Our mornings are often struggles as we try to get all 3 children and ourselves out the door. Some days are better then others as we navigate the world of 2 children with additional support needs. Today's blog is an example of a good morning in our house.
We wake up every week day at 7:30 and start the dreaded morning routine to get everyone up and out the door in time. Alright let's be honest Baby Boy comes and wakes me up at 6:00 but we end up laying in bed until Artist wakes up at 7:30 and Monkey drags his butt out of bed around 8:15 which gives him just enough time to get ready before the bus arrives.
Most mornings start with reminding Artist who has ADHD and SPD to take her medication. During the next 30 minutes we have to be extra careful not to give her more then one direction at a time, or give her a direction well she is busy doing something else or risk her having a meltdown. At the same time I am also trying to get myself ready for work and pack everything Baby Boy needs for daycare that day.
After the reminders about no t.v. in the mornings and make sure you brush your teeth and hair, Artist is finally ready. Next comes the reminders to Monkey to get out of bed or he is going to miss the bus. About 15 minutes later he slowly walks up the stairs with no worry about only having 15 minutes to get ready, some how he always manages to get outside on time. With a quick love you and have a good day the two oldest are out the door and off to school.
Next up is Baby Boy who has been either following me around crying because he wants more cuddles or is busy getting into something he shouldn't be. We do the fight to brush his teeth which he will finally do after a month of working with him using an electric toothbrush. Brushing teeth is still a struggle but we are getting there. Then comes the chase across the house in order to change his diaper and get him dressed. Some days are good and putting clothes on him goes smoothly and other days it feels like I am trying to get clothing on a wild animal. Now that he is dressed in clothing he likes and the socks are just right we can finally head towards the front door.
As I double check that I have everything packed Baby Boy is now hiding and runs away when I tell him it's time to go to daycare. After telling Baby Boy about 5 times to put his boots on the process of getting out the door begins. I slowly walk through each step of getting his outside clothing on and we are out the door. With a sigh of relief I am reminded that next up is getting into the car and driving to daycare.
As I open the door for the hatch of my SUV Baby Boy insists that he do it. So I close the hatch and wait as he opens it and puts the bags in. Next up the question of does he want help into his car seat or does he want to do it himself. I open the door and wait, either he jumps in by himself or stands there grunting and reaching up as his sign to help him. Finally he is in his seat, now I have to make sure that I don't do up his chest clip as that his job.
Now you would think that the short drive to daycare/work would be easy but if I do not drive the same route and go straight to daycare it could cause a meltdown with Baby Boy. Drop off at daycare is going well as long as nothing changes in the routine, staff need to make sure not to open that front door until after Baby Boy has pressed the doorbell. Today everything went well, no MELTDOWNS!
I then say goodbye to Baby Boy and say I love him and tell him to have a good day as I go to work in the infant room. No wonder I am exhausted before my work day has even begun. I will be posting a blog shortly about are morning when things do not go well.
We wake up every week day at 7:30 and start the dreaded morning routine to get everyone up and out the door in time. Alright let's be honest Baby Boy comes and wakes me up at 6:00 but we end up laying in bed until Artist wakes up at 7:30 and Monkey drags his butt out of bed around 8:15 which gives him just enough time to get ready before the bus arrives.
Most mornings start with reminding Artist who has ADHD and SPD to take her medication. During the next 30 minutes we have to be extra careful not to give her more then one direction at a time, or give her a direction well she is busy doing something else or risk her having a meltdown. At the same time I am also trying to get myself ready for work and pack everything Baby Boy needs for daycare that day.
After the reminders about no t.v. in the mornings and make sure you brush your teeth and hair, Artist is finally ready. Next comes the reminders to Monkey to get out of bed or he is going to miss the bus. About 15 minutes later he slowly walks up the stairs with no worry about only having 15 minutes to get ready, some how he always manages to get outside on time. With a quick love you and have a good day the two oldest are out the door and off to school.
Next up is Baby Boy who has been either following me around crying because he wants more cuddles or is busy getting into something he shouldn't be. We do the fight to brush his teeth which he will finally do after a month of working with him using an electric toothbrush. Brushing teeth is still a struggle but we are getting there. Then comes the chase across the house in order to change his diaper and get him dressed. Some days are good and putting clothes on him goes smoothly and other days it feels like I am trying to get clothing on a wild animal. Now that he is dressed in clothing he likes and the socks are just right we can finally head towards the front door.
As I double check that I have everything packed Baby Boy is now hiding and runs away when I tell him it's time to go to daycare. After telling Baby Boy about 5 times to put his boots on the process of getting out the door begins. I slowly walk through each step of getting his outside clothing on and we are out the door. With a sigh of relief I am reminded that next up is getting into the car and driving to daycare.
As I open the door for the hatch of my SUV Baby Boy insists that he do it. So I close the hatch and wait as he opens it and puts the bags in. Next up the question of does he want help into his car seat or does he want to do it himself. I open the door and wait, either he jumps in by himself or stands there grunting and reaching up as his sign to help him. Finally he is in his seat, now I have to make sure that I don't do up his chest clip as that his job.
Now you would think that the short drive to daycare/work would be easy but if I do not drive the same route and go straight to daycare it could cause a meltdown with Baby Boy. Drop off at daycare is going well as long as nothing changes in the routine, staff need to make sure not to open that front door until after Baby Boy has pressed the doorbell. Today everything went well, no MELTDOWNS!
I then say goodbye to Baby Boy and say I love him and tell him to have a good day as I go to work in the infant room. No wonder I am exhausted before my work day has even begun. I will be posting a blog shortly about are morning when things do not go well.