Monday, October 29, 2007

A room of my own



Once upon a time we had a spare bedroom. Well actually we still do, but over the last few years, while things have been so difficult at home, it has gradually turned into a tip. After all, nobody ever comes to stay with us nowadays. They don't when you live with autism.

Now, if I am honest, much of the stuff littering the spare bedroom belongs to me...ie boxes of craft materials, books and endless paperwork to be sorted. Then there are the plastic sacks of hand-me-down clothes both from son 1 and a friend's child, which need to be sorted to identify items for son 2 and the remainder sent off to the charity shop. There are a couple of pieces of unused and/or broken furniture which need to be found a more suitable home or sent to the tip. But in my recent state of mind all this has seemed a task too far. I have preferred to bury my head in the sand (or a book!)

Just two years ago this room also contained a small desk which I was able to use when working. Son 1 has now stolen that desk for his own bedroom and I am relegated to working and writing on the dining table or coffee table. I was recently talking to a counsellor and she suggested that I needed a haven I could escape to. Son 1 is at home most of the time and I no longer have that precious bit of space when both boys were at school. So why not tidy up the spare bedroom again?

It will be quite a big task and I can't even start until son 2 is back at school next week, but I am going to do it. I have been looking in the Argos catalogue for a compact desk and I want to get an ergonomic chair to help my bad back. I will also ensure that there is plenty of room on the floor for my yoga mat so that I can do stretches whenever I need to. I will be able to put on my own music without being interrupted by son 1 wanting to watch TV.

It sounds good. I want my writing room up and running by the New Year.

Three notable things:

1. I have now caught the cold virus from the boys...

2. Thank goodness for the CBeebies website. It keeps son 2 occupied for hours.

3. The National Autistic Society launches its new awareness campaign today. Why not take a look at Think Differently about Autism. It might surprise you.

Image by Free-StockPhotos.com

7 comments:

Yvonne said...

That sounds like a great idea. Enjoy your planning!

Anne Brooke said...

Fab idea on the writing room - go for it, Cathy!

Hugs

A
xxx

Casdok said...

Yes excellent!
Hope you feel better soon.
x

Lane Mathias said...

Now a writing room of your own is something to get really excited about!

Shame about the cold:-( x

Angie said...

Hope you feel better soon. That writing room sounds perfect! Enjoy planning your space and picking out desks...I always find that bit fun. :)

Jenny Beattie said...

Cathy, fab decision to clear out the spare room (dumping ground is what we call those rooms). It might be hard work, but well worth the effort to get a place of your own.
JJx

Unknown said...

Sounds like it's just what you need. Good luck with the clearing :-)