Day Sixteen

I’ve been thinking about adjectives today. 

Not all day, that would be weird. 

If you want to know, my other thoughts have included: ‘The modern day definition of a Sisyphean task is trying to get a refund out of yer Ryanair bollix Michael O’Leary’; ‘Although I have finally got hold the Holy Grail of self-raising flour, I’ve forgotten how to bake a cake’; and ‘I must, at some point, clear up the dog sick in the garden’.

Right, so, back to the aforementioned adjectives - this morning I had to help my daughter identify them in some sentences as part of the English work set by her college. She also had to think of some adjectives of her own - one beginning with every letter of the alphabet. A dictionary was permitted, which was a godsend when it came to X and Z. (Xenophobic and Zesty, if you’re interested).

She was hesitant at first, and needed a few prompts and prods from me to really think about which words were the ones describing something. She worked her way through the exercise, gaining in confidence. You might say she applied herself to the task determinedly, stubbornly, resolutely, unshakably, and bigly (no, damn you Donald Trump,  you tangerine succubus, bigly is not a word).

I realised something. In doing these daily blogs for the 2.6 Challenge, and trying to raise awareness about Prader-Willi Syndrome, it’s so easy to fall into the trap of using negative adjectives. The condition comes with a mass of challenges, and sugar-coating them doesn’t help anyone. (With PWS sugar-free not sugar-coated is definitely the way to go).

But sometimes you have to take a step back and celebrate the positives. Because there’s a plethora of positive adjectives that can apply to my daughter, despite of, because of, in addition to, and in conjunction with her syndrome.

Joyful, bright, happy, endearing, loving, funny, quirky, distinctive, delightful, engaging, beautiful, courageous, cheeky, loyal, astonishing.

Magnificent.

Yeah, that’s her adjective, right there.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/carolyn-s-2-6-challenge1972

Song is The White Stripes - Sugar Never Tasted So Good

As part of the 2.6 Challenge (which is asking people to fundraise and donate towards small charities that are threatened with closure because of the effects of the Covid-19 crisis) I'm currently writing 26 blogs in 26 days.The PWSA UK is a charity which is absolutely vital for people with PWS, their families, carers and professionals who work with them. Without urgent help, PWSA UK will fold. This charity saves lives and for some people makes lives worth living. They are more than a little responible for producing some of the positive adjectives mentioned above. If you can, please go to my Just Giving page and donate anything you can spare - a few pence or a few pounds, it all counts. Oh, and Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, that word I told you about in yesterday's blog? It's the name for the fear of long words.