Friday Focus 21/07/17 – Feeling overwhelmed and emotional

The little things have overwhelmed me this week. The combination of worrying about the next step on our heart family journey and tiredness from the end of term has not been a good one. One minute I’m feeling fairly strong about it all; the next I feel like I’m not coping well at all. It tends to be the most trivial of things that tips the balance too.

 

A doodle of the word "overwhelmed" with a stressed out cartoon version of meI’ve been quite emotional as the end of term approached. Yesterday was Jessica’s last day in Reception and I have to admit I shed a few tears as I dropped her off and again when I picked her up. It has been amazing to see how she has grown and thrived this year. She has learned so much. It has been a joy to see her develop a love of reading and writing. I felt quite sad saying goodbye to her teacher who has been wonderful, especially when it has come to keeping a closer eye on Jessica and working with her additional needs.

 

Today is the first day of the summer holidays for us. It’s a summer break that I can’t see the end of. Somewhere in the coming weeks is that big obstacle that is a major heart surgery and I cannot see beyond it. I don’t know where we will be at the start of the new school year in September, whether we’ll be in hospital, still waiting for surgery or back home recovering. We are meeting the surgeon in a couple of weeks and will know more then. In the meantime, I’ll be doing my best to focus on enjoying time with both my girls and making as many memories as I possibly can.

 

Things I have loved this week:

  • Jessica wanting to wear her princess dress for her school disco and Sophie deciding she had to dress up too.

 

Jessica and Sophie standing by a tree wearing princess dresses

 

  • A family day out at Chessington World of Adventures.

 

  • Making mud cakes in the garden with my girls.

 

 

Sophie and Jessica making mud cakes together

 

  • Jessica sitting down and writing a lovely thank you letter to her “best teacher” without any prompting to do so.

 

 

 

Chocolate chip and orange biscuits in a jar with a label saying "thank you for helping me become a smart cookie"

 

  • Being sent some personalized superhero capes for my girls. Jessica’s cape was perfect for her “Super Jessica” costume for her superhero day at the end of term. I stitched a heart with a zipper scar to the front of the T shirt and made a mask to finish the costume. Being a heart warrior makes her a superhero in her own right!

 

Jessica in her "Super Jessica" superhero costume

 

  • Going out for ice cream to celebrate the end of Jessica’s first year at school.

 

The Reading Residence

18 thoughts on “Friday Focus 21/07/17 – Feeling overwhelmed and emotional

  1. I’m not surprised you are feeling overwhelmed, it’s perfectly natural given the stress you are facing. I hope you can find a little relaxation in the weeks before Jessica’s operation. I love the photo of the girl’s mud pies, they look like they are having lots of fun. Jessica looks fab in her super hero costume ! x #WotW

    1. Thank you Angela. I’m hoping having a slightly slower pace for the summer will help a little! x

  2. I’d be feeling overwhelmed, too, you have so much going on. Do give in to your emotions when you need to, it must be better than bottling them up. I’m glad Jessica enjoyed Reception so much and the girls look adorable in their costumes. Hope you have a fun week with the two of them at home x Thanks for sharing with #WotW

    1. Thank you Jocelyn. I’m trying hard not to bottle things up too much at the moment and having a good cry every now and again does help x

  3. It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed when you have an operation on your child forecast. I recall feeling awful when my eldest had her finger operated on as she trapped it in the kitchen door. I agree with Jocelyn – don’t keep your feelings bottled up. Stay strong and we are all hear to listen and support if we can. #WotW

  4. I hope you can enjoy your holiday with the uncertainty hanging over you. With no firm date to put in the diary, I imagine it is overwhelming. Enjoy each moment. The rest will look after itself. #wotw

    1. Thank you Cheryl. I’m definitely trying to make the most of the moments at the moment and enjoy them x

  5. Jessica absolutely is a super hero. Adorable photos of your girls. It’s no wonder you are overwhelmed at the moment hopefully when you have a firm date you will be able too plan better. I hope you can all have a wonderful time together in the next few weeks x#wotw

    1. Thanks Louisa. In some ways it will be good to have a firm date and be able to plan what we can; in other ways it will make it very real! We’ll definitely be making the most of the moments until then though x

  6. Aww! Bless you! It sounds like such a rough week.
    You know my girls had their heart surgery over the summer holidays and I felt exactly like this. I left the school on the last day of term not knowing if I would have either of m girls to take back in September….It was awful. I understand how you feel. Sending love and hugs. Take one day at a time and try to enjoy the holidays as best you can x
    #WotW

    1. Thank you so much Kim. It does help to know that other parents have been in my shoes and have come out the other side of it. I can imagine how scary it must have been for you waiting for your girls’ heart surgeries too. So glad they are doing so well now x

  7. Gosh what a difficult time for you. I do hope you have plenty of support, please message me if ever you need to chat or if there’s anything at all I can do. Your girls look beautiful in their princess dresses and I LOVE the idea of baking cookies for the teachers, we might have to do that next year!
    Nat.x

    1. Thank you so much Nat, that’s really appreciated. It does help to know that we have so much support from family and friends x

  8. Ah it must be so hard Louise, no wonder you feel like this there are so many questions without answers at the moment for you all. Jessica is so brave. The end of recession year is an emotional one reception is such a huge deal. Sending lots of love xx

    1. Thank you so much Sarah. She is a brave little girl and is taking it all in her stride, bless her x

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