The days leading up to Thanksgiving are very difficult. As is usual for people who have Affected Family Member Syndrome. We tend to want to shut down when others are enjoying their families, and being festive. Those Hallmark moments, so to speak. Our kind friends include us as a gesture of compassion, thinking they are doing us a good turn. They don't know how hard it is for us to be in their midst, seeing them with their functional kids.
I anticipated a call from RJ, wondering whether he might ask to be with us for Thanksgiving Day. No such luck. As it turned out, a text message came through from a friend's borrowed phone, (R), at 12.37 am on Friday morning, saying only " Hi, Hope your Turkey Day was nice. Miss you." The next morning after we deliberated, I replied by text " Message for RJ. We miss u 2."
I asked our counselor how we should respond in case he wanted to be with us for Thanksgiving Day. He recommended we say to RJ that he could be with us, provided he was sober then, and that he not drink.
No comments:
Post a Comment