TBI Strategies You Can Use
By Iona Hoeppner

Since my last TBI (traumatic Brain Injury) my life has become impossible without the use of strategies. Things most people do automatically and take fro granted demand concentrated thought from me. Nothing is done on autopilot anymore.

Even using my strategies, panties end up in the freezer and I wander to the sink to try and open a can of tuna with the water faucet. I unthinkingly through away things I need and may cook three meals for the same evening... or no meal at all.

Many of my strategies might be useful to others with uninjured, perfectly functioning and genius-level brains, so I'll share a few since I lost the article I had for this slot.

Dishes in the dishwasher... clean or dirty? I rinse mine off and often can't tell by looking, besides I don't like to handle them if they're dirty... Trick. Keep a special dish cloth in the dishwasher. I use an old very torn up one. Only remove it when you are ready to run the cycle. Then lay it on the counter above the dishwasher and only put it back in after the clean dishes are put away.

Finished with the laundry? There is a special pole lamp in my living room that I turn on when I begin laundry and I have a laundry list with the steps hanging above my washer and dryer. You may not need the steps, but they are logical and save problems. One great improvement is to start the water then slowly pour in the soap powder and do not add clothes until all the soap is dissolved. Be sure to leave the Laundry Light on until everything is washed, dried, folded and put away. This is especially helpful if you need to leave mid-project.

Don't have a cleaning day? I don't have enough cognitive energy to do all my housework in one day or even a weekend. My brain turns to jelly after staying "on task" for very long. So I have weekly, monthly and quarterly cleaning and chore lists hanging on my frig. I cross each item off as I do it, so I can keep track and not do the same thing six times while forgetting to do another at all. You can date some infrequent items so as to be sure they get done.

Don't want to miss a special day for a loved one? I set up a special family group at Yahoo and filled the calendar with family birthdays, anniversaries, etc. I have it set to remind all the group a week in advance as well as the day before special days. You can also use the group to visit with family (if you choose, everyone in the group can send and receive mail). This really helps me.

Master Lists for almost everything. I have a large Master Shopping list and as I run out of things, I mark them on the list. Since the list has many items, it helps remind me of needs I miss. I also use a Master List for travel, yard work, cleaning, and even have a master List for getting up and dressed in the morning.

Maps. Hanging in my closet are maps to my drawers. There is a diagram of what is in the drawers. It is immensely helpful. I need to make such maps for the kitchen, other closets and garage.

Putting off any unpleasant chore? Or is it just a matter of waiting until you have time to do it right? With me, it's often that I can't get a handle on how to go about it. I can't seem to find a first step, or I need info I don't know how to access. Why not set up a folder called "action Files" and list all the things you need to do, breaking them down into smaller steps, then do at least one step a day in any order until it all comes together. In my case, I have to write a note about what I did (sometimes I pass on this step and end up in big trouble).

Forget to pay a bill? I forgot to pay all the bills in January! Totally spaced it! Let me tell you that led to some unpleasant moments! we have a "Bills to Pay" folder and every unpaid bill goes there right away. I am supposed to check that folder at least once a week and it is a good system.

I hope you found some of these strategies helpful. I'll share more in another issue.

Aprons
Submitted by Daisy Hoeppner

I don't think our kids know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much  furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron" that served so many purposes.

REMEMBER
Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

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Author: Iona Hoeppner
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Revised: May 07, 2006.