Today my 5-year-old daughter returns to in-person learning at her school. It's a half-day model, and she is placed in the second half of the day group.
I woke up with my hands shaking. I've had two panic attacks. I'm grinding my teeth so hard I swear I'm going to get lockjaw or break a tooth. I'm sweaty and itchy but cold. I'm crying constantly. Constantly.
Even though her school has gone out of their way to make the transition and the school day as safe and clean as possible, and even though I know going back to in-person is going to be so good for her social/emotional well-being... I am feeling like a horrible horrible parent taking her to a place where she could potentially get sick. Very, very, very sick.
And I'll be taking her there almost daily.
I'm so scared I feel like I could pass out at any moment, or my fast heartbeat will turn into a massive heart attack and I will drop dead. I feel nauseated and just...
I am Freaking. Out. FREAKING OUT.
Am I doing the right thing? Am I a horrible parent? Will my daughter be okay...safe...healthy?
I wrote that she will over multiple pages in my journal this morning to try and calm down - and I wrote them in my "Joys" journal to put an extra good juju on the whole thing... But I can't calm down.
Check in with me, please 😢
#COVID19 #BipolarDisorder #Anxiety #Parenting #scared #anxious #FreakingOut #Crying #PanicAttack #CheckInWithMe