@Taylor-RO Unfortunately she won't even use online chat text or via a headset. We ran into this issue when we tried home schooling via online classes. All she had to do was either talk or push a button to show she acknowledged instructions. We have even tried social side of gaming but she won't partake in that either. She will play games but will not talk to any one that she doesn't know. She wont even talk to some family members if she hasnt seen them in a while. We are trying very hard to be supportive and understanding.
Our daughters get on quite well together. If the older one wants to go to the shop she will talk the younger one into going with her. It usually ends up with our youngest interacting with the the person at the check out or they both will use self service if they feel it's easier. If the younger one doesn't want to go then no one goes.
We have given Daughter 2 ideas on small talk and we try to encourage her as much as we can. She and I are in the middle of doing a cosplay for supanova next weekend. She wants to go as Dabi from the Anime My hero academia. D2 likes villains she likes the psychology behind them, as in she is interested in what makes them the way they are. she did think about studying psychology but she doesn't want to practice it. She does have a wide and varying range of interest and doesn't like to feel as if she is stuck in a box
Right now aside from dealing with the social anxiety and selective mutism, Hubby and I are dealing with his brother who suffers from borderline autism or these days Asperger's. He is diabetic and last year he had to have part of his left foot amputated. During recovery he put most of his weight on the other foot which now has an ulcer that as developed gang green and we are waiting to find out when that part of the affected right foot will be removed. On top of that the moon boot he was wearing to help distribute his weight was rubbing against his leg which took some of the skin off.
Last Monday my cousin suddenly died from a heart attack while he was in hospital. At the same time his father has been diagnosed with early onset dementia. Which we know is no walk in the park.I'm not sure how my aunt who is slowly going blind is going deal with things. Their daughter is taking the lost of her brother very hard ,the news about her father won't be helping either.
My husband's uncle has this also (he is level2). He likes to do odd things such as sleep with a ladder in his bedroom just incase the neighbors are climbing on the roof to smash his tiles(it isnt happening) or he has become very paranoid believing that there are people out there trying to poison his vegie patch or his grass. When we find the time we take him on day trips to give his aunt a break.
My other aunt has emphysema, it is hard for her to breathe. She gets tried quickly. Unfortunately hubby and I have gone through this before as we watched his mum die from it. However she is on her way to visit my uncle who just lost his son. It must be horrible for her with her own mortality looming.
As for looking after my self, I read or play the odd game of world of Warcraft. Some times we have a family gaming night were we take turns in trying to figure out puzzles in a video game or we watch movies at home together. We play board games.
If we find time between work, uncles ,brothers and such we go camping just hubby and I. we leave the girls at home with money to cover everything they might need while we are away. However we have had moments where we are halfway to Onslow but get a phone call asking us to bring milk or bread home. We can laugh about it now but it gets a little frustrating. Some times we just go hiking in the local bush land as hubby is also diabetic and we have found it a great way to help control his sugars. we are also doing the 5:2 diet on which I have lost about 30 kgs and hubby has lost 20, his blood glucose as stabilized and he no longer has to test himself every day.
We are trying our best. Which is all any one can do I guess.
The therapist and the psychologist told us to make home uncomfortable for our daughter who suffers from anxiety and selective mutism as in make it so she wants to leave but we are uncomfortable with that. Home should be a safe place where you can just be. ( more then likely comes from my very horrible abusive childhood) we make her do most of the chores before she is allowed to do other things.( that is not to say we allow the others to get away with not helping . if they live at home they must help in some way be it around the house or the yard or with bills. We as parents can not be expected even tho we are supportive to do every thing ) She would much rather do that then go out. 20 in July and she has no friends her own age. we have suggested support groups but she just dismisses the idea
You have a lot going on with your family, your plate is certainly full! I am sorry to read about all these challenges that your family has faced. It must be so difficult to manage all of these health issues alongside your struggles with your daughters. So that being said, it is amazing to hear that you have some ways of winding down and enjoying yourself. It is so important to look after yourself especially when times are challenging, tiring and stressful. So well done!
