Mumsnet Talk

She had major surgery 3 weeks ago and she did so so well and amazed everyone with her determination to get up and get going again, but I think she has hit a wall now.

She can't go back to school for a few weeks, and even though she has been sent work, and her friends are visiting her a lot, she seems really down, and is spending a lot of time in bed, and then awake a lot at night.

Ive just started a new job, so I haven't been here much in the day time either.

Funds are really tight atm, and I'm struggling to think of ways to cheer her up that don't cost anything, or very litte. Plus I also need to be careful of upsetting dd2, who is feeling a bit pushed out by the whole thing.

Any ideas ?

DVD and pizza night for you all? I mean "in-house" of course.

Some girly stuff with dd1 and dd2 painting nails, face masks etc?

I could be way off here but here are some suggestions
movie night with dvd, popcorn etc
get friends and family to come round with magazines etc
pamper day/afternoon/eve - do face masks, nails, do her hair, etc
teach a new craft?????

sorry I can't think of anything else

cross post with bella great minds think alike!

Nails and pamper stuff is a fab idea. Could plan that for this week, and get some nice hot choc and stuff.

Does she read? Books from library, even ordering them specially costs v little. Can get DVDs cheap to hire too

Would she learn to knit?

She loves art, so I could see if I can get her some crafty stuff from The Works.

I know she wants to get out of the house more, so maybe a trip to a nice cafe.

She has a kindle and a love film subscription, so thats all covered at the moment.

Don't think she is the knitting type, but i could ask. I know my mum has all of the stuff she'd need for that.

She wants to go clothes shopping but that will have to wait util payday.

My brother is taking her out next sunday, so thats something.

What about getting her some polymer clay and she could make jewellery with it? She could do the clay part and put them aside for you to c

Cook for her when you get in. Its fun!

Oh you've just reminded me I have quite a bit of fimo somewhere. I will dig that out for her. I also have loads of jewellery making stuff.

Hi Nutcracker I remember your DD from the amazing X Rays.

How about craft as in making necklaces/bracelets with beads or some card making?

It must be very hard, especially trying to give attention to your younger DD too. x

X posts!!

The craft stuff is a great idea. I alternate between knitting, those scratch off pictures and latch hook kits
Nail art is quite cheap too

On the nail-painting front: my DD just bought a set of brushes from Amazon, for doing the pointless intricate fancy designs they seem to like so much. Wouldn't have been expensive knowing her!

Can you gey her to sort stuff out and any money made by flogging it in ebay spent on her and her sister. Clothes and cds they dont wear etc.

Give them a treat to look after

Holy moly, is that your dds xrays on your profile? That amazing!

Does your local cinema have Kids Club on a weekend? She may think she's to old but kids films can be ace...and its cheap!

soverylucky!

Get her to read Teen Granny blog. It's written by a teenage girl ( Richard Curtis' daughter) who spends a lot of time in hospital. She does lots of crafty stuff.

Encourage her to spend as much time out of bed as possible. I have had quite a bit of major surgery, and wasn't allowed to weight bear for 6 months so spent a lot of time in bed. It drags you down and makes you feel isolated which is horrid. Encourage her to sit with you for as much as she can. Even if it is just for meals, or to watch the soaps so she still feels part of the family.

if she is up to it get her friends round 1 night at the weekend for pizza and a gossip leave them to it, try and get her out of bed if she can lying about is going to make her feel more down ,

Can she go out of the house at all, could a aunt/grannie/older cousin come and pick her up, and go to the-
Library
Cinema (cheap tuesdays at the odeon)
One department store
Big HMV (listen to new music)
their house

One afternoon a week?

what about someone she knows initiating a postcard penpal exchange, someone who lives overseas, anyone you know?

Is she on Pinterest? Could she start pinning working towards something, like doing up her bedroom. (stick to a budget £50)

What about doing stuff like meal planning for the family? Little projects like that?

What about selling stuff on ebay. That does take a bit of thought, and a camera, but it's fun watching to see if things are being bid on.

Also - writing reviews eg visit local shops/cafes and write a review on it on Yell or wherever . (Not sure how to do this but presume you just need an email address to register).

I had an operation on my ear when I was 17 so I really didn't want to go out with a massive bandage and unwashed hair!
But my mum got me loads of photo frames from the charity shop and I painted them and stuck bits on them and sorted through the photo albums, could you get some cheap bits and pieces to decorate her room or her sisters room?

How about origami? You can get packs in The Works etc which have paper and an instruction book in. Or there are loads of great internet sites and you can cut up your own paper, using wrapping paper, magazines etc. I like making flowers but also make cranes - it is supposed to be lucky to make 1000, that would keep her occupied!