[tajk]

My kids don't miss "sleeping mom" but they do miss "fun mom" they keep asking me when we are going to bake brownies at two in the morning, or get dressed up in fancy clothes and go down town or paint the house as a surprise for daddy when he gets home. (Daddy was very mad. I charged a lot of money on the credit card to redecorate the house) How do I tell them that that mom isn't coming back. That I was sick and have to take meds to make me better? Any suggestions. The kids are K and grade one ages

[AAAAA]

tajk,

Fun mom doesn't have to go! Just because you're not manic doesn't mean you can't be fun. So you'll bake brownies at 2 in the afternoon instead.

Carve an hour a couple times a week to play board games, read, or color.

Don't get me wrong, I love my manic stage and I miss it... a lot. (I was a redecorator too) But I don't know about you, but I didn't think very clearly, and although I got a lot done because I wasn't sleeping, I'd have to redo things because I'd be in the middle of one thing and something else would catch my eye. Ew shiney thing.

But I would definately talk to them about it, so that as they get older the topic is comfortable and they're more likely to talk to you about it if, God forbid, they start showing symptoms as teenagers.

In my opinion, you've got it just about right, tell them that Mom is sick, it's nothing to be worried about, but when she was sick she did some silly things and she's getting better now.

[Schatje]

I'm in a similar boat. I have 2 sons (5 years and 3 months) and hope against hope they don't end up like this. I plan to be as honest as possible with the kids. If I'm not honest with them they may not be honest with me if they discover something amiss somewhere down the line. I loved the beginning and the middle of my hypo manic episodes, but the ends were h-o-r-r-i-b-l-e.

[tajk]

Wow Two boys. I have one and I have been to the emerg. room enough with him. I couldn't imagine two. I think your right honesty is the best thing. Thanks.