struggling with special needs children

[Matchy69]

Does anyone else have children with special needs.I am struggling with mine.My youngest cant use a toilet when their at the age they should be.I am getting tired of changing them,does that make me a bad parent?The constant hyperepisodes are taking their strain especially that i am going through other personal stuff in my life

[Hanna3]

Yeah thanks Mark I'm kind of curious - I thought there were always kittens available, so many people don't neuter their animals and they have litters.  I'm going to ask at the local vets here next week, I figure they are all so busy this week after Christmas and New Year so I won't bother them at the moment!

[Matchy69]

Hi Hanna my daughter says their was lots of kittens there today and the pens were full.She said half of them got adopted today.

[Hanna3]

Thanks Mark for asking and please thank your daughter for me!  Lots of people must be buying kittens then, that's interesting. It's good they are adopting them from the RSPCA.

I will go and ask the two vets that are in my neighbourhood next week - they look frantically busy this week after the Christmas break so I won't bother them now.  They might know of someone nearby who has kittens  where I lived previously the local vet took in litters of kittens that were found dumped somewhere (people are so cruel - I remember one lot were found dumped in the middle of winter in the local cemetary - amazing that someone found them and took them to the vet).  The vet there sold them for two hundred dollars each and that was vaccinated, health checked and microchipped, so pretty good!  There must be someone around this area who does something like that.  

I was looking at gumtree locally here and there was a woman about 15 minutes inland from me who had a ragdoll kitten for sale - she was asking $250 which is affordable - she was shown as having had two offers and (that was two days ago) and yet today it is still for sale.  There must be a problem there I think, a pretty kitten at a good price.  Seems strange.

I got a new birdbath today that I ordered from Melbourne.  Easy to put together and I put it out in the garden this afternoon.  Well the birds won't touch itC!  It has a carved little bird attached to the side of it which looks pretty - the rainbow lorikeets usually have a good drink but not this afternoon and it's been very hot.  The wasps are drinking from it - they come every day.  I guess the birds need time to get used to it.  

I must say the service from the seller was excellent and it was delivered promptly to my door and well packed. I always read feedback for sellers very carefully before I order from them - I really take notice of negative comments.  This lady had all positive reviews.

It's been sweltering today and everyone is complaining how hot it is this summer.  I guess the holiday makers are at least having a good time at the beach!

Thanks again Mark and thanks to your daughter for me.  I wonder if they see many little dogs for adoption up there?  I keep seeing little dogs whenever I go out and I really miss having one!  I still miss my little guy a lot.

[Matchy69]

Hi Hanna it can go in waves at the rspca with sometimes having so many kittens and sometimes not so many.Their always seem to be plenty of kittens around.So many people don't get their cats desexed.Mine is and have always have.

I had a little rain before but not much in it.Its been really hot here too.

[Hanna3]

Hi Mark and all here

We've had some wild weather here today quite coolish with rain and strong winds.  Of course it decided to pour down just as I sat at an outdoor cafe to enjoy my coffee!  Went to the library to browse and got a couple of interesting sounding books etc, and got a couple of food items at the supermarket.  I wish we had more competition here - only Woolworths or Coles - where I was before we had an independent supermarket which was terrific, an Aldi, two Woolworths, a Coles and two IgAs.  It was much better being able to shop around like that - here we're stuck with only two to choose between!  Fruit seems to be ridiculously costly - oranges are very costly here and even apples expensive.  I don't know what is causing that.  

The birds are still a bit cautious of the new birdbath - one lorikeet drank at it today that I saw - but the bees and wasps seem to enjoy it!  

Yes I'll ask at the two local vets here next week and see if they have suggestions re kittens.  I need to go to the next really big town to get a few items first like a scratching post etc - but at the moment with holidays I dread the traffic and parking.  Lots of people holidaying here are from Sydney and they are really aggressive in the traffic and this little town isn't really designed for this many cars.

I'm enjoying a coolish wind blowing for a change, it's nice instead of the heat.  I hope your kids are enjoying their holidays Mark - when does school go back?  Are you able to have a bit of a break during the holidays or do the kids keep you busy?

I hope you're getting a bit of rain up your way.  I just love the cooler weather!

[Matchy69]

Hi Hanna I had a bit of rain here before from nowhere.Crazy weather at times.

Just getting stuff ready for back to school in a couple of weeks.So much to do.Scgool holidays flown by.I am getting anxious about high school as it is such a big change.It is just so different to primary school.

[mmMekitty]

Hello Matchy & Hanna & everyone

Back to school, a new high school, too! Yes, both an exciting & anxious time for your family. Reading previous posts it seems you & your son are about as prepared as you can be.

I'd only suggest, now, that, the day before, getting everything ready, clothes, bag, maybe even lunch. Then, get up early anyway, so you both will have plenty of time before leaving the house. Hopefully, there will be no last-minute problems, but if there is, you'll have some time to sort it. I'd also be aiming to get him to school earlier than he usually will.

*

Hanna, I hadn't realised you were thinking about a kitten. Do you remember I found Mekitty looking on RSPCA's website? It was inconvenient to go to a location which was further away than I would've liked, but I had fallen in love with her already! & I liked how they provided so much to me when I got her. they even provided a fairly large bag of food. Neutered, in good health, microchipped & tatooed. I was so eager I was happy to take her to the local Vet a couple days later to have the stitches removed.

If I was getting another pet, I'd definitely be looking to the RSPCA again. I have been, for a visit, because they have a cafe, & was surprised that they had no small dogs at all. If I was looking for a dog, I'd also check out their website to see what they have, & where the particular animal is located.

