Twinklie returns to the property ladder

savingholmes

Hi Twinklie - just caught up on your diary. Another ASD (and some ADHD) family here. You have achieved a lot. I wouldn't worry about not achieving random acts of kindness - you are full on enough at home with your two as it is. Hope you make 2021 a good year for you. 
Waves at October girl.

becky170

Happy New Year Twinkle. I've just been catching up with your diary. Congratulations on your OP and other repayments in 2020. Here's to more in 2021  Hope back to school goes ok for your boys. 

twinklie

@savingholmes and @becky170 thanks for the well wishes and kind comments. 

So I did spend yesterday but, it wasn't for me. Spent £40 on toys I know the kids want by spending the gift vouchers they got back in September for their birthdays. And I got the Amazon kids Fire subscription for the tablets for the year. It's normally £49.99 but it was on offer for £19.99 so I snaffled that up whilst I could. 

Following the news closely this morning about primary school openings and will keep an eye out for communication from school. It's all becoming a bit of a sick joke now and I could quite easily have punched Bojo on the TV this morning. So watch this space there I guess. 

Meal planning for the week will be done shortly because I need to sort the food order out (we've been on deliveries since the start of the pandemic to help DH cope with his anxiety). I'm also planning on working on the general house stuff and putting the Christmas stuff back in the loft. Although DS2 did say last night "Why have you stolen Christmas?" which did break my heart a little bit. 

twinklie

Pro: Kids returned to school today, they had a great day. 
Con: Lockdown announced - no more school. 
Pro: Kids safe at home. 
Con: Work and home schooling two children with additional needs. 
Pro: Won 20 quid on The People's Postcode Lottery. 
Con: Food shop came (delivery) and I have not taken account of needing to feed the children lunch and snacks!

What a rollercoaster today has been! I'm so ready for another holiday. 

twinklie

Sigh. My school is buckling under the weight of people wanting key worker places (we live near a hospital so it's not surprising). So my friend is lecturing me on how I should JUST make a childcare bubble with someone else and they can have the kids. My two very demanding autistic children that don't like change.
Yeah ok then!

Sadly nothing on the premium bonds, but I shouldn't be so greedy I guess. But I did get a mini refund on my Amazon kids order which was good as I still had a little bit left on the old subscription, a nice little unexpected bonus. 

twinklie

Refund has come through for the Wellies I ordered but there were supply issues, so yay for that. Money has gone straight back out to somewhere else to pay for the wellies I have reordered from elsewhere. Fingers crossed they come before I no longer have need for them (yes I know, I'm very impatient). 

I've managed to negotiate a reduction of hours at work to enable me to cope with the boys being home and meeting their needs so that's been a huge relief. The homeschooling actually went on ok today. The school I think have managed it much better than some and are being much more realistic with regards to what is actually realistic and achievable. 

Car went in for it's MOT as well this morning and passed with flying colours.

becky170

Hi twinkle, I'm glad you've been able to reduce your work hours to help with homeschooling. I hope you have another good day with your boys today. 

twinklie

NSD here. We haven't actually left the house though. We had a lovely lie in after the kids kept us awake until quite late. Then I spent some one on one time homeschooling DS1. DS2 wasn't feeling it today so hasn't done anything. I'll give him time over the weekend though, so he's not being neglected. The homeschool novelty has definitely worn off for him though. 

I'm going to spend this weekend with the kids and catching up on chores I think. Not a lot else to do. 

Anyone else just feel really tired at the minute? I've so little motivation, I'm utterly exhausted and just want to crawl into bed. 

twinklie

Well that was fairly MSE I think. Our Tesco Delivery Saver is up for renewal it's just under £48 for a 6 month subscription. So I've paid that using clubcard points so I don't need to physically pay anything, which is good. 

Feeling a little better today after spending some quality time with the kids. It's just so difficult juggling work and the kids. I hate telling them "not now, I'm busy". Hang ups from my own childhood I think. The whole situation has hit them now as there are some serious sleep issues going on, which again makes everything harder. They've been very motivated on the school work front though so that makes life a bit easier. 

Need to sort out the return of one of the kids Christmas Presents that broke on Christmas day, so I can get a refund. He's not fussed that he doesn't have it so will just put the money in his account I think. 

twinklie

The kids have been playing trains all morning which has been nice to see as they are away from electronics and using their brains a bit. Might try some letter formation stuff with DS2 in a bit writing in flour and lentils and see if that grabs his attention...he won't try with pen and paper. 

I'm also trying to meal plan for the week, including lunches. I find lunches such a challenge with the boys. It's one of the reasons they have school dinners because (well it's free for DS2) I don't have to think about it. Any top MSE and timesaving ideas would be much appreciated though if you care to share. I do find it more difficult because we have some ASD led restrictions like DS2 doesn't like sauces, cheese or anything that will make his bread wet. DS1 doesn't really like crunchy food and some other issues are in there too. I basically want to be able to throw food at them without any effort on a work day.