- Started an interesting rotation at work and got a semi-promotion. -My boys are growing and are so much fun, DS1 is so happy to be back in school in person and DS2 has made so much progress in speech therapy. -We were able to take a family vacation in between covid waves, and also attended an amazing family camp weekend with no cell phone service. -I just really loved spending time with my H and boys generally.
Lows:
-Diagnosed as pre diabetic which was a huge shock (sounds like a few of us are in the same boat!). I’ve had to change my eating habits and still have a lot of work to do on increasing my activity level. -Did ~6 months of therapy and uncovered a lot of issues from the past I had to work through, which was hard at times. -Worried about my family getting covid all year, then my H got a positive test on Halloween so we missed trick or treating. -We dealt with major deck issues for months on end and I feel like we barely got to enjoy the summer since our backyard was mostly unusable.
Looking forward to:
-Going to Hawaii once DS2 can be vaccinated -Finishing a bunch of lingering home improvement projects -Hopefully getting a hot tub -Returning to family camp -Seeing friends more
Post by rupertpenny on Dec 29, 2021 19:05:55 GMT -5
Highs: -We got a car (haven't had one in 8 years!) and the freedom is amazing -We bought an apartment! Even a few years ago I was convinced we would never be able to own a home, and being able to buy, especially in NYC, is surreal -My H got out of his toxic job and started a much better one -My H finally started going to therapy and it has impacted our relationship in a positive way -those three weeks this summer where we all thought covid was on the down-swing
Lows: -Buying an apartment was so freaking stressful and took years off of my life -M (who turns 4 in less than a month) freaking refuses to use a toilet. He is ready physiologically but insanely stubborn -My mom's descent into full-blown anti-vax conspiracy theory believer. It has changed the dynamics of our relationship and I've been mourning my old, relatively sane, mom -My grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and has deteriorated a lot -Loooots of existential angst. My mental health has been all over the place, mostly on the bad side.
Looking forward to: -M being vaccinated and finally feeling comfortable to travel and see my 92-year-old grandmother who lives abroad -our last au pair moving out and living without sharing our house with a childcare provider for the first time in 8 years -I'm probably going to get a tummy tuck
Highs: -we went to Hawaii in May - I was able to cut back on work and it was wonderful - spent time with family and healed some relationships that struggled after the year before -my dad is recovering from being sick in August
Lows: -my dad got West Nile Virus and has slowed down considerably (mentally) - I still am not able to be where I want, weight wise - DS1 struggled in school with a specific teacher and I had to go in and raise hell
Looking forward to: - trip to Lake Powell with my family including parents, sister and BIL - hopefully go back to Hawaii - get off birth control and see how my body reacts to no hormones
Post by dancingirl21 on Dec 29, 2021 19:49:45 GMT -5
Highs: -my immediate family of 4 was all vaccinated this year -we did a major first floor renovation that ended up being exactly what I hoped it would be -we bought two new vehicles that we love -my marriage is stronger than ever -our kids are getting independent and really enjoy each other (ages 8 and 5). They are really fun to watch together. -I beat my reading goal and found plenty of moments for me-time
Lows: -DH and I decided we would take a leap and move to another state temporarily for his job. Due to COVID, the kids and I moved home. We are living separately in different states now and only see each other every other weekend. -General COVID anxiety and not seeing family/friends -I didn't meet the fitness goals I had set for myself
Looking forward to in 2022: -DH moving home and us being together as a family again -We have four trips planned for next year - so hoping they can happen! -Challenging myself to get on our Peloton at least 3 times per week. Not just for fitness, but for my mental health
Post by W.T.Faulkner on Dec 29, 2021 19:58:44 GMT -5
Low: FIL was hospitalized five times this year. The stress from that took a toll on H; thankfully he began therapy this year. Work is as hard as it has ever been for me; it’s making me wonder whether I can even continue on in education. And I miss my friends, a lot.
High: Finding out @@@@ we’re expecting a baby girl, who will be here in a few weeks. The birth of my nephew, who is the cutest, happiest baby who ever lived.
Looking forward to: Baby girl, life as a family of 4, being done with having kids. lol And maybe I’ll find a great new job this year.
Post by sugarbear1 on Dec 29, 2021 20:16:41 GMT -5
Highs—technically divorced in 2020, but exH moved out in 2021 and I love being on my own. Started a new relationship that is so healthy, it feels a little weird. Renovated my house so it is MINE. Exactly how I want it. Trip with my SIL that was so fun and exactly what we both needed. I really enjoyed getting closer to her. My kids are awesome
Lows— my sisters are fighting and will likely never reconcile, which is horribly impacting my parents. My exH’s mental health is declining and I worry about him (specifically as he parents, but… I don’t hate him and don’t wish him ill will.) Work. I’m a teacher. Considering other options.
