WWYD? Our life has become insane!

We are a point that DS schedule has taken over our entire life.

We no longer have days to go to the zoo, aquarium, do "life experiences", me doing errands, etc... Our life has revolved around therapies.

This is our schedule

M: 8am-6pm
ABA, ABA, Speech, Break use for eating lunch and 2 hour nap, ABA
T: 8am-4:30pm
ABA, Speech, Social worker for me while DS takes a nap, ABA
W: 8am-4:30pm
ABA, parent training, OT, ABA, lunch and nap, PT (we have to drive there)
Th: 8am-6pm
Speech, mommy and me class, lunch and nap, ABA, ABA
F: 8am-5pm
ABA, Speech, OT, lunch and nap, PT in the afternoon and we need to drive there also
Sat: 8am-11am
ABA, ABA

Sunday: no therapies but I am work and DH watches DS.

The max we have for free time is 15 minutes between sessions. Most of the times, one therapists leaves while the other comes in. It's back to back. He still naps 2 hours everyday so the 3 hour break I self imposed half way through is for him to sleep and eat. By 4:30pm, we can't really do anything. Traffic is horrible and we can't really run errand or go to the mall to have fun on the caroussel.

12 ABA
4 SPEECH
2 OT
2 PT (done outside the house at a PT Gym)
Mommy and me class (done at specialized school): social interaction with other kids and learning to do circle time, etc..


I don't know what to change. He needs his therapies but I feel we can never do anything "Fun". Things I think he needs to discover too. Life experiences!

Re: WWYD? Our life has become insane!

I know what you mean. That was my life before I put Christopher in a program.
How about going to the zoo, or aquariam with the therapists.
I have gone to the park, getting his haircut, the mall, Toys R Us, Target, or even lunch out with the therapists.

Re: WWYD? Our life has become insane!

My DD didn't have as intensive of a program as your DS. But in order to make life easier. I put her in school at 3 so that she could get all therapies there, and that we could get a "normal" routine after school hours.

When will he be 3? Maybe it's an option??

Re: WWYD? Our life has become insane!

he will be 3 at the end of June next year.

I am "trying" to hang on until then. Then I think I will have more time to do other things.

Re: WWYD? Our life has become insane!

Wow that is some schedule! and to you for keeping up with it all. I know you want to infuse some fun times into his schedule but this is what he needs right now and you are a Great Mom for making sure he gets all that he needs. Think of it this way your are investing this time to make sure he can experience life to the fullest as he grows. Hang in there Mommy you are doing great!

Re: WWYD? Our life has become insane!

First, I want to say that you are amazing for keeping up with all of that.

DS will now be adding ABA to his program as well. But, since he's in school already, we are extending him to 5 days a week and he will get speech, OT, and ABA along with his regular EI class all at school. The director is so understanding and I have a feeling its going to work out well.
Yes, it's going to be a long day for him, but, DD also gets E.I and I will not have that many people in my house if I can help it! Way to overwhelming.
DS' school is very accomadating and I am so glad I chose this school!
I think if you put DS in a program like this, it may be a lot easier on you and your DH.
The only services DS will get here at home are ABA (m-f 8-930 and PT 2x a week 930-1015) he will be like 5-10 mins late for school on tues/thurs (he will be going from 1030-230.

Maybe talk to your coordinator and see what you can work out. I know you said he'll be 3 in June. Again, like I said, it may be easier for you if he was in a program/school.

Re: WWYD? Our life has become insane!

i am totally understanding what you are going through...

we just dropped our Saturday ABA session, so DH & I have more time with DS...

just remember (and this is what i keep saying to myself) there is a light at the end of the tunnel.



once a month we take some time off from therapy and we do fun things...

also remember your ABA therapists can do things with you and your DS...

we have gone to treetop with AJs therapists, we have gone to the supermarket, to the mall... since you have back to back ABA sessions, plan a day somewhere and have your therapists meet you there...

i look at your schedule and i see myself & AJ...

i also try to schedule playdates at my house when therapists are there or if you go to a friends house for a playdate see if the therapist can meet you there...

you need some relaxing time as well, and you can still have some fun.

IDK if you plan on sending your DS to school next year (at 3) but if you do you will gain some time as well, and if you send him to school he will get PT/OT & Speech at school (if he qualifies) and you can still get ABA at home and in the classroom.

AJ is 2 and goes to school 3 days a week, and the rest of his therapies are at home.. next year at 3 he will be going full day 9-2 and getting 5 ABA at home.

right now he has
9 ABA
3 speech
3 OT
3 days of school

FM me if you ever want to talk

Message edited 11/13/2009 2:04:41 PM.

Re: WWYD? Our life has become insane!

Our schedule is pretty similar to yours, without the saturday therapies. I agree, it is nuts and exhausting.

What I have started doing though was taking my ABA therapists out with me. I also have two ABA therapists back to back and the second one will meet me whereever we are, within driving reason of course. We have gone to the library, story time at the book store, just walking around the mall, ecology site, etc. Honestly I do some of my errands when we're out too!! I have too. Another good place is the supermarket, lots of stuff for DC to look at and to pratice speech or pointing and just social situations.

Re: WWYD? Our life has become insane!

we have a hectic schedule too but no where near yours...but ds#2 will start services in a week> i tried to keep 1 day free of therapy during the week but now josh is starting prek and that's out the door. (dh works weekends so we liked 1 free day with him.)

my advice is stick with it, who knows what he'll get with cpse and now is the time to give him as much as u can. i would just maybe acncel a day once in a while to do somthing special as a family.

i know it's hard but you are doing greqt qnd he is so lucky to have you guys as parents!

Message edited 11/14/2009 4:15:17 PM.

Re: WWYD? Our life has become insane!

I would definitely suggest using the aba sessions (especially since they are hour and a half time blocks) for more "fun' stuff. I do a lot of aba therapy with kids and it is important to incorporate a lot of community based instruction into their learning because, realistically, they are not at home playing with their toys all the time. Suggest it to your therapists :) I am sure they would love a break in the routine too. When you go outside - even just for a walk to a park, there are so many opportunities for language, gross motor instruction, direction following, and socialization skills that you can't get sitting in a play room :) HTH!

Re: WWYD? Our life has become insane!

This is the biggest complaint I get from families - it is overwhelming. I have joined families into the community where issues cropped up - the point is to make things functional everywhere - not just the home!

Re: WWYD? Our life has become insane!

I understand 100% my Ds gets
15 hrs of ABA ( 5 Days a week 3 hrs a day)
2 1/2 hrs of speech ( 5 days a week 30 minutes)
1 1/2 hrs of OT ( 3 days 30 minutes)

I was just talking to my husband about this the other day. I said I am so sick and tired of all these people in my house I feel as though I don't get any time with him anymore even if i just want to stay home with him. Let alone have any fun time with him.
Sorry I have no advice because I am going threw the same as you are. But please feel free to FM me if you need to talk to or vent.

Re: WWYD? Our life has become insane!

Thanks everyone!! I know I am not the only one and many of you feel the same I do.

I was told that unless it was my team leader, we could not use our therapists' sessions to do things outside the home like stores, playgrounds, etc..

Now I will have to investigate more on this.

Thanks!

Re: WWYD? Our life has become insane!

Posted by smdl

Thanks everyone!! I know I am not the only one and many of you feel the same I do.

I was told that unless it was my team leader, we could not use our therapists' sessions to do things outside the home like stores, playgrounds, etc..

Now I will have to investigate more on this.

Thanks!