Summer, Pets and Going Off on a Tangent

Well I didn't think this through with when to start a blog!

Summer holiday, the time when there's less free time as the free time is taken up entertaining the little man, later bedtime (for him, not necessarily me!), coupled with a warmer time of the year (and like many others with MS there's that 'lovely' phenomenon of Uhthoff's syndrome).

I'm snatching some time whilst my son is at a martial arts session (I should really learn what course he's on - he's having fun though and that's the important part!) to try and pull together my next post. (Although it has still taken me a few days to actually publish the post.)

Whilst today is a cooler day there's been those hot days this week. Days when I'm glad the paddling pool is one with rigid sides so all it needs is water to hold up the sides - no wasting energy pumping up the sides.
The homemade iced tea with lemon juice ice cubes went down a treat and once a jug was made up all I had to do was pour.

This week I also attempted to find my guinea pig a friend (her sister died a couple of weeks ago). We had a road trip - well to a guinea pig it's a road trip - to the rehoming/rescue centre.
Two hours there meeting various sows and neutered boars we (the lady at the centre and I) came to the conclusion that my little lady may be happier on her own for now.
The question to be asked: does the owner take after the pet or vice versa or - now this is a bit out there - is there a draw to a certain pet over others because they're alike to their owners in the first place, personality and all?
The likelihood being we find similarities in life where we want to and pay less attention to those parts that don't fit our ideas. Like psychology says if something has emotional significance, we notice those occasions it's there. Just like suddenly noticing the new car (well same model and colour) you got - because it's not that common - everywhere.

But I'm going off on a tangent....
How are the summer holidays going?? Honestly, we're off to a rocky start. Am I dreading the six weeks? No... it's now less than six weeks! But seriously, no, the rocky start is behaviour that could happen any time of the year and we (My son and I) have the time to talk and discuss things through - as best as you can with a five year old - and hopefully (I live in a bit of dreamworld) end up in a better place at the end.
I did brave the supermarket this morning with my boy, we had tried to be there before 9am like a friend had managed the previous day with her girl. Why I thought this would happen I don't know, but we did make it there just after 9am. It was definitely the time to go, a lot quieter and manageable. I even had my own assistant to help load up the belt whilst I packed (namely my son), even if it did cost me... 50p!

As much as this week has been a test the MonSter in me has only reared its head with the heat but it hasn't stopped me!

Summer Holidays Survival Guide with MS

I've been meaning to post this for a while, but things just kept getting in the way!

I originally wrote this by hand after surviving the last summer holidays with a preschool child waiting to start his reception year, and it is time I actually shared it!
It may not be long until the summer holidays of 2016 start and my son is another year older with different demands this time during the holidays (like it being the one month that I have two infusions of Tysabri due to the way the 4 weeks fall) but never less hopefully there is some information here that could be useful! Plus it'll remind me of things to do this year!

The approach of the summer holidays filled me with dread, it was my first with the finish of preschool before reception start and at an age where the need for constant engagement and activity from start to end.
I started to really question why was I dreading it so, and the answer; because everyone else is saying it is something to dread, 6 weeks of our child/ren doing activities; plus the addition of the unknowing of MS.
From this thought I changed my mindset, what can I do so that my son and I get through the summer holidays?

• I created two lists (with hindsight a third would have been useful), one for ideas of more unusual activities to do at home and one for places to go (after the fairly damp summer I'd be tempted to split this list into indoor places to go and outdoor places to go).

          The places to go list meant I remembered places when people recommended somewhere to visit (great when memory becomes an issue), and when last minute changes happened I wasn't having to rack my brains for ideas.  

          

          The activities at home list meant I could stock pile my items in the store cupboard such as vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, wool, etc so it was all there when needed for an impromptu rainy (or sunny) day and no need to postpone the activity or having to rush out of the house to get the items.

• I planned activities and tried my best to space them out, there were activities which were date specific (like a festival) but being aware when they were happening I tried to restrict doing too many big day trips in a week to try and manage the fatigue.
  I found this also helped manage my son's expectations as each week there was at least one day trip to look forward to.

• It almost seems ironic but taking my son's friend with us! 
  Having a friend with him made it easier on me as he had a companion to play and entertain, whether its was a day in the forest or a trip to a local park or playing in the garden.
  (Plus there's the outside chance that the child's parents will return the favour and you get some rest time!)

• Remembering simple pleasures
   - camping in the garden
   - daytime bath (depending on the age of the children)
   - bus journey into town/city
  They were all big events for my son and I found it an easier time and less draining on me.

• Whilst looking for organisation activities, I discovered activities with the local library, the local Wildlife Trust, as well as the RSPB Big Wild Sleepout, Forestry Commission activities and the National Play Day.  I found this great as the activities and information was already there with minimal input needed from me.

• Looking through local websites/magazines I found money off vouchers or deals.  I kept these even if I wasn't sure they were going to be used as back up if our plans changed.

• I prepared a meal plan factoring in days out, so there was less decision making needed on days when even the thought of trying to think of what to do as a meal would have been difficult.

• Keeping my slow cooker out was a great idea! Instead of stews I would use it for pasta sauces, bolognese, meatballs, ragout and tagines.  Then all I needed to do was the pasta or cous cous, using fresh pasta (still shop bought!) at times as it was quicker to do than dried!

• Using home delivery for shopping.  What a great idea for shopping! No need to worry about my son picking up every item on the way round and the tantrums that can happen!
  I found I still needed to go the shops every now and then to grab something, so I had a shopping list and my son would have his shopping list to go round with.  When his hands went wandering we played a game of "put your hands on your [body area]", this worked great as I knew his hands were on his ears/tummy/hair instead of the shelves and he found it funny just playing the game.

There are things I found hard but remember don't be afraid to ask for help or say 'no'.  I asked friends if they could drive if we were going together somewhere.  

If I needed a rest day I said no to going the park and did something at home where I could sit down instead and not have the mental exhaustion of wondering just where my son is.

Heat is a challenge for me, so I have a list of ideas that work for me for hotter days; I know of a place in the forest with dappled shade and a stream, going to a swimming pool or making sure the paddling pool is out in the garden, or knowing where there is a lot of shade and I can rest.

One thing that can be the biggest challenge is how we place demands on ourselves! I'm guilty of this but am slowly learning not to be so hard on myself.  School holidays are daunting but by forward planning slightly I spread things out and made them more manageable rather than doing lots in the early weeks.

Pyjama and TV days were great when it all got too much! Or a trip to the cinema!

Asking friends if they can help with something was hard to do but I found they really don't mind (and the taking a friend of their child out works for them as well!).

Think positive about the holidays and hopefully there will be less "I'm borrreeddd' days!

As I said I wrote this after last year's summer holidays in my notebook.  And seriously I still have the list of places to go and ideas to do at home as they've been useful all year! 

I have even printed out a calendar this year for the summer so I can visually see what days events are on and when I have things organised with friends to help with the balance of the summer.
My slow cooker is still out and will be used over the summer!
The thought of summer holidays is still daunting and my son is a year older now which at their age makes a difference, but we will get through the holidays with a smile on our faces and taking the help when needed.

I'd love to hear if anyone has any other tips/hacks or ideas for their way to make the six weeks enjoyable and manageable!

Chez