on my birthday trip without me, but now I have some time and space to rest and think.
Jo