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]

Hi Mark, Archie's been getting a few attacks of the zoomies at night but otherwise he's been really affectionate - I think with time as you say, he will be a really good cat.  I am going to ring the local vet today to ask about his food, a friend told me she doesn't hesitate to ring a vet practice and ask for advice.

Wow, your daughter is turning 20!  Gosh I remember being that young once!  I hope she has a lovely day.  I hope things have improved for your son as well.  I read a discussion on reddit Australia the other day where people were discussing how much they been bullied at high school, the things done to them by the bullies were horrifying.

It's going to be hot and steamy here all week... I think Archie would sleep better at night if it wasn't so hot.  I am off to get a few grocery items and a coffee on the way.  

[Hanna3]

Hi Mark, I've decided to go back to his original name Bruce, only make it Brucie to sound a bit more friendly!  He just won't answer to the other name.  I phoned the shelter today and spoke to one of the young women who helped the other day and told her he is settling in really well and she was so happy to hear back from me - she said they had a terrible day there at the shelter today -  I don't know what happened - and she was thrilled to be able to pass on the good news to the others there.  That made me wonder if many people bother to let them know how the adopted animal is settling in?  I can imagine it would be so nice for the staff to hear about it after they have managed to adopt the dog or cat out.

Very very muggy here - hot and humid.  Any plans yet for your daughter's birthday Mark?  

[Matchy69]

Hi Hanna my daughter names the cat and kittens when they come in.She will give them all sorts of names.One lot of kittens was named after the characters on Friends.She has to name them and put them on the internet.

I think I will take my daughter out to lunch to one of the local pubs on Monday.Their is BBQ organised in a few weeks at her sisters house to celebrate all the birthdays.

Very wet in town thus morning but no rain here just muggy.

[Hanna3]

Hi Mark,

The lunch and the BBQ both sound great!  I'm sure your daughter will look forward to them.  It's nice to celebrate birthdays!  

The animal shelter today has put out a plea for people not to hand in any more animals as they are full up and so are any other shelters - they say they are trying to get rescue organizations to help as they are so overwhelmed.  I don't know why that is happening suddenly now.  They said one man had offered to mind a friend's two cats while he went away and the man never returned and no answer on his phone - so the cats have ended up at the shelter!  Imagine doing that to someone - just leaving your cats with them and never returning!

It's so humid here, everyone is taking things very quietly.  You really can't do much in this humidity - will probably watch a movie later tonight.  

If Sleepy is reading, I hope you are OK Sleepy and let us know how you are!

[Matchy69]

Hi Hanna that's a bit sad that they have got so many surrender animals.I don't know what the reason would be.It seems to go in waves when they will have a lot and sometimes not so many 

[Hanna3]

Hi Mark, after I messaged you I did start to think maybe it was because the holidays had ended and schools are back?  Maybe pets that people got over Christmas are now costing them time and money and so they dump them.  

Bruce is going well apart from the hot weather, but he's good at stretching out on the floor and snoozing.  I had a lovely phone call from an old friend this afternoon and we talked for hours!  She is having difficulty at her work, the other women are bullying and excluding her.  She is very quiet and sweet natured and introvert so she doesn't join in groups much.  I think the other women - who all grew up together in that town - are picking on her because she is the outsider, she is quiet, and she is very good at her work.  Same thing happened to me years ago.  It's a shame as it makes going to work so unpleasant for the one they are picking on.

I did the grocery shopping late today when it's a bit cooler and the supermarket is quieter - Saturday mornings are so busy.  Time to finally relax now!  I hope all your vegetables and fruit trees are coming along OK in this hot weather - we had a couple of days of rain about a week ago but nothing before or since.

[Matchy69]

I wondered that to if it was people who got pets at Christmas  and now kids are back at school and parents at work Wether dogs are barking from being lonely and people just don't want their pets now.

We has been pleasant here this weekend with rain forecast this week.

Not sure if I will be able to take my daughter to lunch tomorrow.I don't think I will have enough money as I just paid three hundred and fifty dollars for school fees.

[Hanna3]

Hi Mark,

That's a good thought about the dogs barking - I hadn't thought of that and I bet you're right - the owners have probably gone back to work after the holidays and the pets are left alone.

That's a lot of money you had to pay out for school fees Mark.  There was a lovely lady where I used to live who was in private rental on the single parent's pension and struggling to afford anything for herself and her little daughter.  I honestly don't know how she managed at all - I'm sure she never got much for herself by the time she paid rent, food, utilities and things her child needed.

If you can't manage lunch out - which I can well understand, it's costly - is there any way you can celebrate at home for not much cost?  A BBQ lunch/dinner?  Something like that?  Do something small and tell your daughter you will have a dinner out for her birthday another time but you'll still have a small celebration at home?  I had a toasted sandwich and a coffee out today and that was about $16.00, so it's not cheap.  Eating out is expensive - I'm sure your daughter will understand?  And please send her happy birthday wishes from me and Brucie, since we are very grateful to the kind people who work in the rescue shelters!

[Matchy69]

My daughters birthday was a sad day as had to buryher dog .

[Hanna3]

Hi Mark, what happened to your daughter's dog?  I'm so sorry to hear that happened on her birthday.  Let me know what happened... I am so sorry for your daughter.