Jack is okay, not happy but not sad or mad, very hyperactive though. We went for a walk last night after supper, he wanted to find "interesting things", and we did. He also burned through some of his energy.
Miss Katie is undoing her seatbelt on the DATS bus, all behavior is communication=she's bored/tired of long bus rides. Her agency wants to put another harness on her to keep her in her wheelchair for long rides. Katie is not the problem, long rides are the problem. People with disabilities are expected to spend hours on buses to get where they need or want to go.
This reminds me that Jack's behavior is also communication. Is he confused/anxious? Not sure what he's feeling and not sure he can identify more complex emotions like frustration or anxiety. I know that for me, moving and walking helps to calm me. Perhaps it will for him too. Nothing wrong with making a practice of going for a daily walk.
Caught this bee working hard. I used to be terrifed of bees but have come to love them. They are hard working and they're all sisters.
I'm bored with no routine yet. What a shock.
I believe you have a good idea, taking Jack for an evening daily walk. Being free from a job schedule will take time to get used to, but you'll be busy again before you know it.
ReplyDeleteMy mum was English and she was strong believer in the benefits of a good walk, a hot bath and a good cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes and yes. Barbara
DeleteYour mom was a wise woman! A good cup of tea really does solve everything I find!
DeleteYou will be surprised with what your post-retirement routine will turn out to be. Much more relaxed and in the moment. It took me about a year to stop looking for things to replace work.
ReplyDeleteBaby steps you're saying. I haven't done much today and I'm trying to deal with that:)
DeleteI think a daily walk with Jack sounds like a great idea. You can't fault him for wanting to find interesting things! That's a great photo (top).
ReplyDeleteHis interesting things were a seed pod from a cottonwood tree, flowers from a lilac and a rose. I drew the line at a spider.
DeleteYou have such a good eye for photos. You have such a good heart and mind for knowing what others need and want, even if they cannot express those things.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'm very good at all for knowing what others need and want. I try and often fail.
DeleteA walk (for me) softens the rough edges of my emotions and worries. I hope it will do the same for Jack. I love bumblebees, but hate hornets/wasps. They are assholes.
ReplyDeleteI almost always feel better after a walk and fresh air. It's good for the mind, body and soul. I'm not a fan of wasps either but they have their place. We have columnar swedish aspens and they get a lot of aphids which the wasps happily eat.
DeleteI have just caught up on your blog from my extended absence from the blog world. I love how you write, it is so real and honest. I have had to come to grips with my third chapter too. That's a good way to word it.
ReplyDeleteI borrowed it, the third act, from Jane Fonda, who probably borrowed it from someone else. I try to be honest and mostly succeed, but it's hard.
DeleteWonderful pictures. Yes, a walk and maybe a project outdoors, something regular, not too challenging but a bit messy, for young Jack?
ReplyDeleteWe walked around the park behind us tonight and then borrowed a soccer ball from a team that was playing, and he and I kicked the ball a bit. We both liked it.
DeleteBurning off energy, some talking, out in nature all sound good to me for any child.
ReplyDeleteOutside, the natural world, even if it's in a city is always better than indoors for me, except in the winter:)
DeleteI love wild roses; they take me right back to my prairie childhood. June is definitely "wild rose month." And what a fat little bumblebee! Glad you have come to love bees and not fear them. They will never sting if they are left alone.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid, six or seven, there were a bunch of us kids in the woods (Northern Ontario) when some of the kids decided to bother a wasps nest. The nest fell and we all scattered like rats, except one poor kid who got stung a lot. We were all out of the woods, standing around when a wasp that had gotten caught in my hair, stung me. Took a long time to get over that and an understanding of wasps vs. bees:)
DeleteWalking can be very therapeutic. Energy is burnt off and we see an array of things that are different from us. I don't see why that shouldn't work for small children too. I think this is your last week of contracted employment - your official retirement in fact. How did the week go?
ReplyDeleteI worked two days this past week, Thursday and Friday. Thursday was lovely, Friday was a shit show, that's how it goes. So glad to be out of there. We'll see how one day a week goes. If it's no good, I'll terminate my casual position too.
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