Ideas please ....

poly1

I am due to start radiotherapy at the begining of August, which will be every day (not weekends) in the mornings. Unfortunately the hospital is an hour and a half drive each way, so I will be gone each morning at about 7:30am and be back at around 12 ish, also the radiotherapy may make me very tired. I have two DD's who are 13 and 5, they will be with my OH or with a friend each morning whilst I am at the hospital. The thing is I feel terribly guilty that I will be gone for almost the entire summer holidays (we can't actually go on holiday anywhere either), so I have gathered a few bits together to give them on a couple of days, things like a craft kit from amazon etc, but can anyone suggest anything I can leave with them in the mornings when I go, that will amuse, or pass the time and that is not too expensive. Obviously OH will take them to the park and things like that, but I want to give them some small gestures in the mornings so they know I haven't forgotten about them.

halight

poly1 wrote: »

I am due to start radiotherapy at the begining of August, which will be every day (not weekends) in the mornings. Unfortunately the hospital is an hour and a half drive each way, so I will be gone each morning at about 7:30am and be back at around 12 ish, also the radiotherapy may make me very tired. I have two DD's who are 13 and 5, they will be with my OH or with a friend each morning whilst I am at the hospital. The thing is I feel terribly guilty that I will be gone for almost the entire summer holidays (we can't actually go on holiday anywhere either), so I have gathered a few bits together to give them on a couple of days, things like a craft kit from amazon etc, but can anyone suggest anything I can leave with them in the mornings when I go, that will amuse, or pass the time and that is not too expensive. Obviously OH will take them to the park and things like that, but I want to give them some small gestures in the mornings so they know I haven't forgotten about them.

How about getting them up early and haveing breakfast together? Even if you can not/dont feel like eating sitting all together haveing a chat about what they are going to be upto and about what you will be doing. Imsure that they will just be happy to spend a little tme with you. You may find that the older one will be quite worried about you and what you are going though so she may very well like a big hug on your way out of the door on a morning.

Oog

Hi poly1,

Sorry to hear your news but wanted to say your idea of giving the kids things to do is a great one!

I thought about making a family tapestry or collage/frieze, showing your family life, school, grandparents, pets, etc.. It could be a diary of the holidays or perhaps start when your eldest was born or when you got two got together (so you might have to furnish them with some *interesting* snippets of how you met etc, etc.). And they have to finish it so you can bring it in on your last day.

Are you driving yourself in?
I would suggest also that you see how tired you really do get as it's possible that it might not be too bad and if you feel up to it, say after the first week, you may be able to go away for a weekend or even bring the kids with you and take them to the Deep or something as a special treat. (I am obviously making some assumptions here...) This would involve you sitting pleasantly watching fish whilst the young ones galivant around and 'take part'! If you feel really brave and it works out, you could bring them once a week to do something fun afterwards.
(Yes, I really am suggesting that you bring them, just not every day, and only if you feel up to it. The eldest may find this helps, too. Everyone has families and summer holidays and will understand! PM me if you want to.)

Best wishes,
Oog

Counting_Pennies_2

Tesco are selling some really good and fairly up to date DVDs for £3. I bought a couple for my 7 and 3 year old today, but there were loads for older children.

I think it might be a nice gesture to get a few and have a snuggle on the sofa with them in the afternoons, that way you can doze but they will still feel your closeness.

I went into our local discount Homeware store and bought a load of scrap books and small craft and sticky things. I wonder if you can get them a scrap book each and they can write down what it is they do each day when you are away and any thoughts they might have, that way you can discuss it with them or they can keep it secret if they want. You could try to do one nice thing each weekend with them so they have fun things to put down in the book also.

Do hope it goes ok

barbiedoll

If your older child has a suitable phone, get her a cheap memory card to put in it and get them both to take lots of photos of their days during the school hols. You can get them printed up cheaply in Boots or wherever and get them a cheap photo album to put their pictures in. Ask them to take photos of everyday stuff, what they had to eat, what they wore each day, any wildlife they see, birds, insects etc and when you look back this time next year at your "missing" days, none of you will feel that you missed out on anything. Or get a couple of disposable cameras, even the little one will be able to operate one of these.

Good luck with your treatment, make sure that you get plenty of rest, I'm sure the kids will understand so don't beat yourself up over this.

jackieglasgow

Great post barbiedoll!

purple45

How about a packet of rice krispies, some cooking chocolate and some cake cases. If you have a patient friend or OH then they can make some cakes for you all to eat later in the day. My son always loved baking and eating but never washing up!

Tiddlywinks

Do your girls understand why you won't be there in the mornings? Is it possible for you to have them along once along the way so that they see what you are up to? Children sometimes need to know that things are fair and happening for a reason. Not knowing the details might be more frightening than seeing the hospital visits in all their boring glory!

Is there a library close by? They do activity stuff during holidays and are great for DVDs as well as books and cheaper than buying stuff.

I agree with the suggestion about baking - how about asking them to prepare things for supper to "help you out". They could do pizzas or sausage rolls etc.

How about letting them decorate or rearrange their rooms? Maybe let them paint some pictures on their walls? This will be time consuming and will be for their benefit so they should get a kick out of it.

Best wishes and hope things go smoothly for you.

MatyMoo

Sorry to hear you are going through this, but you seem to be a very caring Mum. There are many kids that don't get to go away on holidays so I am sure they will be fine.

How about a trip to the pound shop to see if there are any crafting bits to keep them amused?

And you could leave them a cup cake or cookie. Or maybe leave a clue or two pointing them in the direction of a hidden treat.

Hair accessories maybe, if they have long hair.

A packet of crayons and a pad of paper with a request for a picture on a specific topic (Flowers/seaside/home/family).

Some sort of game for playing in the garden. Water bombs usually go down well.

Have you got a Hawkins Bazaar anywhere near, they usually have some great bits. Balloon racing cars and helicopters went down well with my competitive family!

Boiled eggs to decorate.

Hope this has at least given you some ideas!

Ms_Chocaholic

Hi

Sorry to hear your news. I just wondered whether your treatment was taking place in a big town/city and whether, on those days that your OH has the children, could you all go thru there, you go off to your treatment and then meet them afterwards at the zoo or whatever other attraction there might be.

I'm not sure how you will feel after your treatment session so unsure whether this will be feasible but thought it would be worth suggesting it.

Ms C x

make_me_wise

poly1 wrote: »

I am due to start radiotherapy at the begining of August, which will be every day (not weekends) in the mornings. Unfortunately the hospital is an hour and a half drive each way, so I will be gone each morning at about 7:30am and be back at around 12 ish, also the radiotherapy may make me very tired. I have two DD's who are 13 and 5, they will be with my OH or with a friend each morning whilst I am at the hospital. The thing is I feel terribly guilty that I will be gone for almost the entire summer holidays (we can't actually go on holiday anywhere either), so I have gathered a few bits together to give them on a couple of days, things like a craft kit from amazon etc, but can anyone suggest anything I can leave with them in the mornings when I go, that will amuse, or pass the time and that is not too expensive. Obviously OH will take them to the park and things like that, but I want to give them some small gestures in the mornings so they know I haven't forgotten about them.

:T

What a completely inspiring post. It never ceases to amaze me how, when someone is faced with something so worrying, they manage to be so selfless and focus so lovingly on others needs. Your kids are very, very lucky to have you poly1.