Interesting Idea

OutlawedSpirit · Oct 11, 2012, 04:00 PM

So I've been bored the past couple days, but nothing a trip to good old Wal-Mart can't fix. Just thought I'd share my latest project in case it can help anyone else. I know I should be keeping a mood chart, journal, etc. but I haven't exactly gotten around to it yet. I was also thinking about the fact that sometimes I have problems knowing exactly what kind of mood I'm in. Then I thought who can tell better and be more brutally honest than a child. My daughter is almost six, so I decided to let her lend a hand in my treatment.

Today I went to Wal-Mart, spent 8 bucks and got a decent sized white board. I sectioned it out for me, my girlfriend, and our daughter to each have three lines corresponding with morning, afternoon, and night. Then I added columns so that it can be used for fifteen days in a row and a few columns to tally the totals at the end of the fifteen days. Since she isn't old enough to really tell the finer details of moods, I assigned just three, happy, sad, and mad, and then gave them each a color. Happy is green, sad is blue, and mad is red.

I did the grid work with a permanent marker so I don't have to redo it every time the board gets wiped. Otherwise, everyone fills in the box that lines up with the date and time of day with the color they think is right. So, for example, if my daughter thinks that I'm mad in the morning, she colors in that box red. Then, every fifteen days, I can total up three moods, find out which happens most often, least often, and if there is a trend for a certain mood at a certain time of day. Plus it gets my daughter involved in starting to understand my illness so hopefully it helps her understand why I act the way I do sometimes. And I added a few lines at the bottom in case anything of note happens that I want to mark down.

I just thought maybe it could be an idea for anyone else with young kids, or even older kids, to get an extra perspective and involve them in your treatment in a fun way.

Clinte89 · Oct 11, 2012, 04:14 PM

Wow that's a great idea because its usually other people who notice our moods first, and a kid would probably pick up on it really quick those little buggers are always noticing things lol. I think this is a great idea and I wish you luck with it and thanks or sharing.

OutlawedSpirit · Oct 11, 2012, 04:39 PM

Not to mention sometimes kids are too honest. But this is a situation where I'm hoping she is.

Trippin2.0 · Oct 11, 2012, 05:49 PM

Its a great idea! And as long as she's sure she's helping mommy,trust me, she'll be honest

my daughter is quick to point out when I'm aggro

'another aggro bipolar day mommy? Dont worry,I know you dont mean to be snappish' lmao, I'm dead sure she means 'right b.i.t.c.h' instead of 'snappish'

She's great tho, as soon as a mood hits, she gives me space until the coast is clear. She understands that I dont want her seeing it, and getting caught up in it. Your daughter's input is a great idea

LiveThroughThis · Oct 11, 2012, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

Its a great idea! And as long as she's sure she's helping mommy,trust me, she'll be honest

my daughter is quick to point out when I'm aggro

'another aggro bipolar day mommy? Dont worry,I know you dont mean to be snappish' lmao, I'm dead sure she means 'right b.i.t.c.h' instead of 'snappish'

She's great tho, as soon as a mood hits, she gives me space until the coast is clear. She understands that I dont want her seeing it, and getting caught up in it. Your daughter's input is a great idea

Wow, you have an amazing daughter---that she can not only pick up on your "aggro" days but has the wherewithal to give you your space and not get caught up in it.

Uber impressed.

MommaR · Oct 11, 2012, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

Its a great idea! And as long as she's sure she's helping mommy,trust me, she'll be honest

my daughter is quick to point out when I'm aggro

'another aggro bipolar day mommy? Dont worry,I know you dont mean to be snappish' lmao, I'm dead sure she means 'right b.i.t.c.h' instead of 'snappish'

She's great tho, as soon as a mood hits, she gives me space until the coast is clear. She understands that I dont want her seeing it, and getting caught up in it. Your daughter's input is a great idea

When my to older sons were little the oldest just couldn't seem to wrap his head around the idea that there were days you just cannot get in Mommie's bubble but one day the younger of the two just stopped and looked at him and said," DANG! Why dont you understand you just gotta leave her alone when she is 'like this'" He was MAYBE six... I feel bad that my kids had to live like that tho, walking on eggshells around me but hopefully the meds will change all that and my baby and grandbaby will never have to figure out when to stay away from me.

Trippin2.0 · 12:52 AM

My baby (8y.o) doesnt walk on eggshells. She's just very in tune with my moods. If she catches me crying alone in my room, she gives me a hug, makes sure I have enough tissues, and tells me she'll come back in a while... No, she doesnt walk on eggshells. Understands that my bp is seperate from her. Ever since we had the 'bp talk' and I explained why I sometimes need alone time, she has respected that. But I always give her some sort of a 'thank you' after. Watch her favourite movie AGAIN, or something

LiveThroughThis · Oct 12, 2012, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

My baby (8y.o) doesnt walk on eggshells. She's just very in tune with my moods. If she catches me crying alone in my room, she gives me a hug, makes sure I have enough tissues, and tells me she'll come back in a while... No, she doesnt walk on eggshells, understands that my bp is seperate for her, ever since wehad the 'bp talk' and I explained why I sometimes need alone time, she has respected that. But I always give her some sort of a 'thank you' after. Watch her favourite movie AGAIN, or something

Nevertheless it takes a very smart and tuned-in child to be able to do that. It's a testament to your mothering and her as who she is.

Trippin2.0 · Oct 12, 2012, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiveThroughThis

Nevertheless it takes a very smart and tuned-in child to be able to do that. It's a testament to your mothering and her as who she is.

OMW, Awwww, You just made me choke back tears in public! Thank you for your kind words, it really means alot to know that other's think I'm doing something right in the mommy arena

LiveThroughThis · Oct 12, 2012, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

OMW, Awwww, You just made me choke back tears in public! Thank you for your kind words, it really means alot to know that other's think I'm doing something right in the mommy arena

You are most welcome; I only said it because it's the truth. Having a child so well-adjusted to what you have to deal with is rare, unusual, and such a blessing.

I was always one of those kids that kind of felt everything going on around me. I think my childhood would have been much better had my mom or someone else taken the time to sit me down and explain it.

I had to give you kudos. That's so significant, you deserve two pats on the back.