Embracing the new family dynamics and looking forward to the future with optimism

tooldle

My sibling is dyslexic, to quite a significant level. He would struggle with a shopping list written by me for example. However, if he writes it himself he can follow it, despite it being unreadable to others. Like any problem, it comes down to finding what works for an individual and their circumstances. To a degree your son is doing this, as his bar work demonstrates. He can drive demonstrating that he can handle several tasks and information sources at the same time. Whilst it might seem common place, driving is a skill beyond the capabilities of many. He has strengths and skills to play to. Perhaps he is not seeing things in this light at the moment, but mindsets can be changed. He can do this.

pollyanna_26

Savvy_sewing said:

Morning,
lovely black bruise now showing in the centre of my palm as the swelling starts to reduce. 

Dgd is very quiet after  being ill.
Dgs2 is jumping around in my bed,  and Dgs1 is occupied on his gadget.
DS has gone Aldi shopping for squash and milk. We are getting through so much at the moment!

 I wonder how many questions I will get on the sewing today?
 I forget sometimes how much I do automatically with out thinking about it.
so I have to really think about the simplest instructions when I am replying.
they have over 300 volunteers in the group. 

I am going to see if I can print off the pattern and instructions they are using and see if I can simplify the instructions, or perhaps give more detailed instructions, for the beginner. I.e. each stage as looking at the pdf forwarded to me I think the instructions are presuming the makers have Overlockers. 

My take on it is we need to make them as  robust as we can to withstand a lot of washing on 60*C plus.
 I have 5,000 metres of Herringbone tape coming on Wednesday for the ties on the trousers.
 I will have to just bide my time until I can sew again.

time to shake a leg and get moving. 

Gosh over 300 volunteers. My friend in the village with the shop and her home upstairs and myself are trying to sort out just over 50.

Some are self employed  like yourself but most are from 4 local monthly sewing groups. A number very experienced but the majority pretty well beginners. Many of the old hands are disagreeing with how things should be done. A few have actually sketched thier ideas of Scrubs leading to more arguments. None of them have accessed a pattern so my day has been trawling the internet trying to find the one used by the companies which supply front line workers. They're selling the fabric, tape etc although the holiday and demand means longer waits for delivery. So far I haven't tracked down a pattern although I've looked at many pictures of various NHS staff to bookmark for reference. I don't think overlockers will be needed. It would be different if the fabrics were knitted or stretch . A number of the volunteers do have them . I don't even remember if I've still got mine but my friend has a couple..

Once we have patterns and the necessary stuff we'll try to organise this motley crew!

A number have suggsested we ask to use one of the church halls, community centres or even the local indoor market. Seems we could copy those sitting in rows turning out forces uniforms. I've repeated social distancing, self iisolation and sheilding so many times I 'm losing the will to go on. I've told them they aren't "The Singer Girls" different time , different enemy.

Your group sound much more organised. I'm sure you'll simplify things for them without compromising the durability of the kit. I'm hoping I've had the last phone call and email on the subject tonight.. I can't even remember when I last had a brew..

Good posts from both Savvy Sue and toldle.which could help your dgs1 and ds.

pollyx

Savvy_sewing

Polly I will pm you

Savvy_sewing

Savvy_Sue said:

Savvy_sewing said:

dS will probably never be able to lead, and think about more than one thing at a time, his heart is there, but his attention span is not. His ability to remember things is limited. 

I could do the lists, and use as prompts, but he is dyslexic and his reading and writing is limited.
 I don't want to rub it in by giving him a written list he will struggle to read and focus on, and don't want to draw pictures as that would only make him feel even worse.

I was having a think about this, and especially since you said DGS1 had been flagged as on the autistic spectrum. 

I can see that detailed lists would be tricky, and turning them into pictures might feel demeaning to him, but ... 

Have you heard of 'social stories' for communication? I wonder if creating some of those for DGS1 would indirectly benefit DS? 

And although I do not think these are strictly 'social stories', I know a friend who used to have a calendar for her child, with the day's activities clearly set out each day: Monday school, then swimming. Tuesday school, then home. Wednesday school, then riding. Thursday school, then home. Friday school, then ... whatever it was. Saturday no school - and various pictures for whatever they might be doing THAT Saturday. Sunday church - and various pictures for whatever. 

