u/Yorkie10252

Hi fam! My father is undergoing surgery for cancer in a few weeks and is pretty nervous about it. It’s a fairly routine surgery but it does require general anesthesia. I’m not sure he’s experienced that before, so it’s a little scary for him.

He’s not particularly religious, but his cancer, coupled with his age, has made him start to reflect on his spirituality a little more. I’ve reached out to the Chabad nearest to him to get him some community, which I think will help.

In the meantime, I’m wondering if A.) anyone has ideas of what could provide him some comfort (maybe a book or something), and B.) if anyone would be willing to say tehillim for him or whatever you think is appropriate.

His Hebrew name is Shmuel ben Esther. Thank you so much 💙

Hi there! I spend a lot of time with a close friend who has an almost 4yo boy. This kid is very attached to me and I consider him like my nephew. We have a very close bond.

Every so often, he calls me “mommy.” I try to gently correct him, but sometimes he still says it. His mom doesn’t seem to think anything of it but it makes me feel awkward. I assume this is normal for his age but I really have no idea what to say in the moment that he can understand, or if I even need to say anything.

He knows I’m not his mom, right? Should I say something specific when he calls me that?

I have a west-facing balcony and would really like to try putting a few Hoya outside when it gets warmer. Has anyone in MI/OH/IL/IN, etc. tried this before? How did it go? Did you grow any other tropicals outside?

I have pretty severe ADHD, which means my brain is unable to regulate dopamine so it is constantly under-stimulated. Essentially, I’m bored most of the time, sometimes even when I’m occupied with something that interests me. Eventually, the constant boredom induces anxiety and sometimes panic.

Shabbos is really challenging, especially when by myself. Usually I spend the day with my rabbi’s family and play with their kids, which I love doing. But when they’re out of town, I’m mostly by myself and left to my own devices. Naturally, I get very bored and anxious.

Right now, I still use my phone on Shabbos when I’m home because it is a quick source for a tiny dopamine hit when I need it. I don’t have enough coping mechanisms to get through without it and I can only do so much reading in a day before I want to gouge my eyes out.

Shabbos alone is not a day of rest for me, but a day of panic and tears. It’s become something I truly dread and I go to work the next day feeling exhausted and emotionally hungover.

TL;DR: My ADHD is making shabbos unbearable when I’m spending it by myself and I don’t know how to cope.

ETA: I am medicated.