Hi all! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and all that jazz!!! I must admit these past few months have been tough, but I don’t want to be a stranger here. I’m hoping as we get into an even number year, things will go a bit smoother and I have always liked to use blogging as a way for me to work out what’s going on in life and in my head. I will be participating in Gretchen Rubin’s #write24in24, which I will use toward blogging. I think that will help me immensely!
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That said, mental health is so important! I’m realizing now how hard this move has been on our twin boys, especially the younger one (by 11 minutes). He’s always been very sensitive and skeptical of the world, and it hasn’t made hormones and high school that much easier. I’m hoping we are now on the right track with him now. We did make some changes to his classes to not be so advanced (thinking he’s not doing well at school has bothered him a lot), he’s in an intensive outpatient program (IOP), he’s started some medicine for depression, and we have a follow up with the doctor next week on that and an ADHD evaluation. After the IOP, we have a therapist lined up for him to work with. I don’t plan on him stopping that at any time through high school, as I’m suspecting new things will continue to come up that he needs an outlet to talk to.
I’ve been saying since we moved here that I don’t feel like he’s “found his people”. He’ll hang out with his brother’s friends, but I don’t feel like he’s truly engaged with them. Thankfully, this week he finally got to Chess Club at school and played a few games with someone!!! They agreed to meet up again there after winter break. I hope a friendship comes out of that. I did also find out our library has a kid’s chess club on Sunday afternoons. Hopefully they have some teenagers there, as I’m looking to have him check it out when they start back up after the holidays. The IOP thought some activities like that might help him break out of his shell.
I’m looking forward to planning out 2024 and making it an exciting year for all of us in my family! I’ll be sure to post our goings on as we get through this. I’m going to start re-reading The Happiness Project while I’m on break from work for the holiday. I may think about doing a Happiness Project as a family this year. I could use a focus on happiness in 2024.
I hope everyone has an amazing Christmas and very Happy New Year!!!