Like I have mentioned I have had RA almost all my life. In my 20's I
was a nanny. I learnt very quickly that snaps on sleepers and pants
where sometimes impossible. Same goes with jean like elastic wasted
pants and the push clips on car seats(or camera backpacks...haha). I
had joked about having to ask a 4 year old to open a jar for me, and
she certainly did much more for herself then alot of other kids her
age. With that said, you moms out that that went through this with RA,
what kind of tips can you share?
My dh is very good about finding "Danea Friendly" things. Heck I just
bought a Saturn Vue because the gear shift was a front button and not a
thumb buttom...I was so stinkin' excited about not having to use two
hands to put the car in gear! LOL.
So besides checking snaps, and closers, what other problems or
solutions did you come up with? Any fears about lifting your baby? Any
cool gadgets to help with everyday care?
wooo I worked in daycare for 3 1/2 years, I hear ya. I always taught the kids to help me as soon as they could. LoL It sounds bad, but really it's not, it teaches them things they need to know anyway! Snaps...buttons...etc etc. Car seat clips seemed the worst for me, just pay attention to what you're buying, lock it over and over and over before you pay! I'm sitting here TRYING to remember all the little things that I did...and I just can't. LoL OH I don't know why this worked for me, but getting the baby down into the crib was always a pain, so I used a step stool so I had a little more leverage. It doesn't sound smart....but I sure remember it working. Maybe it's just cause I'm short....haha Make sure you have a comfy rocking chair, WITH foot rest. I dunno. I give up. If I remember more, I'll letcha know. LoLLOL Katie!
I was told years ago at the Arthritis Center that they have many
gadgets to help out a new mom. I was also told that kids of RA parents
also become independant faster that others as, well they don't seem to
have a choice...LOL. I figure that letting peple who may want to buy
clothes and such know that they have to be very selective. What may be
easy for them could be a nightmare for me!
As for helpful gadgets, I have a cutting board where the tip of the
knife is attached so the knife lifts and pivets. When talking on the
phone and cutting I had people convinced I was chef like because I
could chop so fast...LOL. My mom however who could do so on her own
hated that thing!It kept throughing her off .
Oh thats NEAT. I don't use gagets yet....except for jar opening thingies. I have like 5. Lol I'm alright right now. And I always end up ghetto rigging things. Like I can't ever get the fridge packs of sodas open, so I end up just stabbing it with scissors or a knife so I have a hole to grab and tear open. LOL Not the best way to go about it...but oh well! When I worked at the daycare, I had 4 infants on my own and SOMEHOW I managed....I KNOOOOWWW I rigged things, but I just can't remember it. Grrrrr
I was so, so lucky when my daughter was born. I had a 4 year old son who was already really helpful. He was so much help with his new baby sister and he loved it!
One thing I know for sure is that it has tault my children a caring and compasion that I wouldn't have expected from kids. They have learned from and early age to be helpful with the family. That's a good lesson to learn as they become adults. It's also tault them compassion for others....not just me. My son doesn't think twice about taking a heavy bag out of my hand or get to the door and hold it before I get there. That's just a gentelman for you. That's what I've raised...or at least I think I have. I notice him doing it with others like his Grandmother and other elders.
My daughter is just the most precious child I have ever know. Bless her heart she has practically taken over at times. I don't know what I would have done without them.
Don't anyone let RA stop you from having children if you want them. They are a joy and bring meaning to life in my opinion.
See, maybe more parents need to be sick so their kids will learn some damn manners. LOL IM KIDDING IM KIDDING. You get the idea though....haha