So I'm just thinking that even though DGS1 isn't responsible for anything, it might help him to know that the adults have various things-which-we-have-to-do each day, and which he might be asked to help with. So every day, there is cooking, and washing up, and laundry, and cleaning, and so on. 

I don't know, it's just a thought. 

Thanks Sue 
I have Decided to order her book and also one on Self esteem for teenagers for dgd while I am at it.
 I think it's time for me to restudy about these things as it's 20 plus years since I really did any, and things have changed such a lot. 

Today I am going to review what I plan to do over the next few weeks while my hand heels. 

I feel as if I am wasting an opportunity, and want to look at things from a different prospective if I can.

There is always much to learn and improve on it seems.

Savvy_sewing

I am not sure my message got to you Polly, I was going to send you the patterns for the scrubs. The ones I know our local nhs has approved for the group to make. But I cannot tell if it was sent or not. Don't understand this new system.

had 10 metres of elastic ready for someone today, in a bag on my door for them.
 I took today at a leisurely pace, because my hand protested rather by 10am after I had done the breakfast and dressed dgs2, and did my mostly one handed washing up, and machine load on, but obviously had to use my broken hand when I was changing nappies.
 I came to bed for a sleep st lunchtime when DS took over after doing the milk run etc. 

The campervan I bid for on Ebay has arrived, and is on the drive. It is going to be DS's bedroom for a while once it is done up, and eventually we hope to get it roadworthy.  It is the start of him moving out of the home, and my getting my front room back. 

Mixed feelings about it, good in some but not in others. At least I will be free to go down with the children without fear of disturbing him, and his Xbox games late into the night won't disturb me.
but while my hand is still bad I need his help.
dgd is coming down more, and spending some time with me watching Merlin on Netflix and chatting.
she found my tarot cards that I have had for about 25 years and was playing with them and asking me about them. 

She was very surprised that she kept asking me to pick a card and I kept drawing the same card. So I dug out the book about it. Not exactly conventional reading etc but it got her talking and asking questions. I have told her that I don't know enough about it as I didn't continue studying it, it was my sister who used to read cards, still does I think, but I could never remember what the cards meant. 

I suppose watching Merlin had a lot to do with it.

 The boys went down easily for their Dad tonight, and I hope will sleep well.
 I have been reading too. So a gentle day. 

beanielou

Glad that you have had a quiet day

Tikitaki

Ahhh i found your post after been missing for ages😁

Savvy_sewing

Tikitaki said:

Ahhh i found your post after been missing for ages😁

Hello 👋 

Savvy_sewing

I went for a walk this lunchtime or I was going to blow a gasket.
when I got home the school head was just dropping off a bag of food for dgs1's lunches. Unfortunately I was rather emotional and cried in frustration infront of the poor woman. I seem to have gone one step forward and two back this week.
 I am an emotional wreck today.
 I have had to put my foot down with DS and Dgd as I was doing too much and they haven't done anything spontaneously I have had to ask and print and remind, and I feel so defeated today. Sometimes I just can't find those big girls knickers to pull up. 

Some days I just want to hide until it all goes away.

 I have had to have serious words with everyone because I cannot keep on getting emotional and stressed out because they are not helping me consistently. It's just too hit and miss.
so after tense words DS has moved the washing on and Dgd has done the 2nd round of dishes.
 I have looked into the budget as I have been over spending and I have done a cashflow forecast because once again the funds I am supposed to get from the council have not materialised, but my DDs are still going out. So like many many people I am monitoring the money. 

Tomorrow is crunch time if those funds are not received I will be at the end of my overdraft. So fingers crossed it arrives tomorrow or my whole bank account overdraft is going to be eaten up with the rent. Etc 15th is the day a huge chunk of my DD's go out.

Other than that I am fine. 

Or I will be soon. 

I will figure it out. 

thorsoak

When you go to bed tonight Ss, unplug your router and take it to bed with you!  OK - so your doorbell and security light won't work - but you don't want your doorbell ringing in the middle of the night and and security light won't be needed if everybody is at home and inside.   Tell them it goes on again when you want it on and not before!

But do I expect you to really do this??????   sigh!    Just glad that I'm not in your shoes xxx