First Official Day On The Job

I came home for lunch on Thursday and before I went back to work, I helped Beth with her hair. (A few years ago her doctor diagnosed her with Alopecia so now I put her hair in a small ponytail to help hide her bald spot.)

I head back to work and at about 2:00, Beth came walking in. The DART bus had dropped her off and she was coming to get her key.

I gave her a check list to help her remember the things she's supposed to do before she actually begins emptying the trash.

She took her key and the list and headed out of the office. I kept watching her until she went around the corner toward the stairs. I kept thinking about her and after about an hour I couldn't stand it anymore! I was wondering how she was doing but I didn't want her to see me!

I saw one of the classroom doors was open and the light was on so I stopped just short of the door.

I turned the sound off on my phone and then turned on the camera. I slowly slid my phone across the wall so just the lens is in the doorway and I suddenly hear,

"Whew!! You be okay?"

"I be okay."

My guess is she had bent over, trying to tie the bag and had just stood up and got a little dizzy!

I pulled the phone back real quick until I heard her moving again. Then I carefully took a few more pictures and went back to my desk.

It took her about an hour and a half to finish all 8 classrooms, take the cart outside and throw all the bags into the large dumpster, bring the cart back downstairs, sign out, and then come up to my desk. An hour and a half! I was very impressed!

You know, she is SO glad to be working! For many years whenever she talked to someone - anyone! - she would say, "I have a boyfriend." Nick was her favorite thing to talk about.

Now? Now the first thing she says is, "I have a job now!" She tells anyone who will listen, about her job. Where she works, what she does...

Her and I were talking about flipping our calendars. It's a big thing around here! Beth knows that at the first of the month, she gets paid from the state. So around the middle of every month, she starts counting down the days until we flip our calendars.

I told her that this time when we flip our calendars she'll get paid from the state and she'll get her paycheck. 

She squealed so loud!! "Eeeeeee!!"

So that's how her first official day went. She always checks her phone when she's done to see how many steps she took. I'm looking forward to see how this affects her in the months to come.

Thank you for stopping by! 

I hope you have a week worth squealing about!

So Busy

I've been so busy the last couple of weeks, even more than usual. We're remodeling a couple of our bathrooms at work which puts more work on my department because our maintenance guy isn't available to unclog a toilet or hang a TV... the custodial department is definitely working overtime! The bathrooms will be nice when they're done though!

On Wednesday:
Three loads of laundry
Worked in the yard
Visited with a dear friend (He's 87 and a widower)
Went to Costco
Went to work for a couple of hours
Then Beth and I went to the grocery store
Whew!

I was up early on Thursday to help serve at our National Day of Prayer event. There were about 200 people from different churches and denominations from all over our area. The breakfast started at 7am so most of us arrived at 6am to help get things ready. It really is a blessing to be a part of the Body of Christ.

Beth got a new jacket the other day. She's needed one for a while and we found one in a magazine that had elastic around the wrist. It's so hard to find inexpensive clothes that fit her because her waist is large but her shoulders are not and her arms are short... Well, the jacket came.

Looking at the label

Realizing it's addressed to her

The elastic isn't as gathered as we'd like and the sleeve hangs down over her hands, but I might be able to fix that. But it completely covers her tummy and she can't wait to wear it!

Thank you for all your encouragement and kind comments on Beth's new job. I took her to work yesterday afternoon (after working in the morning and coming home to meet the pest control guy!) and we spent about 2 hours doing the actual job. She signed her time card, we put her key on the lanyard she bought just for work, we put on some gloves, got the big rolling trash cart and got to work! She doesn't have her uniform yet but here are a couple of pictures of her in action.

She finished emptying all the trash (there are a total of 19 trash cans in the 8 classrooms and 4 bathrooms) in just over an hour (a lot faster than I expected!) so I'm already planning to give her more work. 

On Monday I fly out to San Diego to help take care of my dad. Actually on Tuesday we're moving him to a facility where he'll be able to get 24/7 care. My sister is absolutely worn out and it's tearing her up to have to do this. She called me a couple of weeks ago, sobbing, asking if I'd be mad if she put him in a home. He's becoming more angry and violent, like slamming his fist on the table and yelling at her when she's just trying to help him to the bathroom or make him dinner, and she's done. Physically, mentally, she can't go on. So I am going down on Monday and will be home on Friday.

I know it's not going to be a 'vacation' but it will be good to see my dad and sister again and help them through this transition.

Have you been through a transition lately? 

Was it good or difficult?

Job Update

I sent Christine (Beth's job coach) a text a couple weeks ago asking for an update in the job search. She sent me a long reply so I started reading it out loud to Beth and Chuck. We were all sitting at the kitchen table:

"The Chocolate Co. isn't going to work due to payroll issues..."
"Starbucks is doing away with their lobby attendant position..."
"McDonalds wasn't a good experience. Manager was very rude..."
"Schools are getting out so students are applying..."

