End stage failure

[Guest guest]

I am not religious but do believe everything happens for a reason. At

the time it may seem life is hell, but later on you realise without a

certain set of circumstances happening, your life wouldn't have then

taken a new direction.

Like Pierre, I too had to give up not only a job but what I considered

my whole way of life. I had seven years as a Police Officer and lived

for the job. My whole world fell apart when I returned to work when my

son was four months old and nearly had a nervous breakdown which meant I

was forced to retire on ill-health grounds from the only career I had

ever wanted. (it later transpired I had in fact been suffering from

post natal depression. Two years later I then had my daughter, but

still felt as if my world had turned upside down. I felt I had gone

from a person with huge responsibilities where work was pure adrenaline

rush, to just another mum pushing a pram without a brain in her head. I

felt the loss of my career was another bereavement (both my mum and dad

had died shortly before the birth of my son).

It is only after my son's friend (they are both now seven) found out his

little brother who was only three had been diagnosed with leukaemia and

was fighting for his life that I realised it was about time I stopped

feeling sorry for myself and realised there are people out there in a

far worse situation. This is especially true now, after the recent

events in New York. At the end of the day we should be working to live,

not living to work.

Anyway what I'm trying to say is that some things are meant to be.

Perhaps if J can learn to accept this, he can then focus on more

pressing issues more rationally.

Seven years on I am glad that I am " just a stay at home mum " and live is

great. Never thought I would be able to say that seven years ago.

Sorry to ramble. I normally read the messages daily and don't often

reply, but as it seems to be getting like a soap opera lately, felt I

would add my bit!

Frances Daly (Kent, England)