Last fall I blogged about the changes in weather. Well, here we are and it's spring in Michigan. It was 70 earlier this week. Today it's 20. Welcome to Michigan! They say if you don't like the weather here, wait a minute, it will change. That is so true. But for a child with autism this can be extremely frustrating.
Tuesday on the 70 degree day the kids happened to have a half day. Daniel had wo
rn a short sleeve shirt and pants to school. I try to keep him in pants (as opposed to shorts, not naked!) for as long as possible because once he switches he doesn't want to go back. That day we were walking over to a neighbors and he was really annoyed. He had on his crocs (the other item of clothing he LOVES but I won't allow him to wear unless it's warm out) but he still had on pants. He was complaining the whole walk about the pants feeling "funny" on the crocs. Because, of course, USUALLY he has shorts on with the crocs. Good grief. The crocs were quite a coupe for me. It happened in Florida and I was having a stroke at him constantly having to put on his tennis shoes and socks upon leaving the beach. . . every time. Have you ever tried to put socks on leaving the beach? Of course you haven't, it's nearly impossible! I snapped, (which is usually how something finally changes) and went and bought him shoes similar to these. He had fought this change many many times, but I think even he could see how difficult it was to be putting on tennis shoes and made the leap. It was a great thing, but also a transition we have to make with weather changes.
rn a short sleeve shirt and pants to school. I try to keep him in pants (as opposed to shorts, not naked!) for as long as possible because once he switches he doesn't want to go back. That day we were walking over to a neighbors and he was really annoyed. He had on his crocs (the other item of clothing he LOVES but I won't allow him to wear unless it's warm out) but he still had on pants. He was complaining the whole walk about the pants feeling "funny" on the crocs. Because, of course, USUALLY he has shorts on with the crocs. Good grief. The crocs were quite a coupe for me. It happened in Florida and I was having a stroke at him constantly having to put on his tennis shoes and socks upon leaving the beach. . . every time. Have you ever tried to put socks on leaving the beach? Of course you haven't, it's nearly impossible! I snapped, (which is usually how something finally changes) and went and bought him shoes similar to these. He had fought this change many many times, but I think even he could see how difficult it was to be putting on tennis shoes and made the leap. It was a great thing, but also a transition we have to make with weather changes.By the time we got home from our walk he was really mad. My patience was not at it's usual level. I was experiencing unprecedented PMS and was seriously about to snap. When my husband asked how I knew it was PMS, my answer was simple. Because I feel like I want to f''ing kill someone! He laughed (nervously? :) and was all, oh ok I get it. It was such a gorgeous day and it was rather frustrating that we were spending the afternoon (that they had off of school) arguing about the clothes situation. I know how hard it is for him so I was (really) trying to be patient with him, but oh some days it's so hard! Complain complain about my pants. I say, "then GO PUT ON SHORTS!" "NOOOOOOOOOO not shorts". I swear! I tried, oh how I tried to calmly lay it out. I told him he could either 1. go put on shorts, or he could 2. continue in his pants with his crocs or 3. wear pants with his tennis shoes. There was crying and agonizing and I just went outside to watch Zachary (in his shorts and short sleeve shirt that he changed into) demonstrate his "obstacle course" that he laid out in the back yard.
While we were doing this Daniel disappeared. He came downstairs and outside IN HIS SHORTS. Thank God! I am so thankful to have Zachary, besides for the obvious fact that I love, adore, cherish, and admire him as his own person. He is a wonderful model for Daniel. Sometimes when Daniel is so stuck in something he'll look at Zachary and realize he's doing it, maybe it's not so bad. It is so helpful for him, ok for me too.
Today it is snowing again. Daniel wants to know why? I understand Daniel, because I'm so done with this weather too. We are back to pants and "heavy coats". It wasn't as hard as usual to go back but the disappointment is there for all of us. It gets better every year, but every year I'm always asking myself why we live here?
10 comments:
We've had crazy back-and-forth weather here too. Nigel has self-imposed seasonal clothing issues, but his are motivated by the calendar. On the first day of spring, even if it's snowing (and it often is here), he has to go put on shorts. Likewise in September, when it's the first day of fall, he has to wear pants, regardless of the temperature.
Tanya-the calendar is a strong influence for Daniel too, we have been working him away from it. But he would keep shorts on as long as possible. Like me, he gets very grouchy if too hot. . . I just want it to GET WARM. For everyone's sake!
Oh the weather drives me nuts. So many books and programmes tell kid how the weather is at certain seasons, even that the sun comes up in the moring and it's dark at bedtime, noitsnot!!!
Wow, that sounds really hard. What kind of weather is that? Crazy. Parker is opposed to long sleave shirts most of the time so that makes it hard for us here. Also he doesn't like jeans or button up shirts. Hang in there!
I know why do books say Summer warm, etc. He doesn't want snow in the spring, it doesn't make sense. I feel a childrens book in there!!
Daniel does not wear jeans or button up shirts. (except for band concerts, then he'll do it) we've been lucky finding pants, I wrote a blog last fall about that. Lands' End, pants, no buttons, elastic waist, comes in slim and husky! The best!!! Thanks for the comments!
Michelle, one of the things I believe about the blessings of having more than one child is the following: you do (or don't do) things you'd never be "mean" enough to do to an only child, just because you have to.
A little benign neglect is a good thing, I think. And so when you went to watch Zach, you weren't making a conscious choice to get some space from Daniel; it was just a built in. And, for that situation, it was just right!
Also -- read, and reread, Judy T's post on living in Michigan. If there is any way to move where it is warmer, DO IT! I didn't understand the difference it makes in life until we left Michigan/Illinois/Indiana. Life in Atlanta is SO much easier... and no, it's not actually that much hotter in the summer. C'mon down, I'll give you a tour! ;)
I want to wear shorts and crocs too. What is with the weather?
We have come up with a new plan for Joe at swim class that involves one of us helping to change Joe. The swim coach (Mike) sort upset me on Thursday the way he was talking (well, not talking at all) about Joe. I worried about it all weekend and decided that Chris can deal with it better than I. I might skip on Thursday.
It's so nice to read about others who have weather-clothing issues. For the past 3 years we have gone through a troublesome stripping phase. It's worse when going from summer to fall -- shorts to pants, sandals to sneakers. Ugh! She can't stand the feeling of the pants on her legs and so she takes them off. We put them back on. She takes them off. We put them back on. Insert meltdown. She takes them off... you get the picture.
FINALLY. Should I start watching the Help Wanted ads????
Post a Comment