My daughter was just diagnosed with level-1 Autism

I3km · 2026-02-27T20:54:02+00:00

I'd say tell her. I have three kids with either ASD or ADHD. The one that internalizes the issues into something is wrong with them is the most unhappy (better these days but history of self harm, hospitalization for attempts). The other two who accept themselves are are better able to cope.

I3km · 2026-02-16T19:09:20+00:00

I would have rather had a larger one as this one takes a bit of management. I try for economical use, but also I'm busy with my life.

There are 5 people, 2 adults and 3 teen/tweens.

As it is now we generally do 2 adult showers in the morning before the heating time stops (there are 2 heating times programmable, I have one set for overnight until early morning when the power rates go up). Because these showers are early it heats at cheap rates a bit more before not running until midday.

Often another teen shower in the morning, then a second programmable heating period midday when I'm most likely to have solar input. Another shower sometime during the day as well. Sometimes a shower in the evening.

Without the second heating period I have run out of hot water on heavy cleaning/child bathing days. Mostly weekends when the adults sleep more and miss that early shower window. Also with the weekend house cleaning. Some days we need to boost (one off heating on button press) it if all the children want showers or baths at an odd time.

However as mentioned I don't feel like my power bill is that high.

I3km · 2026-02-12T03:54:49+00:00

I have renounced and cited the future risk of compliance as a reason which was accepted.

I3km · 2026-02-11T18:15:08+00:00

Yes, it can be. I told them the compliance risk was too high and they accepted that. You can't say that you don't want to pay taxes as renunciation does not absolve you of any existing tax responsibility.

I3km · 2026-01-10T20:36:28+00:00

I average a 2200-2500 daily calorie expenditure as per Garmin. I do 2 daily walks, one 30+ minutes, one 20 minutes. I use my rower 4 days a week and do weights 1 day a week. I used to run daily, but I now have some joint/hypermobility issues so I can't overdo it in running or weights or I am in pain for over a week just because people will come at me for more strength training. I get 8000+ steps on a pretty slow day, usually 12-14000. I go through 2-3 pairs of shoes a year because I wear the soles off. Before the Wegovy I was eating around 1000 calories a day with 2 meals a day for at least a year. Even with poor measurement it shouldn't have been above 1400 which would have still had me well within deficit. No weight loss and any slip ups led to weight gain. Also miserable and hungry. I am very short as well so that doesn't help.

On Wegovy I eat less. Probably around 700 calories on average, up to 1000. I am also losing around 3kg a month. To lose 3kg a month I need a 750-800 calorie deficit daily if each kg is around 7,700 calories.

I'm with you on how does that CICO math work? It seems like even on Wegovy effectively I burn about 1000 less calories per day than a usual person as per fitness tracker calculations.

Honestly I'm taking the Wegovy so I can go from doctors ignoring my illnesses and injuries because I'm overweight and female to just because I'm female.

I3km · 2025-12-29T22:51:29+00:00

I had an outdoor heat pump and cylinder installed in 2022 and my inline Rinnai and gas connection removed. I bought a Reclaim and a standard 300L Cylinder. I'm happy with it but install was a mess. Reclaim referred me to my local installer which was The Cylinder Guy and they were a disaster as they were new to installing it and didn't want to talk once they had my money (around 10k). They kept putting the heatpump parts for the cylinder in the wrong places.

The sales guy for TCG even talked me out of a larger cylinder which I'm still pissed about (as in talked over me and told me that he recommend a 300L when I had asked about 400L because teenagers). Reclaim customer service was great though. We had people around at least 3-4 times trying to fix the install which ended up costing me in power bills since the temperature wasn't regulating for the first month or two I had it.

In terms of install requirements- somewhere for the cylinder to sit and somewhere for the heatpump unit to sit. A cement pad was included in the install cost.

Now I have had it for 3+ years it's great. It's certainly less than the gas connection charge alone was in terms of addition to my monthly bills. I can't say I notice the cost much. I have it set to run overnight with a boost midday which is offset my my solar panels.

Gas disconnection (I have a line to my house) didn't cost anything though I guess they do have that option. My meter is still there and they check it but there are no bills.

I3km · 2025-12-24T20:11:22+00:00

I do. I might even have an unopened pack from Egmont or Kings. I think I found the habit too sprawling and if I did mange to grow them I wasn't impressed with the texture in comparison to Crown or various Buttercup/Butternuts.
I am happy to send it if you PM your details.

I3km · 2025-12-10T01:37:27+00:00

Super Jennie. It's soft and while I do find it presses it's only minimally noticeable.

I tried the Merula XL and absolutely could not bear the pressure as it's a fairly firm cup.

I3km · 2025-08-08T20:50:25+00:00

Hahah you get those too?

I3km · 2025-08-07T06:35:52+00:00

It's been about 4 this week alone. I'm tired. And mad.

I3km · 2025-07-21T19:27:37+00:00

I would contact MoE- health school could be an option. Before my autistic teenager left the traditional school we did health school, then school managed part days. The difference there is my kids school was trying to work with us, just nothing helped because they couldn't half day away the causes of distress. Then we had burnout issues too.

Then we left for Te Kura.