Looking forward to: More adventures with BF Seeing my kids mature
Highs: -We got a car (haven't had one in 8 years!) and the freedom is amazing -We bought an apartment! Even a few years ago I was convinced we would never be able to own a home, and being able to buy, especially in NYC, is surreal -My H got out of his toxic job and started a much better one -My H finally started going to therapy and it has impacted our relationship in a positive way -those three weeks this summer where we all thought covid was on the down-swing
Lows: -Buying an apartment was so freaking stressful and took years off of my life -M (who turns 4 in less than a month) freaking refuses to use a toilet. He is ready physiologically but insanely stubborn -My mom's descent into full-blown anti-vax conspiracy theory believer. It has changed the dynamics of our relationship and I've been mourning my old, relatively sane, mom -My grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and has deteriorated a lot -Loooots of existential angst. My mental health has been all over the place, mostly on the bad side.
Looking forward to: -M being vaccinated and finally feeling comfortable to travel and see my 92-year-old grandmother who lives abroad -our last au pair moving out and living without sharing our house with a childcare provider for the first time in 8 years -I'm probably going to get a tummy tuck
My almost 4 yr old won't either. The stubborn kids grow up to be world leaders right? 🤣
Highs -We bought a really nice new forever home. -DD finally got her ASD diagnosis and we had an end to our journey. -DH got a huge raise this year. -My marriage and intimacy has improved a lot this year.
Lows -Due to Covid DD continues to not have social opportunities and has lost time on early education and early services. -Kid's still not potty trained at over 3.5 😫
Highs: -We got to travel some this year, Cabo,Aruba,and Dominican. -H still working from home we both love this. -Dad got to come stay with us for 3 months. -All 3 of my kids are thriving, living on their own and doing so well professionally.
Lows: -Dad's health is always a challenge. He just got over Covid for the 2nd time -My sweet sweet pup passed a few weeks ago, he was 11. -I'm not loving my job so much these days. -Having a tumor removed from my foot on Wednesday
Looking forward to -Travel hopefully. My H has so many days from the last 2 years. We plan on Portugal, Spain, St.Kitts, and a 2 week cruise. -My son finally getting his PhD!!!
Lows: - My DD became critically ill and was admitted to children’s nearly in a diabetic coma. She was diagnosed as a diabetic and it’s been a hard year of firsts, thousands of shots, tech devices, our $13k OOP max (barf), and lots and lots of anguish and tears. - I am fairly certain 2021 is the year I officially left the Catholic Church. We haven’t been to mass in two years and the way my local parish has actively pushed back on common sense measures to protect the vulnerable (ie my diabetic daughter) is absolutely sickening. I am more devastated about this than I thought I would be… - My work was super shitty to me after DD got sick and withheld my bonus (from last year) because I couldn’t take on additional workload/projects. I quit and gave them the proverbial finger.
Highs: - My DD survived and is the strongest and most tenacious child I’ve ever met. - My DD and DS were able to get vaccinated and it’s helped with my anger and resentment of those who are unwilling to protect others. - My BFFs abnormal mammogram results came back and it was NOT cancer
Post by ProfessorArtNerd on Dec 29, 2021 21:34:43 GMT -5
Highs—
-@ my joe joe bear’s birth - seeing the kids become caring and nurturing toward him- never would’ve called it. -finally getting back to teaching! In a classroom even!
Lows—
-started the year still recovering from my broken ankle and surgery. I felt like I missed the holidays and then I got pregnant in January and feel like I missed the spring/summer because… -pregnancy was awful for me, I was so so sick and depressed. -I keep getting bumped at my community college. I hate rollercoasters, even proverbial ones
Highs - I lost 20 lbs and have been following the Peloton Hardcore on the Floor calendar for a solid year. I've worked out 5-6 days a week all year except for when we were on vacations. I'm feeling really strong. Of course I've eaten complete trash this week and I'm sure I'm up in weight a bit but I think that will resolve itself after the new year. - We finally made it out to CA for my brother's wedding that had been postponed twice. And his wife is due with a baby in June so I will have my first niece - We co-bought a boat and spent every weekend on the lake this summer with friends. It was so relaxing and fun. - My friend group has been really solid for the past couple years. I haven't felt lonely at all and there's been no shortage of people to hang out with.
- DS is really thriving in preschool and I'm so pleased about that, since he's a bit of a nut.
