"If I go to the grocery...well, throw a party!
If I cook more than once or twice a week, call the papers!"
Deb, Mom to Andrew
Boy this was what it was like for me!
In the early stages of grief EVERYTHING is a problem to do!
you have to push yourself to get up, get dressed,
make breakfast... you know pour the milk, whoops forgot the bowls.
Now I have the bowls, the milk, I need honey. OK I have everything ready...
call the kids... nope...don't have to do that,
they have been waiting for breakfast for 2 hours now, what? it's been 4 hours?...
what's wrong... cereal!... ok... now we can eat... you need spoons? ....
Man... now I am too tired to eat....
This would be funny if it wasn't part of everyday of my first year!
Now if they wanted something cooked...
I thought I would put up some things that helped
me make it through the first year.
You know that list you used to take to the grocery store?...
it would take me a long time to write it up.
then after I got the nerve and energy up to go to the store...
I would forget the list. It happened almost every time! so I learned to...
write the list on my hand, going up my arm if I had to!
Buy Banquet Homestyle Bakes...
there are a number of them now.
'Country Chicken,Mashed Potatoes & Biscuits'
'Chicken Alfredo with Italian Style Bread'
'Savory Beef & Sour Cream Sauce with Mushrooms'
'Creamy Chicken & Biscuits'
'Cheesy Ham & Hash browns' and 9 more!
these are box meals that are actually not bad.
Of course not as good as homemade but close to it.
ALSO... everything is in the box JUST ADD WATER!
you prepare it... put 'TIME BAKE' on
(if you don't have this then set timer and keep timer with you!)
... and walk off.
Put a piece of paper on wall next
to kitchen table where you can see it when you sit down to eat...
write things like....
'Check OVEN!!!'
I have made lots of meals and left something in the oven
that was to go with the meal...
only to find it the next time I opened the oven...
'Check Frig!!!'
I was so proud of myself... I had made jello for company!
found it the next week...
CROSS OFF after each meal and make new note next time.
tape a string with a pen tied to it next to the paper
If you don't have one...BUY a dishwasher!!!!
I just got one... it would have been such a blessing to have it
when Michael was sick and also after he died!!!
Here's one I wish I had the money for...
Hire a maid!
I dream of having one!!!
If we had a regular income I would have one!!!!
Go to the grocery store in the middle of the night.
I couldn't go in the day time... so many embarrassing things would happen.
At night you don't have to deal with lines or people you wouldn't want to see.
You can cry the whole time and hardly no one would see you!
Your awake anyway...
You don't have to take the kids!
If you have a panic attack you can get your stuff...
check out real fast... and get out of there!
Bring a cell phone shopping with you,
call your husband if you can't remember why you went.
Attach keys to purse handle.
Put a large safety pin on key ring, then when you have something
to remember write it on paper, fold it and stick it on the pin.
this way when you pick up your purse you have your keys and reminder notes
so you don't forget what you need to do or get.
Set out clothes before you go to bed!!!
helps you get up easier too,
you see your clothes and know it's one thing you wont have to do this morning...
It's ok to have cereal at lunch and/or dinner
Get adequate sleep!!!
It is much easier to think when you have had sleep.
Sleep is not easy... even after 2 years...take a sleeping aid!
'Simply Sleep' and Melatonin are over the counter aids that you can buy.
My daughter came over read this page and
said "this what we do for our Altiemezers"
modified...I thought they were great suggestions for us:
Put up a sign next to bed...
When you get up got go to bathroom
put sign in bathroom... please brush teeth....get dressed
put sign in kitchen... start dinner at 5:00
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My Child has Neurofibromatosis