That is GREAT that they are wanting to be there! Sucks that you had to transition at such a point, but at least they were prepared - or at least act prepared - to try something new! Excellent. Payne LOVES the after school daycare he goes to...lights & music in a big dark dancing room/crafts/homework help/snacks too.
Hi everyone! I've been "off the grid" for the past few weeks as we've transitioned to a new childcare arrangment. Shortly before Halloween our nanny quit. It's all very amicable, the gist of it is that she has a personal health issue (chronic condition - debilitating but not life threatening) that is going to require her to go on disability.) We spent 2 weeks flying without a net which involved me being in the office from 9 - 3 each day and then working at night again to get my work done. From a work perspective, this all couldn't have happened at a worse time as we're in crunch mode preparing next year's budget and I tend to work alot of OT this time of year. Anyway, we decided not to get another nanny for now and to put the kids in the before/after school care offered by our school. (R in before/after, C just in after as his bus comes early enough to not need before.)
It's a wonderful program. The only hitch is that C doesn't go to our school. He is bussed out of district because the program he needs isn't in our home school. The school was very accomodating and C's bus now takes him directly from his school to our home school where he joins his brother in the after school program. The school district was incredibly accomodating and the change in bussing was made without a hitch, and a staff member has been made available to meet C's bus each day and take him to join the rest of the kids. Each day the kids get free play for 30 minutes, followed by a healthy snack, then a gross motor activity (either playground in nice weather or organized games in the gymnasium in poor weather), then project time (which is either arts and crafts or a special activity like cooking). C's bus arrives right near the end of free play.
So far this has exceeded my expectations. C made the transition seamlessly and has fit right in with the rest of the kids. I had talked to the director of the program in advance about C's autism and she assured me that they have had autistic kids in the program before and while she has had no specific training in autism that C would not be the first kid she'd dealt with. I figured I'd see how it goes. Well, on the first day she told me that she was absolutely amazed at how well C does and how he seems just like all the other kids and said "so, do you mind me asking what kind of autism he has since he seems to do so well" and I explained that he's come a long way and that he presents very differently now than he did at age three.
The only problem we have had so far is they don't want to leave! So far each day when I've showed up I've been met with long faces. They keep asking "mommy, why did you come so early, why can't we stay until it closes?" It closes at 6:30 pm, and I've been picking them up between 5:30 and 6:00. It takes a little coaxing to pry them away from their friends. I think this is a wonderful social skills opportunity for C.
In addition to juggling everything around the kids and childcare, I am getting ready to put on a Thanksgiving dinner for 25 and I will have family staying with us (my sister, her husband and 2 kids) for Thanksgiving weekend. I got all of the Christmas lights up since we had some rare warm November days and I'm about 50% done with my Christmas shopping.
Funny story about Christmas. Here is a conversation from Sunday with my NT son R.
R: Mommy, I've made my Christmas list. I only want 3 things.
Me: What are they?
R: A PSP, a DS and an iPod
Me: Wow R, those are 3 expensive things. I don't think you can get 3 things that are that expensive. (Note, whatever R gets, C gets too, so the little bugger is essentially asking me to shell out 00.)
R (hands on hips, rolling eyes, looking at me like I'm an idiot): Duh, mom. That's why I'm asking Santa. That way you don't have to buy them so it doesn't matter if they are expensive.
Me (scrambling): Well, we'll have to see. Santa needs to make sure that he has enough toys for all the kids and that they are spread out evenly. He can't give all of the expensive toys to one child, he has to make sure that everyone gets something they want. So you may have to pick one.
Later we settled on him asking only for the DS because I told him that PSP games are for kids 10 years old and up and there aren't many games for him. I also said that iPods were for older kids, but he could keep sharing mine for now. Too funny!
Wow.... that's so awesome that they made such a good transition! Dooder HATED latchkey - but it's gotten better.
If they love it so much, I'd think about letting them stay a day or 2 until closing - you could stop by the grocery store, do a little Christmas shopping - sounds ideal!
Nick went from a private home after care also to a Christian run after school-care program that my middle son goes to, after my private sitter had to take a break with the birth of a new baby.
He also is bussed to another district, but they also were very accomodating and take him to this place, and he does GREAT there. He's a favorite of all the adults, and the other children just completely adore him as well.
Hmmm ... your Christmas list from your kids sounds like my middle son. I gave him a WalMart toy catalog. He pretty much circled everything in it that wasn't Barbie related. Included a PS3, AND a Wii, and every single DVD, action figure, etc. He also figures "Santa" has a limitless budget.
Great story:) I am so happy he is transitioning so well...Both your boys are doing so fabualous you may want to keep them there till 6:30..it seems to be socially reinforcing:)
Hint for Thanksgiving:
Buy day before Thanksgivng Olive Gardens Salad (GIGANTIC) and 4 doz. breadsticks...they give you tons of dressing, croutons, garlic butter & salt..and dont forget the Berry Sangria mix they carry in the bar...mix with Mogen David Blackberry Road wine/equal parts water...in a large punch bowl..cut up & add oranges, limes, and cherries~ice in it..YUM!!!
Enjoy:)
I love the childcare solution, they are together and having social time withGreat to have you back. Sounds like the change went well! I can't believe busing went so smooth as well. It always takes a while to get that stuff straightened out. What a great opportunity for both boys to be together. Got to love kids' logic about Santa! Have a nice Thanksgiving--I hope the relatives will pitch in and help a bit. (At least with the cleaning!)
Sorry everything happened so fast but it sounds like it is all working out great!! That's great that they get that time together in a good environment like that. Do they mind that they are in different schools?
Good luck with your Thanksgiving dinner!! And I am so jealous that you are so far in your Christmas Shopping. I'm so behind this year!
And the minds of kids, sometimes they are too smart for their own good, lol. Sounds just like something my dd said!! Only her idea of a Christmas list was about 30 things and when I told her that was quite a few things she wanted her response was "yeah, I know that's why I am asking Santa, so you don't have to buy them." I don't know if I was more shocked that she thought Santa might bring her all that stuff or that she thought I would if Santa didn't.
The after care arrangement sounds fantastic. And, you're right, it will be an excellent social opportunity for him.
You made me laugh with the Christmas list from R as we have a similiar situation at home. Frankie's top 3 were a lap top, a cell phone and an mp3 player. I told him those were the top 3 on my list, too LOl. Anthony, on the other hand, is coming up with all kinds of great ideas. And, almost all his picks are in the range. One thing, the FurReal Macaw was but I bought it on Amazon with free shipping.
I ended up buying both boys the Sansa Shaker mp3 player. It's priced around (also free shipping on Amazon) and had some great reviews. Again, this was something Anthony saw and wanted. I showed it to Frankie and he agreed that it was cool and he would like one also. So, at least that is one thing off of Frankie's list LOL.
Good luck with Thanksgiving!
great to hear about C's transition - so glad it went smoothly !
R is hilarious - it was really considerate of him to ask Santa and not you