I picked this up at Goodwill and have been working on it for a month at least. It was so challenging for me! I would sit down with it and tell myself “just see if you can do ten pieces.” I’m so proud of myself for not giving up that I think I’ll hang it on the wall. (And no missing pieces, although a few had delaminated and I had to glue them back together)
I’m sitting with my mom in the afternoons and I have no ideas on things to do with her. Complicating factors: limited mobility (so no walks, and taking her anywhere can quickly turn overwhelming) and she’s recovering from a broken collarbone so even light housework tasks are challenging. She showtimes really well; can hold a simple surface-level conversation and can get around the house and yard OK.
I thought I had discovered a way to keep her awake and engaged for at least an hour or two with some “cute kids and animals” videos and nature docs, but she’s lost interest in those. (And she remembers them! Says “I’ve seen this” but she’s currently watching our local news cable channel that rebroadcasts earlier newscasts. So she watched the noon news three times over and then fell asleep.) While I certainly don’t mind the quiet while she naps, it sometimes causes nighttime disruption, which is bad for my dad.
She can’t handle puzzles - I have tried to have her just help me turn the pieces right side up or sort into colors - but that was too much for her and threw her off. She’s still too with it to settle with simple busy-work tasks like towel-folding or things like that. I’m trying to thread that needle of “engaging but not upsetting” so we can get through the afternoon without descending into an “I want to go home” meltdown. Anyone have any ideas?