Looking Forward to School...

Well, after 9 days out of school, we finally hit the stir crazy mode, the "I don't think I can't take this anymore"... and it's not just me, the boys are bouncing off the walls dying to get back to school. We've been able to keep fairly busy, but, of course not busy enough for two very energetic 5 year old boys.

                           

The normal routine has essentially been thrown out the window, as far as school hours go. So, trying to get the boys to do some of the things they would do at school has pretty much received a big "ha-ha, don't think so". We have become plain old "mom and dad" and they make sure that we realize we are not their teachers. That doesn't stop us from trying of course. We just have to be more creative now. We will get ready and go for a walk, which will go something like this:

"Ok, get your shoes and socks and bring them to me." After anywhere between one and four times saying this, the boys comply. After helping them put their socks and shoes on, we remember that we must check their diapers. (Still working on the whole potty training thing.) We decide to get jackets - since there is a chill to the air. The whole time we are going through the naming of everything and trying to get the boys to imitate and name the items: "shoes," "socks," "jacket." Then we head out the door.
"Point to the green tree. What color are your shoes? Look, what is that... a car." and so on.

For the last few mornings the boys have actually woken up about 5 minutes before the alarm would go off for school. (Even though the alarm isn't set). They want their school routine, and try to make sure we know it. The hard part is trying to redirect them in another direction, they work hard to resist, but eventually we find a way to do something that keeps their mind off school. You would think it would be easy to keep them busy, but for autistic children, it isn't. You can go for a walk everyday and that's awesome, they love it, but you can only go so many times in one day. You can play outisde for only so long before they get bored of what they are doing. They will only ride in the car and do so many errands. The same as typical kiddos, except, they express their frustration in extreme ways. Once they go off, it can be so hard to reel them back in. When they finally calm down, they will be exhausted, and seem to have no idea why they acted the way they did. They are on to the next thing.

                          

However, with all this said, I have to admit - I wouldn't change a thing about spending time with our boys. Through the good and the bad, like most parents out there, we have more good days than bad. We only remember the bad for a little while before the memory is replaced with a good one. The times when they look at you and smile, and you see the kiddo you know to be locked inside and trying so hard to come out. Every day has it's good and bad, everyone has a challenge they must go through, and no matter how hard we wish our children were "typical kiddos" that will never be. So, we move forward and do the best for them that we can.

Now, time to start planning things to do over the Christmas and New Year's break.