Watering the plants or watering me! Kareem the gardener

20^th June 2018

Kareen has such a strong mind and a great determination to do things his way. Today he insisted on watering the plants by himself so he switched the tap on and took the hose around the garden. I had great difficulties persuading him not to water the walls or the grass. The problem was that he suddenly decided that watering is much more fun if he directed the hose from watering the plants to watering me! I reacted angrily because I was afraid that the water damaged my hearing aids- never mind getting my clothes, hair and everything soaking wet.

A little while later, Kareem became bored of spraying plants, grass, walls, me and left the whole operation. Actually, he is not a bad gardener if nothing else, like his brother playing football, distracts him. He had already planted strawberries from a cutting and beetroot from seeds. Whenever he waters the garden, I remind him of his planting. 

Last year he planted and harvested Spinach.

In August this year, as the beans started to appear,  he started to harvests what he can reach. We are waiting for the tomatoes to turn red so that he can pick them up.

Kareem is such a great helper in the garden.

At a fundraising event for Down Syndrome charity

In june this year, a local Down Syndrome charity ran a fundraising day. It was based on walking in beautiful green fields bathing in sunshine. Teams were exhibiting various products for sale and doing different activities and having creative T shirts and signs with the team name.

  

I was proud of my extended family, including very close special friends, who did the walk in 5 countries in 3 continents. Every walker in the team had a sign on his/her T shirt saying “Dream Kareem”.

Kareem himself walked 3 laps in the field and then decided that it was enough and that it was time to play football. He usually plays games and sport like everybody else for a little, then he invents his own style of the game. On this occasion he decided that he would kick the ball with his foot towards me, but I had to bend down to get the ball and threw at him by hands for him to receive it and kick it again!

Afterwards, he decided that he should go with me to the team's tent and to lie down -it was nice to lie in the shade after playing in the hot sun outside. He had fun unzipping and zipping all the compartments in the tent and sliding from one room to the other.

Shadi, Kareem’s brother took the walk very seriously before he enjoyed playing football. He walked 20 lapses- while I was able to only manage 11 lapses.

It was a lovely day and Kareem was, as usual, our joy and treasure with his wonderful caring brother, Shadi. The day was also successful as the charity was able to raise over £36,000. Dream Kareem team managed to contribute just over £500.