[Insider info: Most people do not have any understanding of my disease, Friedreich's Ataxia, nor do I expect them to! They see a normal-looking girl in a wheelchair and classify me as such -- a girl in a wheelchair. Therefore, I just do things from a sitting position; if they can do it sitting down, then so could I, right? Well, this is where assumptions are most likely going to be wrong. You see, I have to juggle minimal trunk balance, spasticity, bad dexterity, holding myself upright (thus, one hand to hold the wheelchair and one hand to use when I lean or bend), keeping my feet in place, focusing my eyes, extreme fatigue, and not-dropping-everything-I-finally-get-my-hands-on. Yeah, don't recruit Butter-Fingers here to be on your flag football team. Anyway, so things are a little trickier for me than say the paraplegic in a car accident (not to diminish their unique struggles that I do not experience). Anyway, this blurb was not meant to complain, just to provide some insight.]
I'll just make a list:
- laundry (we have a washer/dryer-in-one that is front-loading)
- make most of the household/hygiene products we use
- balance the budget and pay bills
- purchase any and all household goods (online shopping)
- make menu plans
- grocery shopping (I order items online from Harris Teeter and then Ricky just has to drive up for the workers to load)
- keep our calendar/schedule (appointments and such)
- all miscellaneous paperwork and filing and computer/online stuff
- cleaning and pick-up that is not too overwhelming or too tough
- overall, I have a zillion lists everywhere
- oh yeah, and take care of myself and the toddler
