Summer, Special Needs & Surviving
As of today I am two days into our summer break.
It is a great time and a time of inconsistency. Off routine.
If you’re a parent or you’re close to a family of a child (or more) with special needs, you know that being off routine can be challenging. Or equivalent to a little dental work. It’s not good for any of us; if I’m honest. I don’t do well off of routine either (Apple/Tree Thing) because they don’t and I can stress when they are stressed. So this summer I have a plan. Well, I have a short schedule and then I have activities to fill in the time with fun.
We still have medical things to deal with this summer with some new doctor appointments, the ever-present lab vists and probably a med change that will likely add some drama but hopefully not too much. With any luck, we’ll glide through all of that
Some of my strategies…
- We’re going to get up the same time each morning. Every. Single. Morning.
- Getting up, dressed and downstairs for breakfast for 30 minutes.
- Typing by touch! Every morning for 20-30 minutes the kids are running through a program to learn proper typing, then they’ll get to play games. I bought a cheap laptop so they can be online with my computer and the new one at the same time.
- Practicing piano and guitar (each of them does one).
- Filler: box of arts and crafts on the table available for them (which they love).
- Pool time.
- Friend time.
- One outing/special activity per week.
- Kidsitter for my youngest just for a change of pace.
- Three summer camps for each child (2) but they are attending all of them on different weeks allowing them a break from each other.
- Playing in mud if we need a diversion (pictured above).
- Date night/friend night/movie night for me at least a couple of times a month…that should help, too.
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About The Author
Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts is founder of Support for Special Needs and has been a regular contributor since its inception in May 2010. A mom to two kids with special needs, she didn't want other parents to feel what is the often isolating world of raising a child (or two!) with disabilities. Her kids had kidney transplants at the age of eight and will need liver transplants in the future as a result of ARPKD/CHF. They both have vision disorders and learning disabilities.
We have some particular challenges in my house BEYOND the special-needs aspect (which, shockingly, complicates things further) because my husband does voiceovers from home and occasionally needs quiet (read: kicking us out of the house). And I have some of my own phobias (ahem…driving). So I made a giant schedule of the kid’s therapies and that’s on the fridge. I’ve also started compiling a stable of 10-12 year old girls who are willing to be mother’s helpers – they’ll come over for an hour or two and play with the kid while I do my own freelance work or just get out of the house for a short while (my husband will be home if I’m not). There’s the pool for some days, and we’re hoping to have some playdates. But mostly I’ve started a countdown until the first day of school and I’m trying to just get through this.
I hear you! When they are little it is so hard, especially only children! Quinnlin is doing Mother’s Helper kind of work and open a lot this summer for entertaining the R!
question for you… what program are you using for typing?
I just secured our last 3 weeks of summer camp, so our summer plans are now complete. With both of us working outside the home and Liam too young to stay home alone (much to his dismay!) we have to rely on camps to get through the summer.
Andy, I’m going to do a post with the 4 programs we are using and why/how, etc because a lot of parents are asking! But here’s a good one to start on our list – kids love it! http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/