I'm dyspraxic, my fiance is incredibly dexterous

[SkeletaLady]

I love my fiance to bits but we're having trouble because while I am dyspraxic and therefore not at all good with my hands, he is capable of painting the eyes on toy soldiers that are no more than three inches tall. He gets exasperated with me because I tend to spread things all over and not be able to hang onto a glass (I've only broken one so far). Does anyone have any advice on how the two of us can deal with this? (Incidentally, he seems to sort of understand because I could not do the 'Live long and prosper' gesture from Star Trek).

[rah]

could you try and turn it around so that it's an advantage? for example, anything small and fiddly that needs to be done can be his job in the house, anything else can be yours?

the only example that i can think of off the top of my head would be painting a wall, he could go round the edges to make it all neat and you could just slap it on in the middle with a big paintbrush or roller!

also, i find that if you can joke about mistakes then everyone else won't take them too seriously and won't cause an argument, but everyones different. for example, if you drop another glass, rather than feeling bad about it, blame it on the glass! (it kept wriggling around in your hand or it jumped out of your hand!) that way it could become a running joke about the glasses being suicidal

[arsenal_lee4]

Theres a trick my occupational theripist taught me. If you get your thumb to touch each tip of your fingers, back and forth, this should help your grip a bit

[Catwoman42]

I'm sure there are things you can do that he can't..... Perhaps if he if he understood more about dyspraxia he would understand you more.

[Tim G]

Perhaps if he if he understood more about dyspraxia he would understand you more.

Thats verry true - I have dyspraxia and other mental issues, ironicly it was my partner who helped me realised what was going on and was part of helping me to help myself get help etc. During this time we dident realy know what was relay going on so she did the reashearsh on dydpraxia - this has gratly helped both of us,

Visa versa my partner has aspergus and other mental and physicial issues which gratly affects her so I am learning and understanding thies.
If we hadent had understood each other then the relationship wouldent work at all so realy it a matter of both you and you partner to disscuss it and understand the diffrent views each other has on it.

[SkeletaLady]

I wrote the OP four years ago. Everything has worked out wonderfully. I'm sitting here happily typing while my 9 month old daughter plays on the floor. Luckily she shows no signs of dyspraxia and every sign of being like my dexterous husband (the dexterous fiance of the OP). I am also looking at the needlepoint cushion I made and the one I am currently working on.

Just so you all know!