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Family Matters:  Farm Serves as Safe Haven  |
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maguiren
Farmgirl in Training
21 Posts
Nancy
Kirkville
New York
USA
21 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 29 2010 : 1:05:15 PM
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My 29 year old daughter has recently been stricken with a mental illness and has been living with us on-and-off since Sept.
As a professional working in the city, and living the city, she has found that working hard cleaning coops and collecting eggs to be somewhat therapeutic.
Also, she recently has learned how to knit and is in the middle of knitting me a scarf for my 60th birthday.
If anyone has any words of encouragement or ideas of projects to busy the mind, please respond.
Thank you your help.
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2010 : 3:29:29 PM
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knitting scarves and hats for the homeless and/or womens shelters, helping others always helps take your mind off of your own problems.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2010 : 4:36:06 PM
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Hey, I've crocheted hats for the homeless for years now. I start in the Spring. When I have to sit to watch TV, or visit, I have a hard time just sitting, so I always keep my yarn and crochet hook close buy. While I'm watching TV or visiting, I crochet. Usually around November, I bring the many crocheted hats to the homeless shelters.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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Lessie Louise
True Blue Farmgirl
1406 Posts
Carol
PECULIAR
MO
USA
1406 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2010 : 4:39:40 PM
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I saw on the news tonight ssome ladies are making pillow cases and giving them to cancer patients or a women's shelter. I don't know if that would be something she would be interested in, Carol
Forget buns of steel, I'd rather have buns of cinnamon!
Farmgirl #680! |
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2010 : 9:27:22 PM
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A few words about mental illness--it's not a permanent condition, ie., there will be days when she functions "normally" and there will be days when she struggles. It can't be "cured" but it can be managed, and it sounds like she's managing it pretty well. Knitting is very therapeutic and being outdoors, close to animals, being in touch with the natural world--all these are good therapy. there is even a branch of psychology, called eco-psychology or eco-therapy, that deals with how humans benefit from contact with animals and nature. Also, many gifted people--from Beethoven to Winston Churchill to Abraham Lincoln--suffered from mental illness yet went on to make remarkable achievements. The most important thing to remember is that the mentally ill (and that's just a label) person has the same needs, dreams, and hopes as anyone else. I will say a prayer that your daughter learns to manage her illness, just like you would manage diabetes, or hypertension, or any other illness, and that she will have family and friends who are understanding and supportive.
Please feel free to e-mail me if you wish.
Cindy |
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Faransgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
895 Posts
Beth
Houston
Texas
USA
895 Posts |
Posted - Jan 30 2010 : 09:22:37 AM
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I think some hospitals take knitted caps for preemie babies. Does she have a dog. They say that having a pet is great for stressed out folks. Just a thought.
Farmgirl Sister 572
May the force of the horse be with you. |
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delicia
True Blue Farmgirl
917 Posts
delicia
cincinnati
ohio
USA
917 Posts |
Posted - Jan 30 2010 : 09:52:15 AM
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I love the dog idea. The unconditional love is a great thing to have. What about a journal for gardening I have just started that and it gives me something to look forward to when the weather is better.
Delicia |
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AmethystRose
True Blue Farmgirl
254 Posts
Rosemary
Huntingdon
PA
USA
254 Posts |
Posted - Feb 01 2010 : 09:42:11 AM
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| I would suggest that she makes another scarf, but wider and longer. Turn up each end and sew to make a pocket. She can wear this to gather eggs. To me, there's nothing like wrapping something around your shoulders, and when it's something that you've made yourself, it just feels so much better. |
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Rea231
True Blue Farmgirl
139 Posts
139 Posts |
Posted - Feb 05 2010 : 07:50:59 AM
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Yes! Get a dog! A puppy is an amazing thing.
The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. |
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CountryBorn
True Blue Farmgirl
1545 Posts
Mary Jane
New York
USA
1545 Posts |
Posted - Feb 05 2010 : 2:52:56 PM
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I feel the idea of being in nature and with animals will calm her soul and brighten her outlook. There is just so much goodness and peace around you when you are involved with nature whether it is gardening or walking through the woods, looking at wildflowers. Being by water and the stillness of the lake and the birds singing. It does so much to calm and soothe you. Working with any animals or just cuddling and loving them is awesome. The natural rhythm and cylces of nature and the simplicity of caring for farm animals does anyine so much good. I pray she finds her peace and serenity and her center.
MJ
There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do. Freya Stark |
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smiley
True Blue Farmgirl
650 Posts
lea
pea ridge
arkansas
USA
650 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2010 : 06:22:46 AM
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| I like the scarf with pockets idea. I had a pattern for that once but never thought of using it that way |
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Family Matters: Farm Serves as Safe Haven |
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Farm Serves as Safe Haven
