Hi @mugs1170 ,
It's nice to hear from you again, how did you cope over the Xmas period?
I think that cooking can be a really good activity/ way to distract ourselves from negative thoughts etc, i think that sounds like a really good idea, especially if it's something that your daughter enjoys. Coincidentally, I was listening to a podcast yesterday with Marian Keyes, who's a really well known author - she experienced a bout of very severe depression several years ago, and baking ended up being something that she found really helpful in a time where she could hardly function.
Do you have any family favourite recipes that you could cook with her/ teach her how to make? That could be a good way to ease her into it/ spend time together without having to make conversation.
Another thought I had is something like gardening/ tending a small veggie patch or raised garden bed (or even a few pot plants if you don't have space) . I also know that some people find things like adult colouring books really helpful and distracting, you can often pick these up super cheaply from op shops.
You say that you want to keep her safe, are you concerned about her safety when she's not at home with you?
