It is 0415 and I have already taken my medications. I have been awake for at least 30 minutes now. Yesterday was a slow, but productive day. I created a list journal for both Caleb and me. In my list journal, I wrote my morning routine on the first page. I am setting the example for Caleb to do the same in his journal. I told him that it's important that we create good habits, and this is one way to do that. So today we are going to sit together and create what his morning routine will be. I went over my morning routine with him yesterday and told him how I created it. This is just one step of us getting organized and on a regular schedule together. Routines are more important for people on the Autism spectrum.Change is harder for us, so it is more important to create good routines for the beginning so there is less likely a reason to have huge disruptions in daily life, and fewer meltdowns.
The other thing I did yesterday was to gather my papers in my workspace and reduce the information to just one list of chores that currently need to be done. I created this master list and threw away all the old lists I collected over the past however long. From this master list, I created a master schedule to create time frames for these chores to be done. I spread the chores over 4 days and prioritized them. I created a chore chart in a week calendar format so Caleb could easily tell what to do first and that everything is not expected to be done in one day. I wrote the calendar up, then made a photo copy for Caleb. I kept the original for future reference and to be able to have my own list to ask him about his progress. I know he does not take care of his things, and did not want to have to remake the schedule from scratch because he lost it, and tore it, etc.
Perhaps going over the schedule was the hardest part of our day yesterday. Like I said, change is hard for people with Autism, and this was a big change. I sat down with Caleb to go over the schedule I created for us both, and review it. He did not want to look at the paper. He resisted every step of the way, but we got it done eventually. By the end of the day, Caleb completed 5 of the 9 or 10 tasks that were scheduled for the day. While this was not what I hoped for, I am proud of him for getting work done. The progress we made is highly visible, and makes being at home more enjoyable.
I made Caleb his own original dinner yesterday. I needed to cook the ground beef I bought, and had some ideas in mind. I made what I call a "dry" spaghetti for him, having no sauce. It was made with:
spaghetti noodles
ground beef
2 yellow squash
fresh basil
oregano
garlic powder
garlic salt
onion powder
1 can of chick peas
1 can of sweet corn
He liked it! Better yet, it filled him up so he was not hungry. I just made myself a steak for dinner. I thought about making a salad, but I did not want to have to clean more than I already did.
I listened to music from my iTunes on my computer yesterday. I got overstimulated before I was really ready to stop. I have never been overstimulated by my own music choices before. I thought that was weird. I use to listen to music every chance I had.
Bubba ate a toad yesterday. Caleb was worried that he was going to die. I googled it. He could have died. I told Caleb to take him to the bathtub and rinse his mouth out with water from the shower head. He couldn't get Bubba in the bathtub to stay, so I told him to just fill his water bowl and let him drink as much as he could. He is ok.
Today we do not have any appointments. I have to work on my homework for this week. I did not work on it at all yesterday. I have decided that I am going to finish this class and withdraw from the program. I just do not have the energy required to take this program, homeschool Caleb, and deal with my health issues all at the same time. I might be able to go back to school when Caleb is more independent.
I listened to Unlimited Abundance track 14, and am now listening to Lightbody Activation meditation.
Anyway, Caleb will be working on creating his morning routine this morning to put in his journal and practice. He will also be working on the chore chart from yesterday and for today to get as far as he can. I will be doing some housecleaning while he is working. My work comes after his work. He sets me up to do the bigger jobs by doing the supporting jobs. So yesterday I had him start with the kitchen chores so I could wash the dishes, clean the stovetop, clean the countertops, and clean the kitchen island when he was done. So I will likely be doing that today. Today Caleb will be working on cleaning up Bubba's messes around the house. Once he gets the laundry room floor cleaned, I will be able to continue washing the laundry. Once he gets the bathroom floor clean, I will be able to clean the bathroom, etc. Teamwork makes the dream work!
I have a Literary Analysis due next week, and I am already behind. I was supposed to pick 2 more articles for this paper last week, but somehow it escaped my mind.
I am looking forward to cooler weather and lower electricity bills. I am not looking forward to hurricane season. It causes me such stress. I worry so much living on the coast.
I received my first pair of American Eagle jeans in years the other day. They are a size 20W, and I have not tried them on yet, so they may be too small for me right now, but I am happy to lose weight to fit into them!
I bought Caleb more jeans for the cooler weather. I use to love wearing jeans. I wore jeans almost everyday for years and years. I have no felt comfortable in jeans being so much bigger right now. It's not because I can't find the right size, but more like I'm too hot to wear pants that feel heavy. I can't stand being hot and sweaty.
I'm just checking on the amazon orders I have not received yet. I am still listening to the Lightbody Activation.
Tomorrow Caleb and I will be working according to the schedule I created for us to get the house in order. Having less clutter around will make a huge difference in how we feel and our ability to concentrate on school. I hope to start reading 1 critical thinking book with Caleb as well as "How to Be Good at Math" to get Caleb started on the right foot. I want him to go into this year knowing how to ask questions about the materials we read and study. I want him to know there is a way to make math easier. I think I have an ADHD book that I want to read with him too. I have an Autism book, and then I have a lot of reference books and workbooks to go over throughout the year. I want to buy the books on the banned books list for him to begin reading. I think these are very important to read and understand.
Monday starts week 6 of my 10-week class, so I have made it through the halfway point already!
I am listening to the "Enlightenment and Awakening" track now. I'm getting hungry. I still have to complete my morning routines. Be blessed my readers!
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