Monday, September 19, 2016

Homework Aikido

Every now and then the homework push overshadows the actual assignments. As a single parent, even the easy assignments James has can be difficult to make time for. James is also recovering from the flu and the persistent head cold that followed. The heat poured back on this afternoon, flirting with breaking 100°. The homework ch'i was wan and lacking. There was stimming and whining.

Time for a change.

I had James pack his backpack. I planned to go to the gym, with its nice lighting, air conditioning, and change of atmosphere, but completely forgot the after work crush that mobs the parking lot. No problem, just down the road was my ace in the hole: the airport:


We knocked off the spelling assignments and most of the read and answer sheets. Helicopters lifted off, passengers deplaned right onto the tarmac near us, and small planes took off into the softening blue sky. James really wanted to go back to the gym, so that is where we finished the last few assignments and then sat out near the pool, feeling the cooling breezes while the sun went down and lit the clouds a la Maxfield Parish.


We came home full of accomplishment and a much better attitude.

Fallready

So summer went like *that* (finger snap) and it is Fall. Already.


I have my autismom calendar of events that confirm the paper Gregorian version in the kitchen:

  • The back to school frustration of not enough communication from the school. 
  • Feeling like the I need Homeland Security Clearance to get his schedule. 
  • Beginning of school year IEP request and meeting, in which I try to understand where James will be physically at which time for each IEP service and what has been changed without telling me since the last IEP team meeting. 
  • School pictures, once again in a red polo shirt. There no other Picture Day shirts. 
  • Newsletters via a different delivery system. 
  • Requests for money from the school. 
  • First days of school missed due to cold AND flu that are "going around". 
  • First homework makeup packet request and turn in. 
  • First meltdown over reading assignment. 
  • First sneaking of Crocs instead of sneakers to school. 
  • Verbal stimming begins over a new teacher's name. 
  • I try to commit a new aide's name to memory. 
  • We set up new routines for homework and find The One Pencil that is tolerable for completing assignments. 
  • Been called by the new school because the out sick message got lost. 
  • Been called to leave work and pick him up because he was distraught. 
  • Three evil bouts with constipation (and calls from the school or aide). 
  • One email skirmish on why he was sent out for making noise / misunderstanding of what happened.
I have some more homework to do before meeting again with his team. After that, I intend to enjoy Fall with James and build up some fortitude before the return from Winter break sets off a new flurry of excitement.


Saturday, September 17, 2016

Autism Audibles

Was just called "Uncle Mother" by James. Not quite sure where the fixation on uncles is coming from this morning, but he's exploring it.