Day in the Life, or Whatever ...

Ever wonder what it's like parenting an autistic kiddo? Here's a snapshot for me today:

• My father passed away after a long illness. Peacefully, but still. We loved him, and we have Grief and Feelings.
• James is already stressing over starting a new school. Everything unfamiliar: school, buildings, district, kids, teachers.
• Thanking the Universe that a friend's son can be with James at our place, because he'd stim like crazy and raise the stress level at my parents' place.
• Emails to work, about leave, scheduling, and paperwork. Would not do to get fired.
• Text a few friends. Just a few because yeah, lack of socializing is still happening.
• Text ex, to not be surprised if a different teen boy answers the phone at my place. 
• Answer phone call from James, asking when I am coming home. Direct him to find where I left his breakfast and to came right back to the phone. Hang up phone after 5 minutes and assume he is now eating his cinnamon bread.
• Drink coffee.
• Feed cats.
• Hug waking family members, especially teen daughter.
• Feed dog and fill water bowl
• Play online Mahjongg until Hospice opens and we can arrange the rest of the day.
• Go to daughter's HS, to explain why she is missing the last day of summer school. Because it's summer school and no one is one phones in the office right now.
• Clean cat boxes.
• Drink coffee.
• Do a donut and quiche run. Because you never know.
• Watch your Mother change her mind on the phone. A lot. Admire the fact that she's still going to her cancer therapy appointment, wearing a tie-tied shirt.
• Hug your family members.
• Be the one who is crying.
• Drink more coffee.
• Take donuts and snacks to teen boys and set up the day together.
• Hug everyone, including the cat.
• Try to talk with your autistic son about what is going on and watch him slide down the hall in response. Get hugged by other teen boy who gets it.
• Drive back and void being hit by Kamakazi drivers.
• Worry about the smoke from 2 fires that bring back so many unpleasant memories from last October. And tell yourself they are NOT getting closer. So there. Not. Closer.
• Be thankful James is not here because they are cutting up a tree and shredding the limbs with gas-powered mayhem.
• Eat some chips.
• Keep up emails with new school district about coordinating the start of school and read their bilingual, 42-page newsletter.
• Water plants.
• Check bank balance and figure the bills to pay this week.
• Be on hand to help prep for the mortuary pickup.

This is just from 6:30am to 11:30 this morning. My parents' house is so quiet now.