New Year, New Docs and Parenting Woes

Image man lying down on therapist couch

My health insurance changed in January. My primary care is the same, but I had to get a new therapist in January. I was approved continuation of care with my psychiatrist, but that fell throug, so I had to find a new psychiatrist, too.

I saw the new psychiatrist on Thursday. Fortunately, he did not want to change my medications. I have been on this combo for years. A friend had recommended a different doctor in the practice but he was booked up so they assigned me to this one. I googled and found him but did not get much information. He seems nice. He ordered refills. Our next appointment is over the phone next month.

I like my new therapist. He makes me think. I asked him what he meant by that article on brain hemispheres and he said just that you can change your thinking at any age.

My daughter is 23 and lives with us. She graduated college last year and plans to get her teaching credential. But, she has not applied, yet. She is afraid to learn to drive and is afraid of Covid. She has a job at the library. We drive her back and forth, which is okay. She just goes to work and home and spends a lot of time in her room.

My therapist suggested we are enabling her to avoid self awareness, and how satisfying is her life if she is isolating? Another thing that is making me wonder. I don’t go out much myself and I feel content. It is not out of fear, I am just fine at home. I mentioned her at a support group and they said we are enabling by driving her and that she may stay home until in her 30s. I don’t know what to think. She seems fine, rarely complains. We did not get along for years and we are in an okay place now.

I don’t know what we should be doing, if anything.

I have joined an art journaling group. It meets once a month. The teacher is a therapist, but it is not therapy. She just charges a donation. She brings up a subject for inspiration. This week she wanted us to bring light to Ukraine. We worked with mandalas which is a circle. I like the way mine turned out. I am not artistic but it is still enjoyable.

Image: blue and yellow circles with yellow heart and sunflower in center. Words: hope, support, power of love

I also joined an online journaling group. It disappeared and I thought they weren’t going to have it anymore, but it is back at a different time. It is enjoyable, too.

This had to be my son’s senior year in high school

I know this is pretty trivial. People are dying. People are risking their lives. We just have to stay at home. I get it. It is just hard for a teenager.

My husband, daughter and I are handling the stay home order pretty well. My daughter has her college classes online and enjoys reading and watching shows . My husband and I still go to work. He is doing okay with this, I would stay at home most of the time anyways. The only one enjoying this is the dog. He loves having us here more often,

My son misses his friends. They talk online and play games, but it is not like being in person. He works for the rec dept and that is on hold. His classes are all online. He is having a hard time. I am sure the teachers are doing a great job, he just is a slow reader and learns by doing. He is an Eagle Scout and misses scout activities. He is involved with a Jewish teen group and he misses that. Sometimes he goes by himself for car rides just to get out.

I am at a loss for what to tell him. We have never gone through this before. I tell him it will end, we just don’t know when. I hope we are able to do something for his graduation.