Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



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Subject Topic: Okay, so much for summer vacation... Post ReplyPost New Topic
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albeto
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Posted: Aug 04 2008 at 8:07pm | IP Logged Quote albeto
Three kids, the oldest I homeschool. He has Aspergers. The younger go to the local Catholic school. They are home for vacation. It has been a very pleasant, relaxing summer.

Almost.

Too much free time and a non-existant summer "schedule" (oh, I am soooo NOT a schedule person - I simply forget to follow it) has proven to be too much for my oldest. He's announced in a flurry of emotion and drama that he is "done." One problem with too much free time is any imposition is taken really hard, and any task I ask of him is now met with much drama (and I mean *much*).

I'm sending the kids out with dh for tae kwan do and then to go out for supper. Ds will have a pb&j sandwich as I too, "refuse" to do chores tonight and starting tomorrow we will begin school. The other kids have two more weeks so they will do some work but will have lots of free time between subjects. I know ds will be angry because A) he's not ready for this change of (non)routine; B) he doesn't want one more demand on his otherwise precious time; C) knowing his siblings aren't working as hard will make him angry (so I plan to not give him as much as usual, just enough to keep him busy). Does this sound wise? I don't want it to backfire but I'm afraid he's a mess because there isn't a routine that is challenging him and keeping his time occupied.

And, yikes, I haven't gotten everything I wanted yet for the start of school, like lit books, his math book, science book, etc. Any suggestions for an emergency First Day of School?
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Kristie 4
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Posted: Aug 04 2008 at 10:10pm | IP Logged Quote Kristie 4
Hmmmm... a bit of a stab in the dark but here are my thoughts....

Could you have a routine (my good friend's son needs this in the summer as well) that did not include either the formal curricula or just part of the curricula. For example (off the top of my head)

Breakfast
Chores
Saint story
Take a Break
Handwriting book/drawing/a simple book you have on hand
Lunch
Read Aloud
Rest
Play

You could alternate that after morning break time, or add some other times. But maybe a simple framework like this will keep him from feeling like his wheels are spinning (my friend, whose son is Fragile X and who has a hard time with lack of structure, sometimes can even write out a simple list like: get up, shower, eat, play, have lunch, do chores, play, eat dinner, watch a movie/book, go to bed.

My son may be on the spectrum (in the process of finding some of that out) and also can use a little more structure. But I am not a schedule follower either- but think pegs. Peg an activity or two to each meal and to rising and bedtime and your day could fill out quite nicely.

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albeto
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Posted: Aug 04 2008 at 11:20pm | IP Logged Quote albeto
Thank you, Kristie. It sounds so logical. I think part of my problem is with a loose schedule I get distracted (I'll never snicker at my mom's ADD again!) and he does too since he has no concept of time. Hmmm, maybe what I need is a home full of timers to keep me on track.

It sounds so much less frantic the way you put it!
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KC in TX
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Posted: Aug 05 2008 at 7:57am | IP Logged Quote KC in TX
We try to school year round because of this very thing. Even now with our looser schedule in the summer my son gets really off track and reacts the same way. I gradually add things in to make it easier. We try to have a basic routine every day regardless and that helps a lot. There's no schedule per se because I don't like the stress of following time slots.



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