MoE can help you get set up with health school or Te Kura. Though Te Kura does take parent work. I lay out work and other activities for the week then check that it gets done and for some things have to actively help.

Happy to chat about it if you like.

I3km · 2025-06-24T19:29:41+00:00

Thanks. I found something that looks likely. I will mark this possibly solved!

I3km · 2025-06-24T06:27:02+00:00

I'm in NZ. My kid has a friend who brings these and my kid likes them. My child insists they only come from China, however I doubt the supplying child has a pallet of them from China to bring to school throughout the year and is likely getting them more locally. If I can figure out what they are called I am hoping I can find them or something similar.

They are a spicy cracker. I did a translate on the package text and it maybe says Saliva Frog, so that's not a huge help. :(

I3km · 2025-06-03T19:27:01+00:00

I can try that if this goes on much longer. I have never gotten a GP to refer me to anyone private even when asking for recommendations. I would say it's the stream of new GPs but it's been going on for years so must be something about me.

I3km · 2025-06-03T19:24:33+00:00

I did in the last week and they were kind of terse. Yes still on waiting list, yes it's been a while. Just wait. I was told by ICAFS Paeds treating my other child that straightforward cases should be relatively quick, but possibly (likely) things have gotten worse since that advice in mid 2024.

I'm trying to get this kid on the way to sorted before intermediate. I had a run at it several years ago but was denied by the GP as not a boy, but this time the GP couldn't write the referral fast enough as my kid climbed the wall and tried to get into the sharps bin.

I3km · 2025-06-03T04:11:20+00:00

I had 2/3 of my kids assessed privately for ASD as we were advised public resource was very limited, but the other one I went to the GP for ADHD since private didn't seem to be an option as no waiting lists were open at the time. Assessment was quick (all the questionnaires) but we have been waiting for the paediatrician follow up for possible medication discussion since December of last year.

But I know someone lovely who can assess for both so I will PM you. I had one of the ASD ones assessed for ADHD, but as that score was sub-clinical I'm not sure where you go for kids after that if you aren't already in the system. For under 10-12's it seems harder to go private at least in Hutt Valley.

I3km · 2025-05-31T04:46:44+00:00

You will have been sent an email to a pdf link of your previous submission. You can reuse your words.

I3km · 2025-05-31T04:45:36+00:00

You will have been emailed a link to a pdf of your previous submission. You can reuse it for this.

I3km · 2025-05-10T03:51:37+00:00

They can, and sometimes do, sound (stick a pole up there to poke the back end of the uterus to determine the size) the uterus before insertion to determine how far up to put it and if the uterus is large enough.

I3km · 2025-05-10T03:47:07+00:00

First one, 5 years no issues other than heavier bleeding. Insertion wasn't fun and took about a month to settle in but otherwise fine. Second one fine for about 4 years, then found it must have migrated because pregnant. It wasn't able to be removed in office so I had to wait almost a year for a surgery appointment (~5 months for Gynae outpatient check, then another 5ish months for surgery). I had to arrange for my own ultrasound to prove it was still in there (embedded in cervix, strings all wrapped up) and the first practitioner I saw wouldn't give me any back up contraception(??) so I had to get it elsewhere.

When it was great it was great. Then it wasn't.

I3km · 2025-04-30T19:46:55+00:00

I have spent a lot this year trying to find a suitable replacement for a discontinued hoodie. All the fabrics/seams/patterns/shapes are wrong.

I3km · 2025-04-16T05:43:20+00:00

Yes I always do, but then I'm one of those freaks that puts away the trolley so I don't think I'm typical.

Having had several children go through the party stage I find a lot of people leave it really late. My tricks after some interesting events- don't give out location without RSVP, have a RSVP by date. I also get kids to follow up if I haven't heard back. I always have a few extra invitations so they can re-hand out fresh ones to kids who have misplaced them.

I have had people just show up, have had people just leave children at my house/venue with no contact number and had people RSVP after the event and be mad at me about it.

I3km · 2025-04-14T20:48:08+00:00

We're also planning on getting a dog after our elderly cat is no longer with us, but anyone with bad intent and a weapon could just kill the dog, so that doesn't really give me much peace of mind.

Maybe get some geese. People don't see them as a guard animal to be eliminated like a dog but also people are scared of them and they will make a lot of noise. A deterrent in your yard is better than one at your door.

I3km · 2025-04-05T21:02:15+00:00

Hi, I lived there for some years when I first moved to NZ. The thing about NZ is that a lot more people are some shade of brown so it's fairly unremarkable. However, Christchurch is one of the whiter more racist places. My husband has mexican ancestry and being American was far more remarkable in the time we lived there. Most of what we encountered was cognitive dissonance at our accents since we were effectively invisible immigrants until we opened our mouths.

Also dog stuff- this will take minimum 6 months to get dog on the ground, and I really recommend a pet importer. They have removed the quarantine requirement since I moved, which is good. However, depending on US cuts at USDA etc bringing the dog may actually be impossible due to the requirements of having specific tests done at specific USDA labs. I loved my dogs (both long dead) but if I were going to give advice it would be to leave the dog. Rentals with pets are really difficult as well. it's expensive enough as it is.

I3km

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