My Sunday Photo 04/09/2022

We got some £3 tickets yesterday for cinema day fo course we finally got to see Minions 2 which my youngest is obsessed with!

Autism and change.

Hey readers, 

Today I am going to talk about change in autism as I am autistic and it is one of the big things that pisses me off! I may be an adult, I may have had years living with my diagnosis of autism but still, I struggle with change, more so when it is out of the blue and I am not prepared.

Just for the record..... I HATE CHANGE! I know change happens all the time and it is something that from time to time we all have to deal with, but still sucks nonetheless!

Why do I hate to change so much you ask?

Well, one reason is the unpredictability of it... the not knowing it is happening and when it does it is scary for me. I just freeze and lose myself, I don't know to respond and depending on the situation either totally shut down  - where I go within myself and don't talk to anyone and hide away. Or I meltdown and scream and shout and boy can I do that like a badass!

 I like to be in control, I like to know what is happening and I like to plan things, I am a control freak and when I am met with change from the unknown totally throws me. I am confused and lost and I just go blank, I don't know what to do, looking back when I talk to my husband I can see I could do this or that but when I am an emotional wreck I lose or sense of logic. My thoughts just crumble and I don't know what to do. The range of anger fuels my veins and takes over so I don't think straight or I see the change and just total fear about what is happening.

 It doesn't matter how many times change has happened over the years when I am unaware and not in control. Or when someone says they are meant to come at a certain and they are late over two for example recently and don't tell me what is going on then I literally lose my shit.

 I can't concentrate on anything I am shaking, my anxiety is getting bigger and bigger as time goes by, and I am not in control so don't know what is happening.

 I am left to wait so don't know how to plan. I am better when I am aware of situations occurring and when I take time to adapt and process what is happening. I can take the time to talk to someone, I can research, I can plan.

 In contrast, stations that happen immediately with no notification through, out of such and again it goes back t some not being controlled and having no routine. I am also a rigid thinker so when I focus on one thing such as a change I can't think of anything that is happening because it just takes over my brain. It is exhausting along with the meltdown I am wiped out the next day. 

That is why communication is important for an autistic person to know exactly what is happening...if you let them know if something changing then tell them beforehand for example. 

What makes me happy is routine and knowing what to expect because I am in control as I know what to expect and don't have to use all my energy trying to think outside the box.

Cheers for reading X

How to make quick money online.

Hey readers, 

If you have some spare time on your hands and want to earn some money, there are many side hustles online that you can do to earn a few quid and some aren't that hot to do.

1. Online surveys. 

One of the most popular ways to make a passive income is through online surveys where you fill in questions on a variety of topics that are sometimes short and some more extensive. Normally you get points that you get converted into cash or gift cards. You won't become a millionaire overnight or although with dedication you can earn some money.

2. Delivery driver. 

With food delivery being very popular since lockdown the demand for delivery drivers whether that be driving a car or on a bike is needed and apparently Glassdoor claim that food delivery drivers earn on average £15.00 per hour which is not bad at all. 

Although bear in mind that if you are thinking of becoming a delivery driver you will need to have business use insurance to cover the use of food delivery, and 'hire and reward insurance which allows you to carry and deliver goods in return for payment. 

3. Flip items. 

So what flipping items are where you buy something from a charity shop, car boot sale, Facebook market etc for a low price and then sell it on for a higher price. 
More invested long-term sellers like to buy pallets of large quantity items in a customer returned pallet which will have a variety of items that will or may or may not work but you can sell them on. 

4. Sell photos. 

If you are interested in photography then why not sell your photos. There are so many different types of photos needed that the world is your oyster the landscape, urban, nighttime, abstract, and still life to name but a few.
Many different want to buy photos for different projects such as the media, bloggers, private companies and public companies.

5. Transcriptor.

If you are good at listening then this side hustle is for you. It may be that someone needs the voice recordings from the meets being transferred to written format on paper.  Maybe a Youtuber wants their video transcribing to turn into a blog post. There are just two examples of why someone is looking for a transcription. There are specific websites hiring transcribers such as Way With Words Jobs.

6. Virtual assistant.

A virtual assistant is a great role because you can do it from anywhere around the world as long as you have access to a computer. The role involves a variety of tasks and it is flexible so it can fit your lifestyle. 

An example of a virtual assistant role in a social media assistant is helping with social media with the comments, looking for ideas, dealing with messages, making pins for the social content, and even making newsletters for them. 

What do you think of my side hustles to make quick money online? Have you tried any of them? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X 

5 things to stop apologising for.

Hey readers,

I know it is a British thing to just constantly go I'm sorry and as I person with low self-confidence I am guilty too off over apologising especially for things where I don't actually need to say I am sorry. Some of the things that I think but people don't need to say sorry for are:

1. Crying. 

I don't know but I know I do this all the time and say sorry for crying like it is a bad thing. But it isn't it is a natural emotion and it is good to cry. We need to cry or else there will come a time when we will explode, it helps us regulate our emotions. Lives are not pretty 24/7 sometimes tough, and having a good cry helps us to heal, release the pain, and move forward. You should never feel ashamed for crying it is natural and everyone does it whatever they say, it is human instinct.

2. Wearing what we want.

When we think we don’t fit in, we apologize for being underdressed, overdressed, or mismatched. Except for rare circumstances, no one really notices what we are wearing. We can stop apologizing for what we wear.

3. For not being okay. 

This one really has to stop. People have feelings, some days are good and some days are just bad. If it was something a human could control, I bet you they would because we are control freaks.

 How else do you explain borders and countries? Anyway, it’s perfectly normal to feel a wave of emotions and not understand where they’ve come from or how to respond to them. The best way to deal with this is to sit with your emotions and take time to yourself. When you take this time you don’t need to apologise for pulling a disappearing act. Let’s normalise that one already.

