Parenting with Mental Illness – Mom and Children

My mental health skill builder did something simple but really nice for me the day before. It actually made my day and brought mad happiness when I saw the gift she had brought for me. Before I tell you guys what my gift was, let’s rewind back a little so you can understand why I was happy.

I have always tried to find ways to become organized but an organized one that works for me and my untraditional life. I mean, let’s face it, things randomly happen all of the time that tend to rock my day-to-day in many different directions. When this happens, it makes it difficult to stay on task. I can’t stand having things planned just for them to fall apart. This is so annoying and can trigger my PTSD, something I am always trying to avoid.

I’ve liked using planners in the past. It allows me to write things in pencil if I am unsure about the outcome. I will write it in pen if it’s a priority, and I know it must be accomplished. This reminds me that I have to accomplish this task; it cannot wait until the next day. In other words, the questionable items get written in pencil, and the permanent or important ones are written in pen.

I would use my planner in the past, making it easier for me to stay on task, especially during a storm. My planner was with me at all times. If anything needed to be added, it was right there with me in my purse, backpack, whatever item I was using at the time to carry my belongings. Best believe I was not making plans or an appointment without whipping out my planner.

I can say that I miss being that organized and not all over the place like I am in the present. I blame my ADHD for having me everywhere. I am trying to go back to this one trait from the past since it served me well, and I could definitely benefit from it drastically. For some reason, it just doesn’t seem to go as well for me now as it did in the past.

I will assume that by now, you have figured out what my gift was, lol. If you guessed a panner, then you are the winner, lol. I finally have a planner from The Happy Panner. I have been not only wanted a planner from them, but I have also been wanting a disk planner. With a disk planner, I can create my own pages to add, take out what doesn’t work, etc. it gives me the freedom to do what I want with the planner.

This planner brought me so much joy when she let me know it was mine. I held it the whole time. I did not put it down until she pointed out that I was holding it the whole visit. Guess I am still a kid in that sense of the word. But hey, in my defense, I rarely get a gift and not a gift that could be used from how helpful it is. All I need to do is see how I can buy the whole puncher that coincides with the disk to create my own pages for this planner.

Heck, once I use the calendar for this year, I can create all of the pages that I feel would be productive for me in one calendar. I currently do so many things in different journals or notebooks, but if I could have one planner that would hold it all, then I can definitely live my most productive best life!

I would love to hear how you use your planner if you use a planner? Do you decorate it or just use it as is? I just learned about stickers for planners in 2020. Since then, it opened even a bigger world for me, even with old calendars. All I have to do is create new stickers to go over the old dates. This allows me to use them in the current year. Shoot me an email; hey, if you send pictures and you’ve uniquely decorated your planner, I may do a blog on the ones I receive and like.

You can find the links to my emails on the contact page, but you can shoot the email to linetteh@lifeasasingleparentwithmentalillness.blog or lifeasaparentwithmentalillness@gmail.com. Hope to hear from yall soon. Be blessed; enjoy your day. Don’t forget to make today count for tomorrow is not promised to anyone. Make today your best day!