I am a creature of habit, routine, and scheduling. I thrive when everyone and everything runs on a routine. So do the kids — especially Ryan. Autistic individuals, as you may already know, generally need schedules and specific routines in order to not only function but thrive. Take away the consistency and stability and you’ll leave them foundering. Look at my brothers (both are autistic) and you’ll see a prime example of what happens when you live your life and go day to day with no routine, expectations or set times for anything. I can’t imagine getting up whenever, eating whatever and whenever, doing stuff as the mood strikes, etc., in a household with two young children, especially so with one of those children being autistic.
But that’s how my mom lives her life, and subsequently how my brothers live theirs. They initially balk at schedules and having things laid out for them ahead of time because they’re not accustomed to it, yet as they found when they lived with me before (for seven weeks in the fall of 2007) and when they were in foster care, things are a lot different when you plan out your days, have specific routines, eat meals and go to bed at certain times, etc.
All of this is inspired by the chaos I walked into this morning when I came back from taking Max to the groomer for his bi-annual shaving. Alyssa and Ryan are all too willing to follow my brothers’ lead of getting up and flopping all over the place in PJs without regard to brushing their teeth; attempting to eat a bunch of junk instead of actual breakfast items (cereal, toaster strudels, oatmeal, etc.); and in general making messes and not cleaning them up. And don’t get me started on my mom. She likes to lay around in her nightgown all day long (which I reamed her out for, as 1. it’s sloppy and 2. it makes Dan very uncomfortable), and do absolutely nothing. Like right now, it’s 11:00am, and what is she doing? Sleeping. I’m making no effort to keep the kids quiet in that portion of the house, because there’s no need to sleep in so late when all four kids were in bed last night by 9 and I was in bed by 10; and also, half of those kids are her responsibility.
Say a prayer for me, lol. I am a very organized type of person, and this first week has been a real bitch to get through. I’ll find myself staying away from my house as much as possible if my mom and brothers don’t get out of here soon!
You’ve got a lot of patience to deal with that. I have no idea how you can but just hope that soon enough she’ll be back out of your house and you can resume your routine.
My sister saw you comment on my FB status and said you have awesome hair btw. ^_^