Summer Update

This was a good week. I feel like I am breathing again for the first time since summer began.

We have demanded a lot from Moe this summer in his home-based ABA program. For the first time, he is in a truly individualized program, one that meets the definition of "intensive." He's doing well, but also telling us his limits. He's learning not just skills that he should have been learning in school, but learning compliance as well.  They are spending time cleaning up "junky behavior" (like grabbing everything) and keeping him focused. Moe needs to know that when he has work to do, he has to do it - or let us know that he needs a break. He always has an out, but that escape cannot be with bad or aggressive behavior.

Moe is doing great. He has a fantastic team who believes in him. Last week one commented that they can't believe Moe's rate of learning. This is especially interesting since the school district has tried to make the case that Moe's lack of progress is due to his slower rate of learning. It just shows how important it is to find the right program and the right teachers.

Unfortunately, with the change in routine, Moe's sleep demons have returned. This seems to happen with each major change in routine as, I believe, Moe processes the changes. The combination of his difficulty falling asleep, accompanied by night wakings, takes its toll on the entire family. We are trying to find the right combination of dose and timing of melatonin and behavioral approaches to helping him fall asleep and stay asleep.

Moe spent some time testing us with escape behaviors and aggression, but I'm learning some techniques to deal with it, and Moe is learning quickly that he gets what he wants by being calm and asking nicely (which in his case is any communicative attempt with eye contact), and not by acting out. This last week was good, though, and although the weekend ended with a bit of hyper, manic behavior (he is still Moe after all), he seems to be finding some regulation again.

We are only three weeks from the new school year, which brings with it big changes for us. Moe will be going to a new school, and I suspect there will be a bit of a transition once again. The school is a good 30 miles away, so we will be commuting as well, and I am more than a little anxious about how we are all going to handle it. I've had long commutes before, and they are taxing. But this was the only program we found that seemed appropriate for Moe, so we do what needs to be done.

Looming over us, of course, is the fight we are in with the school district, a fight that has been placed temporarily on hold as the teachers and administrators are now on their summer break. This has given us some time to regroup and focus on what is important, which is of course, what is best for Moe.

Wordless Wednesday

Complete Joy

And Contentment

School is out and back in again

The school year ended on a beautiful sunny day following a very rainy spring. Moe's teacher hugged and kissed us all good bye as we left for the break. I managed not to cry. We feel lucky we will see her again next semester!

Moe's first year of preschool flew by. Progress peeked through in small but noticeable ways.

As suddenly as the school year ended, the weather changed. Now it is 90 degrees. I'm folding sweatshirts and long sleeves from Moe's laundry, even as he's running around in shorts and a t-shirt.

Moe was off last week, his only real break for the summer. We spent the time outside, playing in the wading pool and running through sprinkler toys. He had a really good week, and was tired at the end of each day. We were all happy to get to sleep in a little, lounge in our pajamas each morning, with no hurry to pack a lunch or be anywhere on time. But by Sunday, we were ready to get back to a routine.

So today, Moe started the summer session. He is in the same classroom as he is during the year, with a new teacher (the same one from last summer) and a new aide. Thankfully, one aide, Ms. K, stays through the summer. We love her and I feel better seeing a familiar face.

I remember so clearly watching the moms of older kids last summer, the ones who knew the routine, knew where to park, knew each other. This year, I am one of those moms. I no longer let my inner fears betray my outer confidence. Not usually, anyway.

Pick up and drop off were chaos today. There is some kind of summer enrichment program at the school and they are using the same drop off point as special ed (usually we have a separate entrance). Someone blocked the school bus in the drop off circle, and now we can't use it. Many of the teachers are new, so they don't know which parents they are supposed to be looking for. Kids were late. I stepped in gum. Darn typical kids ruining it for the rest of us.

The new aide walked Moe back to his classroom. They were almost at the room when I saw Moe break free and start running. Ms. K and I laughed. She'll learn.

Happy Hollow and other places we won't be going this summer

Tomorrow is Moe's last day of school. The teachers have been giddy with excitement. And much like last year, I'm wondering what the heck we're going to do all summer.

Moe will spend the first half of the summer in the district's extended school year (ESY) program. Although his teacher doesn't work summers, it is the same classroom and one of his current aids will be there as well. After the ESY program ends (I can't imagine how anyone thinks a four-week program is enough), Moe is going to attend a private autism preschool for the rest of the summer. Both classes end around noon.

Leaving me with long, hot summer afternoons to fill. The area we live in has wonderful activities for little kids. Happy Hollow Park and Zoo and the Children's Discovery Museum are all within ten minutes of our house. I can be at the beach in 45 minutes. Gilroy Gardens, an amusement park geared toward toddlers and preschoolers, is less than an hour away. We live near numerous parks with water features. There is a pool at the Y, and many beautiful swim clubs we could join.

Oh how I'd love to join a swim club. I'd relax by the pool while the kids splashed in the water with their friends.

Okay, okay. That last one is unrealistic for any parent with a two year old and a four year old. I got caught up in the dream for a moment.

The point is, I can't take both kids anywhere by myself, unless they are strapped into the stroller. Moe is just too much of a flight risk and Jelly couldn't keep up if he took off. I do have some babysitting help, but mostly to watch Jelly when I take Moe to therapy. Maybe I should have hired someone five afternoons a week. But that is expensive, and would seriously cut into my future swim club membership fees.

The good news is that we do have an enclosed backyard. We will be spending a lot of time out there. I got some sprinkler toys and will buy a little wading pool. We can take stroller walks around the neighborhood when it isn't too hot and air conditioning when it is. I'm fairly certain our house will be an enormous mess. But I guess it already is.

I will try to make the most of the summer, and like last year, we'll get through it. Maybe next summer, I'll be able to take the kids out myself. For now, there's only 74 days until school starts again.