- So far have avoided Covid (knock on wood)
Lows - My anxiety has been at an all time high but I am at least attending therapy now and doing something about it. - My dad was really ill in October, hospitalized for almost a week. All they could determine after many tests was that he had a really bad virus (not Covid). I was truly worried he'd die, because his parents both died in their 60s. He is getting stronger but still frustrated that he doesn't feel good sometimes. (He also had actual Covid in Dec 2020 so doctors think he is dealing with some long haul stuff maybe).
- 2 of our best friends are moving to Florida at the end of the school year so that kinda messes with the solid friend group that I mentioned above.
- We had a bunch of fun plans this week with friends but then were exposed to Covid by H's brother. I knew this was probably coming at some point though.
Lows: -losing my mom -selling our house for $50k less than list -multiple depressive episodes
Highs: -Colorado trips- shared it with the boys for the first time, they loved it and are incredible road trippers so we got to go 3 times. -finding a great house with incredible neighbors
Looking forward: -renovating our house -more trips to Colorado
Lows: My dad had a sudden illness and was in the Hosptial/rehab for a month. Super stressful dealing with that uncertainty/ medical/financial issues and my family.
DS1 continuing to have school issues.
Highs: Traveling for pleasure Meeting my newest niece Stellar end of year review (waiting on my 2022 pay letter) and promotion/new boss who I love. It’s nice to be valued at work. Continuing to WFH full time DS2 is thriving at school.
Looking forward to - work travel Starting a major renovation in our house that I have been wanting for YEARS!
Lows Boss went off the deep end and I rage-quit without anything else lined up. Still technically unemployed. Two of four pets are getting old and it's showing. I'm reasonably certain we're at the beginning of the end with our dog.
Highs Started my company. The little one finally potty trained at 3.5, she's still in pull ups a lot, though. Baked some absolutely bad-ass desserts.
Looking forward to - Nothing. I have no long term plans right now. I think that's a problem. :/
Highs: Riding my bike and horses (not my horses, just lessons) Vaxxed and boosted
Lows: Everything else I have a very rare almost unheard of, serious complication from open heart surgery in late 2020. I was not diagnosed until Nov. when I was hospitalized. It's impacting every facet of my life and affects me hourly.
Neutral: My mom dying (not unexpected).
Everything for 2022 revolves around if I have to have the SAME open heart surgery again.
Post by letsgetweird on Dec 29, 2021 23:56:15 GMT -5
TW
Highs: -Got a promotion, moved on from a position that wasn't a good fit for me -Good year financially for me. Making more money than I ever have -Started therapy again -Lots of trips. Tulum, Denver, Miami, Harry Potter World
Lows: -My SIL killed herself in July. The lowest of lows and the worst year on record. So much confusion and unanswered questions. I'm looking forward to 2022 to put more time between this awful event and hoping with time the pain will ease a bit
Post by mysteriouswife on Dec 30, 2021 0:25:30 GMT -5
Low: - losing SFIL - being in a tornado a week later - I work in supply chain. Specifically imports - covid recovery. It’s been a year since I was hospitalized and I’m still not back to pre-covid - losing my grandfather.
High: - gaining employment after being laid off nearly a year - DS using his OT skills to adapt with his OCD/anxiety - Two vacations not revolving around family visits - H and I getting away without kids - DD thriving in high school taking advanced placement classes - being more financially stable. (Daycare cost is stupid)
2022: - two vacations planned - a few concerts/events planned
Highs: My DD5.5 started K in a language immersion and is loving school, learning French, and making a lot of friends. We got a new principal at work and he is amazing. We went from dreading coming in to having everyone feel valued and respected. My DD is an absolute joy to be around. She talks to everyone and is a huge ‘bucket filler’ We got to spend Christmas morning with my dad. We finally had someone take some medical concerns about our daughter seriously. We still don’t have a diagnosis, but we at least feel listened to.
Lows: My assignment at work feels impossible a lot of the time and we are super short-staffed. I gained more weight, and I’m frustrated. I don’t feel like myself. I haven’t done anything for myself, really, in months. I have zero balance. I feel like the uncertainty of Covid will never go away.
-Being able to vaccinate my entire household -We built a home and moved in November. We are making it feel like home. -continuing to work from home one day a week. I love it. -we took a family vacation to Mexico. -kids back in school and seeing them thrive socially. A year at home was very hard on them.
Lows: -my partner’s dad nearly died. It was a very scary couple of weeks with him in the ICU. -my kids’ grandpa died. Even though it was their mom’s dad, it is hard to see them in pain
Looking forward to: Dare I say, Covid being behind us. Is that even possible? I’m not sure, but I’m hopeful. Continuing to make our new house a home.
