It's been about a week since I went to visit a daycare facility that I'm considering for Puppy. It's actually a difficult decision to make and is not being made without careful thought and research.
I am very happy with the director at the daycare he has attended for almost four years now. Teacher Ana (as Puppy calls her) was quick to figure him out. She has never had a problem with his behaviors and has even been helpful in continuing lessons learned at home, school or even those she set up at daycare. Routine is very important and we all have to be on the same page.
This January the daycare was moved into the director's home and it is now a licensed home care. It's still the same if you ask me, just limited to one room instead of an entire house. Her license is for children between the ages of 6 months to 12 years. So come this July, Puppy will be too old at 13 years. The director was kind enough to offer us one more year, but with Puppy being the oldest and tallest child, I'm taking it as a sign that we need to move on. Besides, I'm hoping Puppy will get a little more activity, find some distractions away from his obsession and meet a few older kids at this new daycare.
I also got more good news yesterday! I received a call from a teacher aide at a local high school that has answered my ad for PCS hours for Puppy. She has experience working with special needs students for the last 6 years. She may be the answer to my problems. We have an appointment to interview each other on Friday, so I'll write about the results afterward. Everyone cross your fingers!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
And we march on
Memorial Day is set aside each year to remember those we have lost while they were at war. I am thankful that our family has not lost anyone while serving their country. Currently, I do have a cousin who is serving in the Air Force and has had two or three tours in the Iraq war. I'm not even sure I said that right, but bottom line is that he has gone and come back in one piece. I regularly say a prayer for him and all service men and women in our armed forces.
However today, I did not attend any local memorial services, I was guilty of staying home. I went through my routine minus the breakfast and getting into my work clothes and instead slept a little later and woke up Puppy for his usual routine. As I mentioned in my previous post, I drive him to school in the morning now. So I did, and I got down to leave the school nurse Puppy's prescription refill for the month of June. Then I returned home and grabbed a load of laundry to wash. Once that was started, I fixed myself a cup of coffee and sat in front of the TV for a while. Re-runs was all there was. I did a little house cleaning, hung up clothes, washed dishes, etc.
I called my sister Margie to come cook us some lunch. I'd provide the food if she would cook because she knows how to put flavor in all her meals. Lunch time came and went faster than I expected. But we ate well, and even left some for Puppy. As I was thinking of Puppy, his teacher texted me asking if I was going to pick him up or should he go on the bus. He was supposed to get on the bus and be dropped off at daycare for me to pick up later. But he knew very well that I didn't get dressed for work and he confidently told his teacher I was picking him up after school. Oh Puppy, I couldn't help but laugh at his genius plot, so I went to bring him home from his day at school.
After settling back home, I made a call to the woman who had shown interest in working for Puppy and me to provide PCS (personal care services). She said that 4:30 PM was good for her and she'd come to discuss details of the job; she seems anxious to start. Well, needless to say that I was still waiting for her at 7:00 PM. I never received a call from her and have no clue as to why she didn't show. I got a bad vibe from this and I fear she may not be responsible or mature enough for the job. Would you think she is?
I contacted a friend who has been helping to find someone to work the hours we need with Puppy, and she said she would continue to search. It's a shame that we couldn't get started already. I'm ready, but I won't leave Puppy in just anyone's care. I am having a difficult time stressing over something that should be so easy. I ask for patience, patience and more patience. And so, we keep going and we march on.
However today, I did not attend any local memorial services, I was guilty of staying home. I went through my routine minus the breakfast and getting into my work clothes and instead slept a little later and woke up Puppy for his usual routine. As I mentioned in my previous post, I drive him to school in the morning now. So I did, and I got down to leave the school nurse Puppy's prescription refill for the month of June. Then I returned home and grabbed a load of laundry to wash. Once that was started, I fixed myself a cup of coffee and sat in front of the TV for a while. Re-runs was all there was. I did a little house cleaning, hung up clothes, washed dishes, etc.
I called my sister Margie to come cook us some lunch. I'd provide the food if she would cook because she knows how to put flavor in all her meals. Lunch time came and went faster than I expected. But we ate well, and even left some for Puppy. As I was thinking of Puppy, his teacher texted me asking if I was going to pick him up or should he go on the bus. He was supposed to get on the bus and be dropped off at daycare for me to pick up later. But he knew very well that I didn't get dressed for work and he confidently told his teacher I was picking him up after school. Oh Puppy, I couldn't help but laugh at his genius plot, so I went to bring him home from his day at school.
After settling back home, I made a call to the woman who had shown interest in working for Puppy and me to provide PCS (personal care services). She said that 4:30 PM was good for her and she'd come to discuss details of the job; she seems anxious to start. Well, needless to say that I was still waiting for her at 7:00 PM. I never received a call from her and have no clue as to why she didn't show. I got a bad vibe from this and I fear she may not be responsible or mature enough for the job. Would you think she is?
I contacted a friend who has been helping to find someone to work the hours we need with Puppy, and she said she would continue to search. It's a shame that we couldn't get started already. I'm ready, but I won't leave Puppy in just anyone's care. I am having a difficult time stressing over something that should be so easy. I ask for patience, patience and more patience. And so, we keep going and we march on.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Field Trip!
I woke up at my usual hour this morning, which is about 2 hours earlier than the time I wake up Puppy for school. But today I dragged myself out of bed, washed my face, and then went back to get five (5) more minutes, just five...and guess who walks up to the side of my bed?
"Mami, is it time to get up?" said Puppy in a soft high pitched voice. It was but I really wanted those five more minutes.
