I opened the windows today.

[Jimjams]

For the firsat time since school broke up in July.

Phew- been desperate to do that for ages.

ah I see - does she get it now?

nah - I just do my routine - shut the doors, follow dd1 and not let her get into anything while friend coos over dd2. AND of course we don't really visit all that often - can't be bothered going out to 'have coffee etc' to come home more stressed than when I left home.

Have another friend - who just does it automatically - shuts all the doors, puts up barricades across teh stairways, gives dd2 a couple of pots and some spoons to play with when she is in the kitchen, doesn't wory about dd1 posting toys over the verandah and tells me not to worry about them - she'll pick them up when she is next downstairs... but this is also a friend (kinda dd's second grandma ) who went out and got a box of toys etc for dd1 to play with when she visits.

Another one who has a SN child who again - shuts the doors, gets out toys that she knows dd1 is fine with, puts away what she wants to protect as such etc. I do the same when her little one comes here although our house is pretty much very child friendly anyway.

Are you getting a lovely breeze through your hair!?!?

I think I wouldn't bother going visiting there very often either!

No breeze today- it's miserable and raining. Have been to MFI though (because I can) ha ha ha. I am enjoying my freedom.

I have a little taste of that - am now doing the grocery shopping on Wed morning and bill paying whatever shopping etc on Thursday morning now that dd1 is in kindy .. I used to take her for bill paying etc BUT it is sooo much easier with just dd2. She usually has a sleep in the pram and I manage to catch up with a friend for a coffee - uninterrupted. Both of us win....

Strange things we do , we have converted a room in our house for my lad , (he has Down's) and we didnt put a window in because he like to try to climb out. I,m sure my friends think its strange having a bedroom with no window, but it works for us and he loves his own room. The lighting switch is on the out side and we have a wall heater high on the wall for heating . perfect

We've had to remove the bulb in ds1's room as he was just flicking it on and off when we put him to bed - outside would be perfect- will arrange that one day.

eidsvold- just a quick question-how many days is dd1 in kindy? Is it ms? HOw do you find the support in Oz? Sorry lots of questions- just realised I'm a bit behind- must have missed some threads!

Jimjams, how about a disco ball in his room? My ds has one which seems to satisfy his need for flashing lights without blowing a fuse! We put it on if he won't settle down and he forgets to 'shout' at his gate. It's on top of the wardrobe with the flex down the back so he can't reach it and he lies down so he can see the lights go across the ceiling.

We have one, but I don't trust him with it at the moment- (too into hanging off and touching things like that). I want to use it in the future though. They must have one in the sensory room at school. I'll ask them what he thinks of it.

That's a good idea, they may be able to suggest something that's safe for him to handle. We have to hide torches because ds stares straight into them and we feared for his eyesight, but at least he could switch them on and off without electrocuting himself.

I saw something in a baby magazine- a night light that you ca carry and charge and the it runs for 8 hours or something. can't work out what it's made of though and ds1 throws things.