Day: August 31, 2009

When I am stressed it helps me to write all the thoughts down. I pin all the things down with words and give them shape. Once I know what the shapes are, I can begin to see how all of it will fit.

Kiki:
Discussions about friends/school/emotions
Company at 6:15 am when she is up before anyone else
Nudging to remind her that homework should be on her schedule
Occasional check-ups on the status of her grades with accompanying consequences/assistance if they are below B level

Link:
Research and consultation to select a different medication for him
Consultation with his teachers at school to make sure everyone is working together for him
A twelfth birthday party
Extra hugs and snuggles
Quiet space where he can talk about the thoughts that are in his head
Praise when he steps up and takes responsibility

Gleek:
Extra effort and patience to steer her actions without scolding
Extra help to find constructive things to do when she is bored
Requiring her to slow down and have some quiet time when she needs it but doesn’t want it (probably daily after school)
Time set aside where the two of us can talk about the thoughts and feelings in her head so she can feel less emotionally tangled
A new lamp for her bed so she can turn it off by herself when reading time is over
Help finding ways to let her be in control of as many things as possible so she’ll be more willing to follow along in other areas

Patch:
10-15 minutes each bedtime where I just listen while he talks about whatever is in his head
Help managing his friendships so no feelings get hurt
Daily reading practice even if he doesn’t want it
Adjust meals so that he is more likely to enjoy eating dinner
Hugs and snuggles
A drink pouch in his backpack every day so that he has something to drink at lunch time when the other kids are having chocolate milk

All of the above:
More emphasis on personal hygiene, particularly teeth
A cleaner house so that we all have pleasant spaces in which to manage everything else

It looks like my major job this Fall is to use the six hours while they’re at school to clear the decks of everything else so that I am completely available when they come home. I think a lot of this will settle out once we hit our stride with the school year, but I need to be prepared for a long haul if necessary.