Yes I agree, grown children still need their parents, I know all about that with my own parents. I didn't mean just let it all go and go haywire, at all. I just mean be able to relax a little. I am pretty vigilant about my stability right now. And that is fine, but avoiding things I love, well hopefully that won't always have to be the case.

I don't get suicidal, so I am not worried about that. The worst thing I do when manic is spend to much at thrift stores. I don't really have the means to get in debt. I'm not at risk of substance abuse, or picking up and moving on a whims notice or anything. I would never just let myself get really manic without stepping in, not even when I am older.

I just want to take part in things I am passionate about, I think that's fair. The thing about society, well I am never going to fit into there ideal, and I am not sure I want to.

My children might have a bipolar mother, but I will not put myself down because of that one thing. I am not less of a good mother as someone without bipolar. I don't think that is quite what you are saying, but even in the middle of any episode my children have always remained my priority, and despite whatever I have been going through I have always been able to keep it together in front of them, and rise to my duties. Sorry, that is a touchy subject with me, I have had bipolar used against me by my children's absentee, drug addicted,abusive father, who is not bipolar. My pdoc and T at the time were more than willing to vouch for me on that one.

I see non mentally ill parents not giving a darn about their children all the time, and that is one stigma about society I reject. Not only that, we might have bipolar, but even under that label we do not all fit into the same box, we are all still individuals. Me being fully myself might look very different than someone else with or without bipolar fully being them selves.

I understand what you are saying, I do. But I know myself, and what I am like even under the worst circumstances.

Sorry I am not upset, I am just trying to explain how I feel about this subject. I do understand your point of view.