Yay! The first half term of 2016 has arrived and, you guessed it, it's started exactly the way it always does - fighting, screaming and the thinking chair being used! This happens every time there is a change in daily routine, and half terms are the very very worst for us, no matter how many days or weeks we prepare R for this week off.
The joys of having children - any children - is that during school holidays you get to have loads of fun together doing things you used to do every day before they turned 4 or 5 (depending on birthdays). I looked forward to making salt dough ornaments, painting pictures and generally craft type stuff when R was born.
He just wasn't interested. Sigh, so out came the football - that he loved! Still nothing but, what I thought were just tantrums (turns out to be meltdowns) because he wasn't going to school every day. Now came the fun bit - holiday club - 7.30am to 5.30pm every day and also before and after school was available if we so wanted. Upside was R got his routine even in school holidays and I got mummy and R time.
Downside - cost! It's blooming expensive having kids, especially when you pay for childcare!
In Norfolk, we don't have access to these type of things (we used to live on a military base), so dealing with school holiday fall out is hell - just like it is for the school the first 2 weeks back AFTER school holidays. Yup, that's how long it takes for R to adapt to new routines.
I am often heard saying to anyone who asks 'I wish they didn't have school holidays.' Or even 'I will be the first one back saying he's all yours!' This isn't me saying I don't want my son around but me saying that the fall out of the short holidays (like 1 week half terms) are more hard work for all involved, including R and H, than they are worth.
R has enough problems with learning without the added routine changes every half term and end of school year. No amount of warning, teaching or cajoling him into being cooperative, help us as a family.
We are lucky now that his current school are behind us 100% and even try things we do at home, at school. Not everyone is this lucky, and I want those parents, families and special stars (no matter what age!) that you are not alone! We have been in the same situations or at least some similar ones, my advice to anyone parenting a complex needs kiddo is plan plan plan and then follow the kiddos.
Plans can be remade, time with a happy playful kiddo can not be replaced. Does this mean we give in to R and his complex needs?
Sometimes yes we do! Just like all of us - he needs to be and us to be flexible. So chin up parents, day one is finished, therefore making school routine one day closer!
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