Busy, Busy, Busy

It seems that no matter what time of day, week, month or year... we all have our routines. Routines for home, work, school, vacation. Things keep us hopping, we tend to get and stay - busy, busy, busy. Not always a good kind of busy, sometimes it's the busy that interferes with the time you should be spending with those who matter most. Sometimes, for whatever reason, it can't be avoided.

This is the time of year when kiddos get time out of school for.. Thanksgiving break (one week for us); a few weeks later it's Christmas or Winter break (2 weeks and a day). It's a time when you try to get your kiddos to play and relax, then do something to take care of the boredom. After that you find yourself searching for things to keep the little ones entertained, busy.

For us, having twin boys with autism, it's so hard to keep them engaged. Usually by myself during the week, from the time we get up until ABA begins in the afternoon, we are busy. Busy, busy, busy. I have to keep them busy / entertained constantly or the boys will go "stir crazy". However, I still can't seem to keep them busy enough. Our little ones have ADHD as well as ASD, so keeping them engaged for several hours gives me a GREAT appreciation for their teachers at school.

Also, because they are on the spectrum we have to find enough activities to challenge them in many different ways. Academically, physically as well as the sensory issues they have. If any of these areas aren't worked on enough, the boys will not be tired enough to sleep through the night. It took a while to figure out that this was one of the things that could cause them to wake up. When they wake up in the middle of the night, it's usually anywhere between 1 and 3 and they'll stay up for at least 3 hours or more. The hardest part about it is they are UP - not drowsy, not even a "little" tired, they are ON.

They don't just "go play". They still get into things they aren't suppose to. They don't always play with toys appropriately. Our double-edged sword comes in the form of being very inquisitive, it's great because it makes them want to learn. However, they like to find out what makes something work, so they take things apart - things that aren't usually meant to come apart. So, even with baby monitor cameras they have to be watched almost constantly.

I am grateful when it's time for ABA to begin, not only do I get a break while the boys work, because I know they are getting some much needed direction. They work hard for their behavior instructors, not only because it is hard work for them, but because they need that challenge. I will work with them one on one when I can, but now that they're older they don't want to do the work with me. So I have to make learning a "fun game" to play with them in order to get them to show what they've learned in a natural setting.

Well, for now we will find whatever we can to keep busy, busy, busy - since every opportunity is a learning opportunity, we will look for every one we can find. Happy Thanksgiving!

From a mother's heart - there's an old saying... "idle hands are the devil's workshop". For those parents and caregivers to kiddos and adults with special needs, there isn't a lot of time to find out if it's true.
God Bless! 




ABA (applied behavior analysis); ASD (autism spectrum disorder); ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)