And on and on. 

I wasn't even thinking about how Beth was responding to all this and all of the sudden, she leaned toward me and threw her arms around me. She was crying.

Oh, I felt horrible! I stood up (with her still draped on me) and just held her while she cried. 

It just broke my heart.

The next day I went to my boss and asked if I could hire Beth. I do the hiring for my department but wasn't sure if there would be an issue with me hiring a family member to work directly with me.

No problem at all. Hire away!

(I can't remember if I've told you that I already checked with the state and with Beth's case worker and they both said I can find her a job without having to go through them.) Once my boss said yes, there was no stopping us.

I asked Beth if she wanted to work with me or if she wanted to wait for Christine to find her a job. "Work with you."

So I took Beth to work with me to show her what exactly she'd be doing. Our weekday preschool was on a field trip this week so she wasn't able to do the actual job but I walked her through the process. I gave her my keys and she was unlocking doors, checking each classroom thoroughly... I think she's gonna do great. I even introduced her to a few of the other custodians and they were excited to have her on board.

This is going to boost her self-esteem, help her lose weight and give her a sense of purpose. She kept checking her 'fitbit' and showing me how many steps she had taken.

Next week she'll come in and do the actual job so I'll keep you updated!

A Person Can Only Take So Much

My job has been challenging to say the least. Technically I'm supposed to be at 25 hours a week but it's been closer to 35.

These are my stats lately...

 

And today I had to go into work and confront an employee who has been calling in sick at the last minute, taking time off, complaining, sometimes just not showing up... thankfully they told me they did want to keep their job. I'm hoping their behavior changes.

A couple weeks ago I wrote an email to Beth's job coach. I've been so frustrated with her lack of drive to find Beth a job.

 

Well, today I sent it to her.

And to her boss.

And the state agency who pays them both.

I told them that Beth has now missed out on TWO holiday seasons where everyone and their brother is hiring! Yet Beth is still without a job. I told them I didn't want to change services but maybe we're at that place?

And now I'm going to fix some tea, do some laundry and try to enjoy the rest of my day off. Some good news is, I got my Christmas cards done! 😊

How is your holiday season going so far?

Job Possibility

Beth's job coach called the other day with a possible job for Beth! Woohoo!

She was at McDonalds right around the corner from our house and the manager told C that they are looking for a Dining Room Attendant. Someone who would sweep floors, wipe tables, assist guests, "Excuse me, could I get more napkins?" 

It would be right up Beth's alley and it's just minutes from our house! That's the best part! No more 2 1/2 hour bus rides to and from work. And it would be 10 hours a week to start. Even more than she was working at Little Caesars.

Please pray with us that Beth finds favor with the District Manager and that she gets this job!

Ooops. I Forgot To Explain What It's Like To Be Old

A few months back I asked if you remembered the phrase Pounding The Pavement but I realized I never explained what it meant! Raise your hand if you've heard it before... okay, a few of you, that's good.

It used to be that when you needed a job you looked through the classifieds in the newspaper, found stores or companies that were hiring, then dressed in your nicest clothes and walked from place to place. That's where 'pounding the pavement' came from. All that walking.

If they were hiring, they would hand you an application and you'd sit there and fill it out. With a pen. Then you'd go home and sit by the phone. Literally, because it was attached to the wall. And you'd wait.

If you didn't get a call, often times you would go back to the store and ask them if they had filled the position. It was important back then to be face to face, to let them see you. That proved to an employer that you really were interested in the job. If you didn't bother to come in, they didn't bother to hire you.

Nowadays it's all done on-line. You go on-line to see if they're hiring. The applications are on-line. You submit them on-line. The employer will contact you on-line...

Times, they are a changin'! 

As far as my girls, both Sharaya and Diana are working 2 jobs and Beth is still 'pounding the pavement'. Her job coach is looking into jobs at hospitals, churches, the school district... no openings yet, but she continues to look.

Job Interview

Beth had a job interview last week with MOD Pizza.

(Thanks Google) 

 

Her job coach had to leave because the manager doing the interview was running late so another coach filled in but she said she thought it went really well.

Beth won't be folding boxes this time. Instead she'd come in in the morning, before the store opened and she'd pull the chairs off the tables from when they mopped the night before. She'd wipe tables, fill napkin holders, and just get the dining area ready for customers. 

 Then when the store opened, she'd head home. It sounds perfect for her but the store is under construction and we won't know for a few more weeks.

Beth has our church's app on her phone and she wrote this prayer request on Sunday:

'Jesus please answer my prayer right now is my new job I really want to get this job because I really need it every day and I am very serious about this prayer right now... I need to speak out loud and we are still waiting for them too call us and you always been there for me Jesus please answer my prayer right now Jesus and I am not kidding about it.'

What have you been praying about this week?

Her Co-Workers Don't Know What To Think

Beth's job coach, C called me the other day to tell me that Beth absolutely l-o-v-e-s her new job!

