Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's GO!

I have always been a morning person, regardless of when I go to bed, the minute the sun peeks into the bedroom... I'm awake. I've never been able to sleep when the sun is up, unless I'm sick or completely exhausted. In fact "sleeping in" for me before was sleeping until 7 a.m. Now however, when I wake up in the morning it's usually by the "prompting" of one or both of our boys. With some exceptions, the day usually begins anywhere between 4:45 and 6 a.m. I don't want to roll over, let alone get up out of bed. But, up I get... I really don't have a choice.

I may be a bit grumpy, but I'm not mad or upset... How can I be?

How can you be mad or upset at these beautiful, smiling faces. You just know they're thinking... "Good morning. Now get up! Let's get going!"

Our boys basically have one switch... ON. From the moment they wake up until the time they fall asleep, they are completely on the go. I love my boys and enjoy being with them, I just haven't figured out how to keep up. The interesting part is trying to find the balance between keeping up with them and getting them to slow down a little bit. They have so much energy, intelligence and such an inquisitive mind. However, with autism they can't always communicate what they want to do.

Along with ABA and school, we have been able to help Daniel and Anthony request many things. They communicate more in their own way than with direct requests. For example, Anthony wants to go for a walk so, being more verbal he will say "walk please?" He doesn't care what it takes to get ready, he wants to go as soon as he knows that "you know what he wants". Then he will "bounce" everywhere to remind you that it's walk time, it's walk time! Lets go, go, GO!

The next few moments seem to us, like he feels tortured... "Anthony son, ... you need shorts on, a clean shirt..." He still doesn't care, it's as if you can read his mind and he's thinking..."I have on a pull-up, my P.J. shirt, my shoes, why isn't the door open yet? Why are you still sitting? Let's GO!"

Daniel slows down only long enough to try to bring us along. We can never seem to get things done quick enough for him, he always wants to be onto the next thing before he even finishes the first. Daniel is mostly non-verbal even though he knows many words, most are approximations, and he can't seem to get through to us quick enough. We're overjoyed when we can make out what he has to say, but if we can't seem to understand, he's learned to get help by saying "up please" or "follow please". Then he will lead the person to what, or where, he wants to go. Once we figure it out we say the word(s) and have him say it a few times. Then he's off and running again.

Monday through Friday the boys (in the summer) have ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) 4 hours a day. They have a 2 hour session followed by a half hour break, then another 2 hour session. After that, it's "our" time. Our time basically consists of snack, play, errands and/or (lately) nap time. Even with medication for ADHD, the boys still have plenty of energy and "bounce" around a lot. I don't remember ever having as much energy as my babes do, and to be honest, I wish I had half their energy.

INSIDE or OUTSIDE PLAYTIME...

WALK TIME... Wait... Who's that?

MOMMY!  (That was my favorite walk recently)  

My babes remind me of when I was young, summer was the greatest. We did what we had to do when mom and/or dad said it had to be done. We ate breakfast, did our chores, went outside to play. You came in to use the bathroom or eat. Then you were right back out the door. You stayed outside playing or talking with friends until it was dark. Then you were in for the night. You would watch a little T.V., take a shower and were off to bed. The next day would be the same thing, until school started. No clocks or schedules, nothing to do but what you wanted (for the most part). Just play. Play with all you had until you got bored. Then find something else to do and give it all you had.

I think God did something really good when he made us the way he did. We are born knowing nothing, living instinctively. Then, as we grow we give it our all to learn and play, not hindered by anything... until we start to get some experience. Watch kiddos on a playground sometime, they aren't afraid that they'll slip because the grass is wet - they still run "all out" for tag. They aren't afraid that there could be poisonous spiders in a bush - it's a great place to hide for hide-n-seek. They have that innocent curiosity that says: live, learn.

One difference I've notice between ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and stereotypical kiddos is: kiddos on the spectrum hang onto the innocence longer. For better or worse, it's all about fully applying yourself to whatever it is you're doing. Schedules don't matter, the clock doesn't matter. It's all about living in that one moment. It's about constant forward movement. Not becoming stagnant where you are. It's giving 100% of everything to whatever you are doing at that point in time.

From a mother's heart - We all need a little more go, go, go. Give that 100% into what you're doing. Put your heart into it.