What would you do if.............
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What would you do if.............
| Tue, 10-24-2006 - 3:12pm |
you didn't have to spend so much time doing therapy sessions ,attending meetings,on the phone arranging meetings and all the other stuff that goes with having a special needs child. Here's what my top 5 things would be
1. Wear make-up everyday like I used to(I'm lucky if I get to brush my teeth in the morning)
2. Have my hair cut and colored more than once every 6 months
3. Lose the last 10 pounds of baby weight I've been complaining about for the last 3 years
4. Have more "alone time" with DH where I am actually in the moment and not making mental notes of who I need to call(should that have been further up the list)????
5. Catch up with friends I've neglected
What's you're top 5?
Teresa

I like this question. Actually, it wasn't until my husband left that I started to do a lot of those things that I never did for myself and found a good balance. I neglected myself so much and never realized it. But, I still have things I would do...
1. Work more hours because I didn't have to worry about good daycare, etc.
2. Find more time to keep a neater, tidier home.
3. Exercise regularly
4. Cook nice meals
5. Spend more time with bf without kids nearby
Don't get me wrong, I still love my kids. These would just be nice, occasionally!
VJ
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OMG ROFLMBO!!!!! Why? Because I finally colored my hair yesterday after I got home from the IEP meeting, looked in the mirror and said "MY GOD, when did I turn into an old hag!" Seriously, I think my roots were 6inches long. Thankfully my natural color isn't that different from my bottled color. It had been AT LEAST 6 months.
ok, my 5
1) take care of myself to look better (hair, nails, makeup once in a while, clothes that are not when I am flying through walmart because I have 2 minutes and no clothes)
2) Spend time with friends
3) Work more consistently and in a job that is better use of my skills.
4) Be a soccer mom! I would love to be able to do all those regular family activities with out the constant autism worry.
5)Garden and home repairs
6) have a cleaner house and probably a good bit more money.
I went over, lol
Renee
I've recently done a lot of work to regain many of the things I "lost" in the mix of autism. Granted, it's been easier to find time since I lost my job back in June...and I do have the most incredible husband in terms of being understanding and supportive. So rather than list what I would do, I'm going to tell you the things I do for myself!
1. I get my hair done ever four to five weeks, without fail. It's my time for me, and I'm NOT going to give it up. I also change my style frequently. Be color or cut, it's rare that I go more than 3 months with the same hairstyle.
2. I'm a scrapbooker, and I attend Friday night "crops" every two weeks. They run from 6:00-midnight, and whenever my consultant schedules one, I attend. I do this not just as a creative outlet and way to spend time with other women, but also as a way of being reminded of all of the incredible moments our we share as a family.
3. I workout at Curves a minimum of 3x's/week-usually it's 4-5 x's/week. Yes, it costs about $30 a month, and no I shouldn't be spending the money...but now my body craves the exercise. I've also experienced a huge reduction in the back pain that use to render me useless at least a couple of times a month. The way I see it, those 30 minutes a day and that $30 a month is helping to keep me strong and healthy, both mentally and physically, so that I can better cope with the struggles of autism.
4. I spend as little time as possible with the people who p*ss me off...specifically, my in-laws. I no longer pretend to enjoy someone's company just because I'm expected to. If there's a person in my life who brings me down, I do anything possible to stop associating with them. This goes for "so called" friends, family members, annoying neighbors, etc.
5. I read books for pure enjoyment. I read "fluff" like Janet Evanovich, and I don't feel guilty about...not one little bit. Yes, I still read books about autism, therapy, and the like- but now I allow myself to read because I love reading, not because I'm looking for answers.
6. I shop online as much as humanly possible.
7. I've removed the garbage from my diet, and in seven weeks have lost about 17 lbs. It is so much easier to be confident walking into an IEP when I know that I control my decisions, not food, depression or any other outside source.
8. I consume alcohol. For me, having a glass of wine or a bit of whiskey is the difference between resting well, or worrying about things that are out of my control all night long.
9. I do theatre. No, not as much as I'd like to or as much as I used to, but it's my passion...and I try to do at least one show a year. I'm very picky about what shows I'll give my time to, but if there's a part I want, or a show I'm really interested in, I allow myself the time. (DH is at the core of this one...he knows that theatre is my first love, and he's willing to take over the family for 6-7 weeks to allow me to go play "actress".)
10. I laugh. I laugh at things that nobody else would find funny. I laugh because I find the world hysterical. I laugh because it's a better alternative to crying. I laugh because I can.
Please know that none of these "things" have been easy...and I've been "at this autism stuff" for several years now. But these are the things I do to keep me sane.
Good Topic!
Amy
Because I'm a single mom, I have learned I HAVE to do things for myself.
Can you please share what is a personal care assistant? Being a single mom, it sounds like an idea--having an extra set of hands to go to the store to help me get things done would be outstanding these days!
VJ
I would not be able to survive without my PCAs right now.
oh...ok. it sounds like what i have but we call it respite services? we are allotted so many hours a year (like 225) and they basically are highly trained babysitters who come and offer "respite" for the person who care for the child. this ends up giving me about 4 hours a week of help. is this what you get?
valerie
I use my PCA's to cover hours I have to work, for respite (example - I went scrapbooking yesterday just to get out of the house), and sometimes just to keep ds out of my hair so I can cook a (decent) meal in peace!
Right now I am alloted about 6 hours a day.