Learning goals

The schedule in place is working. This is great. Also we have incorporated a 21 day goal to acheive a positive habit. Since it takes 21 days to make a habit, we have deceided to incorporate goals in which my son can achive to form a hygene and chore habit.

First I had my son write down what he wants to work on, then I wrote down how I can help him achieve his goal and in turn he learns to help himself and gain habits he will need when he is an adult.

Now these goals to other people who do not suffer bipolar may seem like things they would normally do. My son has had a hard time with taking showers regualry, bruching teeth, changing his cloths. ( he would were the same shirt for 3 days). So in order to help him he now has personal goals to achieve. How do I help him? Well my giving him positve reinforcement, and encouragment on the rough days. My son rapid cycles and has racing thought throughout the day and at least twice during the day he will have moments of rage or depression. Since I know when they are occuring, my goal is to remain calm and supportive while helping him through those cycles.

His home goal is to and certan times throughout the day is to do choirs, I have made it very simple. He works on his room for 15 mins a day, takes out trash as needed, helps with the dishes as needed, and is in charge of puting away towels and his cloths. Thsi too is a 21 day goal. What happens if he doesn't reach all of his goals. We start over and try again, but the ones he achieves I have a made a certificate he can put in his achievement binder, so he can look back when feeling discouraged what he has accomplished. I think people forget the small things in life. So what if didn't reach all goals you tried to hit, the ones you did is an accoplishment and needs to be recognized.

I am really excited about learning about how to advocate, because what they tell you to do for people with disabillities is to make a master plan, have a mission and set small goals. When it isn't working them you modify. So after chapter one I have a mission, working on a master plan, but we now have goals my son who has personal goals, I have parenting goals, we have family goals. I even have made goals for me at work and on how I want to learn as much as possilbe on how to help othr parent.

I don't have all the answers, but what I don't know I will learn. I am just excited today that my son and I agree with goals, We even deceided to spend the afternoon together. Lunch was fun.
Library time is almost up and my minutes are about out, wonder what we will do next.