Autism: Surviving and Thriving

Fourteen years ago my youngest 3 boys were diagnosed with autism within a 9 month span. Devastation and grieving followed. Doctors gave me little or no hope, but they didn't know me very well. I refused to believe that my boys were doomed.

My boys are now young men, adults with autism. They are thriving, but every day presents its turmoil and challenges.

My family: husband Mike, sons Ryan 23 yr, Nicholas 21 yr, and Cameron 18 yr. (Ryan and Nick have autism; Cam has recovered from autism.) Our oldest sons, Michael 34 yr and Stuart 25 yr, moved out of the house. Ryan has also moved out, and is still working towards complete independence.

Monday, March 25, 2013

In A Hurry To Go Nowhere



Working full time leaves little time for errands and tasks.  My weekdays are filled with the “job”, piano lessons, dinner, homework, and sleep.  Saturdays have become the” hurry to wait" day.  I have so much to do, and only Saturday to complete them.  I don’t like waiting in line, but that is the reality:  hurry to wait at the gas pump, the bank, grocery stores, etc.

People ask me what is wrong with doing something on Sunday.  Well, I need down time, and if the Good Lord determined that we needed a day of rest, who am I to argue?  (and I'm too tired to!)

So Saturday is the day to tend to household chores, cooking for the week, and running all those errands.  Last Saturday I woke up at 6 a.m.  No, I am not crazy.  After getting up at 6 a.m. all week, I didn’t need an alarm.  However, I didn’t get up for a few hours.
Up at 8am, I started grinding wheat.  Made sourdough.  Used up old sourdough to make pizza.  WIN.  The boys love pizza for lunch.  Pulled out meats to defrost.  Made small grocery list.  Went to one store.  Realized I forgot checks to cash at bank.  Went home.  Grabbed boys.  Went to next store.  Got gas.  Realized I forgot checks again.  Went home.  Went to farm.  Stopped at bank to get cash out of ATM—because I forgot the checks. Again.  Farm only takes cash.  Wait in traffic.  Construction on roads.  Wait.  Wait.

Then I arrived home.  Make dinner.  No, make 5 dinners.  With boys’ help.  Each of them is responsible for making dinner.  We freeze food.

That’s part of Saturday’s agenda.  I’ve left out a ton.  Can’t even remember the last half.  Except sleep.

No comments:

Post a Comment