The good news is that she may have some artistic talent. The "finger paints" on the end table are nice and swirly if you don't take into account the actual medium...
Needless to say, this is what I looked like yesterday. In fact, this is how I look on most days anymore. The Makeover Queen needs her own makeover...I think that there is a book missing in my repertoire of Down Syndrome material. Most of what I've seen talks about the physical symptoms of DS or the mental issues or other clinical stuff. Then there are the plethora of "feel good" books about what a wonderful and uplifting privilege it is to have a child with DS. That is true--it is a wonderful privilege to have a DS child. To a point...
I have yet to find a book that talks about navigating the day-to-day, mind boggling, spirit crushing onslaught of activity that I find myself inundated with. (Sorry about ending the sentence with a preposition--I really couldn't care less.) The point is, there should be some kind of manual or guidelines that lays things out. Some helpful hints like Heloise used to dispense...
For example, "Beware of hardwood floors. They do not provide resistance when child is learning to crawl and when they can walk, hardwood is merely another item on which to bonk one's head." Or how about, "At first birthday, gather all relatives and friends to help install ceiling shelves. Begin moving all items, including cotton balls, liquids, and kleenex to upper storage, completing task on or before 2nd birthday."
It should also contain a list of things you should get by the caseload, such as packing tape and bungee cords. You will use these to tape and strap shut EVERYTHING that cannot be suspended from the ceiling. And let us not forget the doorknobs. If you have the lever kind that are so popular now, plan on replacing each and every one of them with the round, slick kind. And put deadbolts or chains on every door, inside and out. Step stools or kitchen ladders--get rid of them immediately!!! I don't care if your spouse has to toss you in the air like a cheerleader to get the olive oil off of the ceiling shelf--DS kids do not need any help in the climbing department.
And chairs or sofas in general--you might want to consider replacing your furniture with a mattress and some beanbag chairs.
Well, that's all for now folks. I'll get started on the topic of Yard & Garden Safety at another time!
1 comment:
Hilary was a big climber as well. She pulled out the drawers in the kitchen and used them to get on the counter, where she opened the cupboard door and climbed into the shelf with the cereal. AAARGH! Another time, she climbed on to the shelf located above the toilet, and sprayed her mouth with some lovely Lysol - necessitating a call to the Poison Control Center as I was nearly drowning her in the tub trying to rinse it out! PCC said that was exactly the right thing to do, however, I should probably skip the drowning step!
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