Keeping a Routine

Sorry it has been a while been very busy setting up schedules and getting my son back on track. It is a hard road, and we have hit some potholes along the way. But I have found that with my sons disorder a routine is key. Why because not having one makes them unfocused and causes them to go into episodes becuase they have a hard time with change.

So I try really hard to keep my son on a schedule and we do our best to follow it. I also had him take part in this as it was going to be what has to follow. So far the bed time routine is working well. What we have put to together is wind down time. What I mean by this is an hour and half before he is to go to bed we get together the things he will need for the next day and make a list, that way when he wakes in the moring he has a visual and can check off what he has done. May sound silly but it gives him confidence and there arent any suprises. He knows what to expect.

I do change the routine when he gets to comfortable, because life is about changes and he will experiance many of those when he is an adult. But I do the changes in baby steps. Bed time never changes nor does the med schedule and I am in charge of the the meds, I know that seems a little controlling but I want to make sure he is taking them and to understand it isnt a hanicap to have to take meds. Plus if I forget he know reminds me, so I am conditioning him to be responsible with is meds and taking them like he is supposed to.

One of our obsticles right now is getting him back to therapy, I did have in home therapy which was great but when my job changed insurance, the HSA doesnt cover that, and it is expensive, so I have been taking on the role as cargiver, mom and therapist, and have bought books, not that I am quailified by anymeans but I dont want to trick him into going because that does backfire, his therapist does call to check on how he is doing and gives me advice. But right now that is my pot hole I am trying to overcome.

Homework has been another issue, so our routine is to break up the time spent so he doesnt get overwhelmed nor refuse to go back and finish. I try to make sure the activeites are not over stimulating so he will go back to finish.

Now does the rountine happen over night? NO! Is your child going to be obstinate about it at first? YES! But it is up to you to be the broken record. Just like a teacher at school you have to stick to a plan, if the routine isnt working after a month then rework the plan. Teachers have to do it all the time with students they have a rountine and many children respond to it, if a few students dont then they rework the plan to help them get the education they need from that class. So as parents we need to be consistance and stick to a plan and keep a rountine. Just like you do when you are teaching your infant to sleep on thier own, you make a schedule/rutine and try very hard to stick to. Also make some quite time for you as well becuase at first you are the one that is going to have it the hardest. Even if your quiet time is taking a shower, take what you can get and make sure you try to get others to emtionally support you.

I have really great friends and when I am at the end of my frazzeled rope I call them, they may not have answers or suggestions but they keep me grounded and on task, they will tell me you can do. It helps having a cheering section not be mention someone to lean on.

Also make sure your routine isnt overwelming or over stimulating as that can cause them to shut down. Make it attainable for both you and your loved one. Nothing feels better than knowing you accomplished somthing even if it is small. For instance when my son goes to school and doesnt have any negative reports I give him lots or praise,as well as when he accomplishes a task on the routine chart, I praise him. Now he may not achieve it every day, but it is the small achievments that matter.

Take care.