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random meetings - my gumtree lady

 

Sold-sign-green

Ever since i had left home, i have loved buying and selling things. Whether that be furniture, appliances, clothes - i would get bored very quickly with stuff and in order to finance my new craze would "flip" the item - get some quick cash and gleefully go off and buy my new "forever" item, till the next time came and it would end up on site for sale.

Recently we have been doing some extensive renovations in our house where Steve gutted and fitted in a kitchen over a weekend. Seriously, he is like an engeriser bunny! I have no idea where he gets the drive and stamina to do this! In light of "flipping" our kitchen ( yes, an ebay purchase! )... i was now in posession of an extra oven and dishwasher.

So with my trusty phone and gumtree app - photos were taken, decription and price set - let's sell ths baby!

I received a txt from Sarah - my potential buyer for my dishwasher - desperate to free up some of her time as she was a busy mum of 2 kids and the idea of doing dishes every night was driving her crazy. We chatted for a bit and with all things good, pick up was arranged. 

I love it how you never really know what experience is around the corner and the people you are going to meet along the way. 

Sarah arrived at our place in the evening, and let me paint the picture for you it was a bloody freezing night! pitch black as the moon wasn't even out. Sarah checked out the dishwasher all seemed great - just wanted to double check the fittings on the washer to make sure it would work in her place. Money exchange complete and Steve began  to lift the washer into her massive 4WD car. 

We got chatting - quick pleasantries about kids, the area we live in bla bla bla...i mentioned that our eldest boy has autism where she quickly replied "mine too!" 

We rambled away for the next 30 minutes, Steve, Sarah and I in the shivering cold on the front porch  swapping "war stories". "did your son do this?", "my son did this", "do people look at you funny", "how do you cope with..." were the hot topic points of 3 parents sharing their experiences with eachother of the trials and joys of raising a child with autism. 

Sarah's son is the same age as Ethan - with very similar traits and triggers except for one major difference, her boy loves affection and is very clingy - where Ethan finds affection painful and does not require it. 

It's funny though that when you say " my son has autism", everyone you speak to knows of someone or someone's friend, cousin, second uncle's mate from their work..etc that has Autism and through no fault, possibly wanting to offer somthing in the conversation of some assistance trying to pass on suggestions/ideas of what worked for the second uncles, cousin's friend. We understand that this comes from a place of love though.

When Sarah and i were talking about our boys - there were no suggestions - just acknowledging nods one mum to another,while the other was listening of how crap it can be - laughing because otherwise you would cry when we both realised we had experienced 8 hours screaming melt downs for months on end and quiet looks when we both started talking about the unknown future for our boys.

I may never see Sarah again - but when she closed the doors of her 4WD - new dishwasher in tow - i just said " you're doing a great job, all the best with everything and it was so nice to meet you" where she replied " thanks, you too - it's so nice to be able to vent out sometimes especially to people who get it."

My random meeting with Sarah the GumTree lady.

 

oxoxox

 

 

 

 

 

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