Mooloo's little tapestry of life, 2016

Savvy_sewing

Good Morning!
Well yesterday was not smooth sailing at all. We hit turbulent waters with DGD the moment I woke her up.
And already I have had a repeat of it this morning.
I didn't handle her so well yesterday, I was stressed, emotional, frustrated and tired.
I had to prize her off of me in the classroom, and had had a terrible hour with her. Although when I collected her she was in a better mood. Thankfully.
I cried leaving her, she managed to find the guilt button to push. You know the one most working mothers have about being collected at home time, and being with childcare and not them! I don't remember that with my own children.
This morning before the complete melt down, I walked in to the room and said " I realise that you don't like going to SS, but at the moment there is nobody else that I can use. You will always need to be looked after until you are at least 12 and childcare is in great demand. I will look into finding alternative carers, but please bare with me as they all have waiting lists."
I spoke of a childminder her friend goes to, and said I will see what I can do. So she agreed to go today. Then went on to who is looking after her tomorrow!

grandma247

Mooloo what you did was acknowledge her feelings instead of brushing them off. Sometimes that is all we need, just someone to say I understand you feel like this but I can't change things, this is the way it has to be for now.

Savvy_sewing

I have to stop for a cup of tea and a snack. I have had a full on day. DGD went to school with only a little wobble.
I am on my own in the shop and it has been non stop.
I have hardly sewn a stitch today, all about service and sales today.
Sold a sewing machine so that's great boost to the takings after a week away.
I have taken £275 today.
I'm still open until 4.30 now but expect minimal trade for the rest of the day, although two school blazers are booked in for repairs any time now.
So I have Made tea, and scoffed a crumble while typing this with one finger.
I have a huge amount of work to do. Yeah.
Now I just need the time to do it!

dktreesea

Hi Mooloo,


It's great that your wee shop didn't miss a beat while you were away. I'm sure the residents of your town appreciate having their own sewing/alterations/haberdashery shop to be able to go to rather than having to drag themselves into somewhere like Milton Keynes whenever they want some sewing related items.


With your grand daughter, what does she want to do instead of going to after school care? Does she want to walk to the shop after school and wait for you to finish, while, say, she does her homework? Maybe you could try an alternative, just for one day a week at first, just to see how it goes? If she really wants to do this then she will behave is my guess.

dktreesea

Oh and I meant to add, good news about selling a sewing machine and cancelling the patterns. It's a strange world, isn't it just, when it is easier to sell large expensive items like sewing machines, but much harder to sell the things people need to use them - patterns! I wonder if people buy a sewing machine because they are like me, want to have one handy, but actually rarely use it.

Savvy_sewing

She's too young to walk to the shop, at 8.
She is also not space aware so the number of fast roads she would need to cross would be too much. In time.
What she wants is me meeting her after school, and me playing with her etc. Unfortunately that's just not possible.

Today was full on.
My spreadsheet for work is full for the next week.
I have jobs that have got to be finished in the next two working days that I have had waiting for nearly a month, as they needed zips.
They need to be done now the Zips are in. The holiday delay has not helped at all.
Today though was a good day customer relations wise and collection and booking jobs in.
Tomorrow may be tricky as I have not had confirmation back from babysitter that she can have DGD as requested tomorrow so I may have her in the shop.
Not the end of the world, but distracting and it will slow me down.
So let's have a few good vibes out to the ethos that the sitter arrives.

dktreesea

Yes, 8 is way too young, imho, to walk to and from school alone. Around where I live I have seen children younger than that walking to and from school alone and wonder about the parents.


I've been though what you are going through, children in after school care being picked up after work by me. But what to do? It's a working life, isn't it. Before and after school are.....I am SO glad I am over that. Though, never say never. Who is to say that won't be my fate if I were to be, as you are, a grandmother.

Savvy_sewing

In this day and age, I would not be happy to let DGD walk to me, it is at least a mile, probably more. But the roads are far too busy. She is also too trusting and I would fear the worst. We recently had issues with men approaching children here and as she seems to cling to the few males in her life I really would fear her vulnerablity.

The issues we are having is not going to go away over night. Saturday was a terrible one, leaving her with the babysitter. It was a wrench as she was throwing a complete meltdown.

Work is coming in thick and fast.
I am considering my options, as I will either have to bring more work home, employ another seamstress, or start to train an apprentice.
My staff is already going to come in later today, to help me by taking in the jobs etc it is obvious that things are picking up and that I can't sew when I have to be in the shop.
Mind you it's a good dilemma to have.

Savvy_sewing

Here we go again! Sulks, rebellion, and negativity all the way.
It's so draining!

Savvy_sewing

I talked to the school Senco yesterday. She in turn talked to DGD. She has finally agreed to talk to The powers that be about mental health issues with DGD. She is also going to talk to the social worker who is visiting DGD at school and discussing the reasons DGD was removed from her Mum, and tell her to stop for now. DGD is not able to process the information and is self destructing. Not to mention kicking hell out of the bedroom walls and hitting her head on hard objects etc.
I rang the doctors and asked to have a chat with one, book an appointment but the receptionist didn't know what to do and how to book it, and ended up saying she would get advise and ring me back. Wonder if she will ring today? She certainly didn't ring yesterday!
I may have to go across and demand an appointment. I have to go and collect my hormones prescription anyway. I've run out and my moods will get in the way if I am not careful.
I am not 100%, I feel the stress in my neck and left side, I have a sore throat, and feel less then human this morning, but I cannot give in to it, the shop is busy and my schedule is more than full.
I will have to take the car today, time, and the fact that I need to bring work home if I am to get through it all.
Staff was supposed to have the day off yesterday, but she came in after lunch, which was a godsend. Although the wages bill will be mounting if I am not careful.