4. Saying no!

Society seems to make it seem like saying "no" is rude. So whenever we say "no to something, we may feel guilty and want to say sorry. But saying "no" is a way to set boundaries for yourself. Just as you don't have to apologise for having boundaries, you don't have to apologise for saying "no". 

You're not obliged to be there for everyone. You have the right to reject or decline something that you have no time for, no interest in, or just because, You don't need to explain yourself As long as you not doing it in a hurtful way, there's no need to apologise. 

5. For being opinionated. 

Fight, fight, fight for what you believe in. Don't give up, don't give in. It's necessary to be open to ideas, that's obvious, but women are penalised for expressing themselves strongly. This is funny because men are out there one step away from grabbing each other by the throats and no one seems to care. You say what you got to. They'll adjust. 

What do you think about my list of things to stop over apologising for? do you agree? Have I missed anything that you think people should stop over apologising for? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X 

My Sunday Photo 28/08/2022

Naughty naughty 😂 

My boys had fun sitting in the back of the police van 🚨 

10 things you need to know about newborns

Hey readers,  

I remember having a newborn and feeling absolutely terrified beyond belief. So let me you 10 things that I didn't know before having a child that may be of enlightenment to you. 

 1. First poo. 

The first poo will surprise you. Firstly did you know Your baby's first poo is called meconium? This is sticky and greenish-black. Some babies may do this kind of poo during or after birth, or sometime in the first 48 hours. After a few days, the poo will change to a yellow or mustard colour.

 Meconium stools are quickly followed by transitional stools by the time your baby is three to five days old. These stools are a little looser, more greenish-brown in colour, and are the "transition" to regular milk stools on about day six. 

2. Babies look funny when they are born. 

Be warned that is not always cute when the babies are born. For example, their head may be elongated aka 'conehead' because, During delivery, your baby’s skull bones may have shifted and overlapped so that their head could fit through the birth canal. This is called moulding, and it will be particularly apparent if you had a very long labour.

 During delivery, pressure on your baby’s head from your uterus, pelvis, or vagina may have caused your baby’s head to swell, thus adding to the conehead appearance. Do not fear with time the swelling will go down as your baby's head will round itself out naturally. 

At birth, your baby’s eyes may be closed. This is because the bright lights of the birthing room are hard on their sensitive eyes. In a few minutes, they will open their eyes. 

You may notice sticky secretions coming from their eyes, and one of their eyes may appear to wander. This is normal. The secretions should disappear in a few weeks when your baby’s eyes start to make real tears. Their eyes should gradually stop wandering over the next few months.

At birth, your newborn baby’s skin may be covered with amniotic fluid, blood, and vernix, which is a white, cheesy material that protected your baby’s skin while in the womb. Much of the material coating your baby’s skin at birth may be wiped off before they are bundled up and presented to you. 

Your baby may also have some fine, downy hair called lanugo all over their body, especially if they were born prematurely. The lanugo will rub off and disappear after a week or two if they were full-term; if your baby was premature, the lanugo will take longer to completely disappear.

 If your baby has a bowel movement before they are born, they may be covered in meconium, a greenish-black tarry substance.

Your baby’s skin may be dry and flaky, and somewhat translucent. You may be able to see blood vessels in certain areas such as over their nose, eyelids, or neck. Their hands and feet may be bluish rather than pink, and they may be cool to touch. These are signs of an immature circulatory system, and they are all quite normal. Over time, these problems will fix themselves.

3.  Sleep. 

This is a painful one for any new mum or dad to have to fact and that is that babies do not sleep throughout the night. Of course, this is only temporary Generally, newborns sleep about 8 to 9 hours in the daytime and about 8 hours at night. But they may not sleep more than 1 to 2 hours at a time. Most babies don't start sleeping through the night (6 to 8 hours) without waking until they are about 3 months old, or until they weigh 12 to 13 pounds.

4. Babies can't see very far.

Babies are born with a full visual capacity to see objects and colours. However, newborns cannot see only objects 8-15 inches away very far. Newborns prefer to look at faces over other shapes and objects and at round shapes with light and dark borders (such as your adoring eyes).

5. You don't have to give the baby a bath every day.

Three times a week might be enough until your baby becomes more mobile. Bathing your baby too much can dry out your baby's skin.

If you're quick and thorough with diaper changes and burp cloths, you're already cleaning the parts that need attention the face, neck and diaper area. Between baths, you may also check the folds of your baby's skin, including thighs, groin, armpits and chin. If needed, clean these areas with a wet washcloth.

6. Skin may peel.

Is it normal for newborns' skin to peel? Yes, it's normal for newborns' skin to peel in the first two weeks after they are born. Your newborn is shedding its top layers of skin as they transition from the uterus into the outside world. Their skin is developing its own natural barrier.

7. Leave the umbilical cord stump alone.

Leaving the umbilical cord stump to heal on its own is the best thing to do. Keep an eye on it and make sure it's not getting infected but otherwise, let nature take its course.

8. It goes by quickly. 

It does go quickly even though at 2am evens like hell with the lack of sleep but don't feel guilty if you don't enjoy every second of it, just enjoy the moments. 

9. The first three months are the hardest.

The first three months are the hardest especially when you are a new parent and have no idea what you are doing. But do not worry with time you get more confident. You will get through this and if you feel scared just remember this too shall pass. 

10. Milestones. 

Milestones are important in some senses to get an idea but they're not there to tell you if your good parent or not. There used as indicators. Just remember all kids are different and they react differently to different situations what works for one child may be completely different for another. 

Cheers for reading  X 

 

My Sunday Photo 21/08/2022

We went to the Weston Super Mere for the day and it course went to the beach.

It was muddy with the tide going out so had so much funny emerging himself in the mud 😂