But how could I lie. Today was not like any other day. Puppy and his classmates were having their end-of-the-year field trip out of town and he was excited. Not to mention the fact that he went to bed extra early last night so that he could get enough rest. I was actually surprised he slept! It is his fourth trip, and he pretty much knows what to expect. A big bus with a restroom and a long time in his seat.
Today's trip is to the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi. There was even mention of a possibility that he might get to make it to the beach, and that is his absolute favorite place to go. However, this mention came from him to me, and I didn't confirm it with his teacher before they left. He knows that a trip to Corpus Christi means the beach, so he may have just made the connection himself.
Well, we made it to school by the requested 6:00 A.M. after making a stop at the convenient store for snacks and drinks for his trip. Yes, and I even went back home and returned to the school with his backpack we had left behind. But all went well.
Puppy, I hope you have a great time!
"Mami, is it time to get up?" said Puppy in a soft high pitched voice. It was but I really wanted those five more minutes.
But how could I lie. Today was not like any other day. Puppy and his classmates were having their end-of-the-year field trip out of town and he was excited. Not to mention the fact that he went to bed extra early last night so that he could get enough rest. I was actually surprised he slept! It is his fourth trip, and he pretty much knows what to expect. A big bus with a restroom and a long time in his seat.
Today's trip is to the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi. There was even mention of a possibility that he might get to make it to the beach, and that is his absolute favorite place to go. However, this mention came from him to me, and I didn't confirm it with his teacher before they left. He knows that a trip to Corpus Christi means the beach, so he may have just made the connection himself.
Well, we made it to school by the requested 6:00 A.M. after making a stop at the convenient store for snacks and drinks for his trip. Yes, and I even went back home and returned to the school with his backpack we had left behind. But all went well.
Puppy, I hope you have a great time!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
For my Canadian friends
I was reading stories off my blog list and came across this link from Andy's Story as Told by Mom page. I know there are many readers whom may not be followers, so I thought I would post this to reach friends in Canada.
http://www.breakfastforlearning.ca/
http://www.breakfastforlearning.ca/
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
New morning routine
This second half of the school year brought about some changes in Puppy's behavior. I gathered that the influence is coming from his bus monitor. Although she seems to be a kind person, her actions have hurt Puppy instead of helping him.
Puppy has taken school bus transportation since he was 4 years old. A bus has picked him up and dropped him off for every school day. On very rare occasions I have taken him to school myself, like when the monitor calls to say they are running late, or once they got a flat. I'm a working mom, and I need to be at work on time, so I do what I have to and dropping him off at school only happens a few times a year.
But getting back to Puppy's current bus monitor. This is her second year with him and she probably thinks she has him all figured out. I assume she may feel this because he mimics her words and phrases. Her acts of counseling may have been used to calm him down while on the bus ride; but she has caused him to ignore others like his teacher and myself. By repeating catch phrases, he now locks up during his tantrums because he is focused on remembering her words and does not listen to anyone around him.
How can I be sure they are her words? She doesn't speak English. All of Puppy's words are in Spanish now when he talks to himself as a calming (stimming) act. Whenever he has a tantrum, gets upset over me telling him 'no', or similar moments, Puppy starts to quote the bus monitor. His favorite is "Que pasa?" or what's happening? It bugs the heck out of me and truly pushes my buttons whenever I hear him using her words. I always speak to him in English. He is lucky to have learned both languages, but there is a time and a place for each.
So after speaking with his teacher, I have taken the initiative to change our morning routine and I have started taking Puppy to school and dropping him off. He still has to ride on the bus in the afternoons, but I hope that less is better. We are going to give it a try. Only two days so far with our new schedule and already I see him happier in the mornings on our ride. He no longer has time to focus on his wallet while waiting, because we are moving, moving, moving all morning long as we get dressed, ready and drive to school. And the bus was always late to begin with and it was making me late for work. So both of us are enjoying our ride in the mornings now.
Puppy has taken school bus transportation since he was 4 years old. A bus has picked him up and dropped him off for every school day. On very rare occasions I have taken him to school myself, like when the monitor calls to say they are running late, or once they got a flat. I'm a working mom, and I need to be at work on time, so I do what I have to and dropping him off at school only happens a few times a year.
But getting back to Puppy's current bus monitor. This is her second year with him and she probably thinks she has him all figured out. I assume she may feel this because he mimics her words and phrases. Her acts of counseling may have been used to calm him down while on the bus ride; but she has caused him to ignore others like his teacher and myself. By repeating catch phrases, he now locks up during his tantrums because he is focused on remembering her words and does not listen to anyone around him.
How can I be sure they are her words? She doesn't speak English. All of Puppy's words are in Spanish now when he talks to himself as a calming (stimming) act. Whenever he has a tantrum, gets upset over me telling him 'no', or similar moments, Puppy starts to quote the bus monitor. His favorite is "Que pasa?" or what's happening? It bugs the heck out of me and truly pushes my buttons whenever I hear him using her words. I always speak to him in English. He is lucky to have learned both languages, but there is a time and a place for each.
So after speaking with his teacher, I have taken the initiative to change our morning routine and I have started taking Puppy to school and dropping him off. He still has to ride on the bus in the afternoons, but I hope that less is better. We are going to give it a try. Only two days so far with our new schedule and already I see him happier in the mornings on our ride. He no longer has time to focus on his wallet while waiting, because we are moving, moving, moving all morning long as we get dressed, ready and drive to school. And the bus was always late to begin with and it was making me late for work. So both of us are enjoying our ride in the mornings now.
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