Highs: -we haven’t gotten Covid yet and are all fully vaxxed -we celebrated some bigger family birthdays and our anniversary -we took a couple of trips, including one with just my daughters and me, 1600 miles to national parks, in my electric car -my husband and I had more fun dates this year than we’ve had in awhile (baseball game, concert, whiskey tasting, parties) -we threw a kickass Olympics party in our backyard -our girls are getting older and are kind of in that sweet spot with their independence -this fall, watching my daughters run for school office and literally run, they have moments when they really inspire me -I started back to work and my husband has really proven himself a phenomenal partner/teammate with logistics, helping me make it all work -an extended family reunion over Thanksgiving -two of my cousins had babies this year (I haven’t met them yet) -way less Trump
Lows: -grave concern about the climate crisis and not enough being done -despair about the lack of critical thought by half the country and a few people in our families -the general state of the world -the cancer deaths of two (older) friends who I found influential on my life
Looking forward to: -both sets of our parents moving/getting established in homes where they can safely age in place -maybe trying a trip, as carbon neutral as I can make it -my cousin’s wedding -helping my older Girl Scout troop earn their bronze award
Highs: Everything about my husband and son. Two magical beings. Joining a pottery class at the senior center Became a Certified Colorado Gardener/on track for Colorado Master Gardener Found a very good, very effective therapist Vaccines
Lows: Tons of job rejections with no explanation Being bullied by a surgeon for my still broken back and being called Famine Proof by said surgeon, which set me on a trail of horrible self destruction More medical trauma Losing friendships and family Insurrection A whole bunch of family bullshit from my childhood coming to light. A short stay at a psychiatric inpatient center which also contributed to even more medical trauma Continuing Covid crap
ETA looking forward to: Everything with my h and son More pottery Starting a part time job on Monday Continuing Therapy Getting new insurance so maybe I can get my fucking back fixed.
- Professional success for me, including selection for a new position that I really wanted - Professional success for H, hired as a full-time teacher (and killing it) - All of us are fully vaccinated
Lows: - Deployed and away from my family for 7 months - My child got COVID while I was gone - FIL passed away right after I got back (before I had a chance to see him again), none of us were able to say goodbye. It’s been REALLY hard on my H
Highs: Took a 10 week sabbatical Bought new house Vaccines!!
Lows: Mom getting dementia diagnosis Everyone in my house getting covid (and the lingering issues I still have from it 12 weeks later)
Looking forward to a healthier 2022 (I hope), DD2 being turning 5 and getting her vaccine, hopefully getting a promotion and honestly I am super pumped for my bonus it’s going to be great this year and I am going to splurge on something fun.
Post by foundmylazybum on Dec 30, 2021 9:31:10 GMT -5
Highs:
I was healthy and cancer free in 2021. I did a lot of work to try to recover from my dx, physically, emotionally, mentally. We bought a cabin with my parents and it's been super fun I went white water rafting for 6 days and made some new amazing friends Got to see my entire family on vacation since 2019 Improved relationship with brother Started doctorate program Quit my job that wasn't working out
Lows: I think a lot of stuff around work was stressful and not great
Moving forward in survivorship is challenging and it is never ending.
Highs: - I got a promotion and substantial salary increase. I really feel like my career is finally back in a good place after being on hold after having DS in 2017. - I love WFH. Although it can be challenging, I love the extra 3+ hours a day I save by not commuting. - DS continues to be a super bright spot in my life. I love spending time with him and watching him grow. - I made a new friend this year who has become like a sister. Making friends as an adult can be tough — add in a pandemic, full-time job, kid(s), and it’s almost impossible. I’m not sure I would have made it through the year without her.
Lows: - DH lost his good friend to COVID. - My mom continues to decline with Alzheimer’s. - My dog died this summer.
Looking forward to: - I need to take more time to myself next year and get back into my fitness routine. - My 40th birthday is at the end of the year. We plan to celebrate with a nice trip if it is safe. - DS getting vaccinated
Post by emilyinchile on Dec 30, 2021 10:49:05 GMT -5
Highs: - The general ones of Trump no longer being president and getting vaccinated - Vacation to our favorite place in Chile in Jan, MUCH needed after so many months of quarantine - Getting engaged on vacation - Having a baby - My dad meeting said baby
Lows: - Continued quarantines and border closures - Post partum has been way harder than I expected, mostly mentally in terms of how all-encompassing it is for me - My 14.5 year old dog has really gotten old this past year and has a lot of difficult behaviors related with that
Looking forward to: - More family visits (please, Omicron, don't fuck this up) - Vacation in Jan/DS's first visit to our favorite place - DS going to daycare at some point and me having the mental space to really get back into work and being an independent human rather than just a mom - Maybe even planning a wedding if we get to a stage where planning a big event with foreign guests is possible