Ack! My daughter is a hoarder

Have you ever watched the show Hoarders? This is my daughter. Going into her bedroom makes me want to cry. She insists on keeping everything. This includes water bottles, card board, paper, pieces of things, fabric scraps and bits, and anything else that one would usually throw away. I have no clue how she can stand to be in the room. 


 This weekend we will be tearing down the wall in between her room and the storage room to make her bedroom bigger. I know, I know, I can hear you now. If you give her more room she will get more stuff. I am hoping since she will have more room for shelving and a bookcase, that she will actually keep it cleaner. Notice I did not say clean. I will settle for cleaner.


 Every two weeks or so I go into her room and do a thorough cleaning. If I did not her bed would disappear. Each time I do a cleaning it is like torture for her. She doesn't want to part with any bit or scrap. She has fifty reason why she should be allowed to keep whatever it is I am trying to toss. So we discuss why she should or shouldn't keep the item and move on. It can take hours. I can't say I understand why hoarders want to keep everything, but I do understand the look of sadness and fear on my daughter's face when I try to get rid of something. 


 My daughter's case manager and I have a joke about how I will be cleaning her house even after she moves out someday. As funny as it can be, it most likely is the truth. Do any of you have a child that hoards? Have you had any luck helping them change?

How to tell if you are successful at parenting

Want to know if you are headed in the right direction when it comes to parenting? Just ask yourself this one simple question. Has your child ever told you they hate/despise you? If you can answer yes to that question, you can be assured you are doing something right.

When my daughter is unhappy with me or anyone else in her life, she tells us that we are despised. It really doesn't matter who it is. She told her Occupational therapist, mental health case manager, mom, dad, Physical therapist, and anyone else whom she sees fit to tell.

She even has a despise list. We have yet to figure out how to get off the list. I do recall hearing something about if you win me subs for life I might consider removing you. Chances are slim that I will win, so I guess I will remain on the list.

I really don't mind being on the list or her telling me she despises me. This means I am getting through to her and doing my job. So do any of your children have despise lists? Do they tell you they are not happy with you? Never fret, simply remember you are doing a great job.

Summer is Almost Gone

Actually I am not too upset about Summer coming to an end. I hate this heat wave we have had for the last two months. I am looking forward to cooler days and being able to turn the air off. Nothing better than the windows open the breeze coming through.

I know it's been forever since I have posted, well not forever but quite some time. We have been dealing with more med changes, attitude, aggression, and so much more.Once school begins I will be posting more.

Official start date is September sixth, but we are starting in a little over a week. Great thing about cyber schooling is we can work at our pace to some extent. Starting sooner gives us some breathing room for days that aren't going so good.

Enjoy your last days of Summer.

NO has been banished from our house

When I was younger if I would have told my parents no when asked to do something I would of been severely punished. My daughter thinks nothing of telling me No several times a day.

Please change your clothes so we can leave. Her response, a No, as plain as day never missing a beat. Clean up your mess= NO. Quit jumping and running around the house= No. Time for bed=No.

It seems no matter what I tell her she tells me No. I am at my wits end. We have tried every punishment out there and nothing seems to get through her tough head. We have emptied her room of everything except a bed and she just doesn't care.

It's like my child has become possessed by an evil creature at times.One minute she can be sweet and loving and then the next she is so angry and mean. You can see the change in her eyes.

I told her we banned the word No. She is not allowed to answer No when she is being told or asked to do something. Her response=No. UGH!

Weather and Special Needs Children

Anyone who tells you the weather doesn't have an effect on special needs children obviously doesn't have a special needs child. The snow and cold are really taking a toll on our household.

I am not sure what it is but every parent of a special need child that I know are dealing with similar problems. The children are wound up and very moody. They seem to believe they have magically been put in charge of the parents.

Rules? What are rules? We had been making small progress with being compliant, but lately that has gone out the window. No matter what I say my daughter does not listen. She argues over everything I tell her. I could say it is cold outside and she will argue for an hour that it is indeed warm enough for short sleeves.

I cannot wait for spring to be here. We need to be able to get out and burn off some of this pent up frustration, anger?, that she is experiencing right now. Maybe it was the two full moons we had last month.

A New Year A New Idea

I can't believe how the time has flown by since I lasted updated my blog. Life has been full of twists and turns since then. I have been dealing with some health problems and we have had other changes in the household dealing with schooling and behaviors. I promise I will be posting more. I have some changes in store for the direction of this blog. Stay tuned....

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Picture by Sam LeVan