At the old location she would fold approximately 250 boxes per 3 hour shift. She's been at this new location now a little over a month and already she's folding 350 boxes in the same 3 hour shift!

C told me that she saw Beth's co-workers eyes get as big as saucers as they watched her fold boxes. When the store manager agreed to hire Beth, she was the first person with special needs to work there and they had no idea what to expect. They were shocked at how many she was folding! She was going so fast, that they were running out of space to put them all! Finally C asked if she should start folding a different size and they said, "Yes please!" They just stood there, watching her work!

She is blowing them away with her ability to do the job and do it well.

Beth is changing the culture where she works and showing that people with special needs are just like everybody else. Capable, eager to work and deserving.

 

She Might Cry Tonight But The Change Will Be Good

Beth works at Little Caesars two evenings a week. She folds boxes, sometimes 300-400 in a three hour span. She loves her job and the people she works with. The problem though, is that her job is about 45 minutes from our house. And that's on a good day.

There is usually SO much traffic, it's known as a bottleneck here in Seattle. When people hear you have to take that route to get somewhere, you'll hear moans and groans. It's a long, grueling trip and no one likes it.

Well, Beth has been taking that trip (riding the DART bus each way) for more than 2 years. Sometimes she's on the bus for 2 and a half hours each way which means she's gone from the house for sometimes 8 hours... for a 3 hour shift.

And the poor DART drivers! One night they dropped her off at home at 10:20! I asked the driver if he was headed home and he still had one more person to drop off! It makes for a long day for everyone.

Beth's job coach has been searching for a store closer to our home that would hire her to do the same job. Some stores are franchises and they don't have a position of 'box folder'; others don't have the hours to spare.

But today she found a store willing and able to take Beth! The same woman owns both stores, the one Beth is at now and the one she'll be going to and she was willing to hire her at this new place! She heard how beneficial Beth was and what great job she did, so she was willing to let her switch!

And... the new store is only about 15 minutes from our house. I'm so relieved.

I told Beth about it this morning over breakfast and she was sad at first. I could see her starting to tear up, but the more we talked about it, the more excited she got! She met this new manager a few weeks ago and when I told her K would be her new boss, she smiled and her eyes lit up.

She ended up making a card for everyone at the store tonight, then I printed off a picture of her in her uniform and we put it on the front. She wrote a beautiful sentiment inside and I expect she might cry as she leaves work for the last time.

But I know she's gonna love this new place. We plan to take her by the store tomorrow so she can see where it is and it won't be a big shock to her come next weekend. It's such a relief knowing she won't be so far away and she won't have to spend 6 hours on the bus!

 

Just Stuff

We've all been sick around here. First Chuck got the flu (influenza), then me and Diana. Thank goodness Beth lives downstairs and isn't around all the germs up here!

When Chuck first got sick I spent days de-germing (is that a word?) with changing beds, doing laundry, spraying everything with Lysol... but it got us anyway.

Yesterday Allie came over and spent the night so Sharaya could have an evening out with friends and this morning, she woke up with a sore throat. :( Ugh. She's spent the day on the couch moaning and drinking water. I can't get her to eat anything. I've even tried fixing her some toast but she just doesn't want it.

Yesterday was Chuck's birthday but we plan to celebrate it tomorrow. With everyone's schedule, it's been hard to get everyone together! Plus, he's been working a lot for Starline lately and I know he's glad to finally have work. I think he worked every day this week. He still hasn't heard about any of the full time jobs he's applied for, well, except for Metro. He's hoping to be hired by them in the next few weeks.

We've had so much rain here this week, and the temps have been SO warm! We've kind of decided we won't be having any snow this year. It was so warm last week we were all in short sleeves. Very unusual for Seattle this time of year.

Well, not too much else happening today. I'll include a couple pictures from last weekend when Allie was feeling better.

Playing Bingo

This is Our Life Now

As Beth approaches 30, I'm reminded of all the things our future might hold.

I go to Facebook and read blogs about the milestones of children who have Down Syndrome, those who are struggling to find their place in school, the issues parents have with their child's IEP, who to invite to the birthday party, tying shoes, riding bikes, making friends... all those things that used to be SO important to us.

But that was many years ago.

It almost seems like a different life. A different family.

Now my thoughts are on aging and everything that comes with it. What issues will we face? What will Beth's 'senior years' look like?

I'm part of a group on fb called IDSC - Parents/Caregivers of Teens/Adults. IDSC stands for International Down Syndrome Coalition. It deals with all the things that come with having - or caring for - an older child with Ds.

I find this is where I spend a lot of my time. This is where were are now. We're past puberty, past all the school drama and fighting for Beth's rights, past all the growing up years.

This is our life now. From here on out, we deal with employment, health, social services.

And aging.

As nervous as all of you are about the growing up years, I'm just as nervous about the aging process for Beth. And I'm a little shocked at how fast it arrived.