Hi WTI

I have no help in the area you seek BUT I can tell you what the eventual result may be. My daughter was basically raised by my disease. In that, I was not diagnosed until she was 27 and long gone from the home.

I was "always feeling bad" and could not go to work. Mycoping skills were non existant and I actually had her answering the phone to cover for the bill collectors.

While I'm sure you are not "that" type of mom, I do know that our behavior sends very definite messages. The message my kid got was a negative one and she had absolutely no respect for me at all. I was a weak and irresponsible adult and that is how she saw me.

She was 6 when her father and I divorced. I was not prepared to handle being a single parent so emotionally she was on her own. While I know how hard this time is for you, make her feel safe and secure and loved. Tell her she is loved and what a big girl she is being by helping mommy. Tell her that sometimes mommies get sad and that's ok. But she is helping mommy feel happy.

I hope this helps you in some way. It is not meant to scare but to help you. I never want any mom to feel the alienation I felt from my daughter. The disrespect from her was extremely painful. Even though she is 5 she needs to be involved-age appropriately involved.