All the best with the weather,  the new school year, finding a pet, & hugzies,

mmMekitty

[Hanna3]

Hi Mark, I can understand you feeling a bit anxious but you're clearly a very good Dad, and I'm sure after an initial "settling in" period your boy will do fine.  If kids only knew how much their parents can worry about them!  The first day I'm sure they won't be doing much - just sorting out classrooms and introductions to teachers, timetables etc.  I hope your son can make a couple of good friends.

I went to a cafe this morning but the only table available was getting the sun and it was a bit hot.  A couple nearby had a sweet Maltese-Shitzu like Sam was and next table to that was a guy with a Great Dane - talk about the short and the tall!  

Not much news - my pot plants are struggling as we are having such hot days with such fierce sunshine - it's been a really hot summer with more to to come.  I went to the book fair again today and got a couple of books at least - it was less crowded than yesterday thank goodness.  They used to hold it outdoors in a shady area and I liked that much better - I don't know why they moved it into the RSL,  guess for the air conditioning, but yesterday it was so crowded you could hardly move and I kept thinking how much covid would spread in a crowd like that indoors in one room!'

I am trying to remember my first day at high school but that's so long ago now I can't remember anything other than feeling nervous in my new uniform and hat!  I guess first days at anything are stressful - after that it gets easier.  Kids are so adaptable too.

Off to feed the rainbow lorikeets their applie - they are using the new birdbath now and gosh they do love that apple!  At least it's healthier than the fruit cake and bread the other neighbours were giving them.  They're also feasting on a flowering tree of some kind here - I think they must be quite fat lorikeets by now, they are certainly well-fed!

[Hanna3]

Hi mmMekitty

Yes there's an RSPCA rescue shelter in the next big town but it's quite a drive.  I'm going to enquire at a couple of vets next week - where I lived before was easier as the vet took in abandoned litters and sold them very affordably - it's not so convenient here but the vets might know of something.  I always had both dogs and cats growing up - I thought a kitten and then eventually I will get another doggie, but that may take some time - the cat might be good company in the meantime.  I used to have one that was more dog than cat and used to follow me everywhere.  Anyway I need to go into the big town to get a few things I need first, before I get the cat.

There was a cute kitten advertised on gumtree just about a ten minute drive from here - but they had already had two offers and it's still for sale - it looks gorgeous so there must be some problem - either the owner is upping the cost or there is a health/behaviour issue - otherwise with two offers I'm sure it should have sold.

I like the idea of getting a rescue - Sam was a rescue with his sister, left at a vet's office.  Today at the cafe there was one maltese-shitzu and at the next table a Great Dane - so that was interesting.  

Trudged around the local book fair looking for a book I used to have on care of cats and they had nothing, but I've located a copy on Ebay so I'll buy it there.  I think it got discared during a declutter for moving house.

It sounds as though your kitty was an excellent find for you at the RSPCA - the one here has good reviews, but I don't know if they have a cafe!  What a good idea.

The rainbow lorikeets are squarking up in the trees so I will get their apple ready for them.  My neighbours have decided to sit out the back smoking - there's no escape for me - either they are sitting at the front smoking so I go to the back - and now they are there smoking - it's really difficult here!  They come out the back when they see me because they want to talk, but the smoke is too much for me - they never stop with the cigarettes!

[mmMekitty]

Hello Matchy & Hanna & everyone

Now I'm trying to remember my first day at High School, too. One thing I remember for sure is how my step-sis immediately distanced herself from me, had friends already, & I didn't, (except one, & she was a year younger so was still going to the Primary School).

I did manage pretty well, finding where I was meant to be. The school was large, & it seemed like a sea of kids on the parade ground, between classes, lunchtime, leaving for the day, too. At least the Primary School was up the road, so I already knew the way home. I was supposed to walk with the other siblings, with some of their friends too, who lived in the same direction, but they didn't want me around, & I didn't want to be where I wasn't wanted. & my brother, too, a year older, went off on his own, walking so fast I couldn't keep up with him.

I thought I'd met a couple friendly kids, an indigenous brother & sister, (I think they were the only two obviously indigenous kids there - ????), but the next day, they were teasing me just like my setp-sis & her friends, & (as it felt) most everyone else, except for those who ignored me or didn't notice my existence at all.  

That indeed was a long time ago. 50 years or so... gosh! 

It sounds to me, Matchy, that you have found a school with a much more aware & inclusive atmosphere.

*

Hanna,

Being an ex-smoker, can you imagine how intolerant I am of smokers near me? It's not fair, I think, that I can't include the condition that I won't have smokers where I live. I'd like all sorts of conditions, like no drinking, smoking, noisy music, late night coming & going, dogs barking, (sorry, that too), smelly cars, machinery, or even to keep away from my doors & windows if wearing strong perfume or cologne or aftershave. & I don't suppose I'd like someone flying a drone around my place either.

Pie-in-the-sky-wish: I could have a big bit of land, with hedges & fence all around, & my house in the middle, cat enclosure around that, & am indoor heated pool to one side. I would be tempted to not have grass, so I would not need to mow it - smelly, noisy mowers! & smelly grass clipping! (I'm getting so sensitive.) Oh, & now, I would like bird baths outside the cat enclosure, so I could sometimes enjoy the local birds enjoying the water.

Wonder how the Great Dane & the Maltese-Shitzu regarded each other?

Do your best to keep cool there, Hanna. Drink lots of water.

Hugzies everyone

mmMekitty