He runs to make his mind still, to organize himself and to get rid of the noise from this loud, confusing world. The more he's moved, the more he's introduced patterns and rhythm into his routine. Laps around the house are a daily ritual. He's made it more complex as he's developed, but the basics are the same. There is a pattern of movement -- specific foot patterns based on whatever song or chant he chooses to accompany the run, and he can not be stopped until he is ready to be.

This is James, and this is our story.


Saturday, November 3, 2012

Whose Bed is it Anyway?

Tonight we get to turn the clocks back an hour and mark the end of Daylight Savings.

When I was in college, it meant a bonus hour at The Jug. When I first started working, it meant an extra hour lounging around, NOT in a cubicle.

But now? Now it just means I'm going to get kicked for another hour.

I wrote about James' sleep issues last year (with a surprisingly positive attitude) in Setting Clocks and Expectations . Maybe I'm already heading into this annual event more sleep deprived than last time, but I'm definitely feeling less optimistic about our progress this year.

Or maybe it's because what I view as an ongoing family challenge to be addressed, my boys have decided it is our everyday routine, as is entirely obvious from the interactions we had this past week:

The other morning I told Johnny that I left his school uniform on my bed for him. He answered "Which bed? The one in your room or the one you actually sleep in every night?"

And then, later that day, James was upstairs with his Dad. I have no idea what actually happened, but I imagine it went like this:
James said his usual: "I like your bed much better than mine. It is more comfortable".  
Tony matter-of-factly answered: "Our bed isn't really big enough for 3 people and maybe you should think about sleeping in your own bed."  
James asked: "Is there a bigger bed?" 
Tony (who apparently is absolutely, completely unable to lie) said: "Yes, this is a Queen sized bed. They make a bigger bed called a King".
That is what must have happened, because James came immediately running downstairs yelling "MOM! They make a bigger bed! Its a KING! Can you hook it up on the iPad Mom? Hook up the top 10 list of biggest beds? Wow! Look at this! There is an ULTRA KING! We can get a Ultra King sized bed and then you don't have to get in the way of my legs when I want to kick anymore! Yay! Let's get an ULTRA KING!"

And with that, I sighed and was just about to give Tony "the look", but I realized it wasn't even worth it when I recalled our Facebook exchange earlier in this week

Kristin McCarthy Macchi Hurricane James up at 3. Woke his bro at 5. Now obsessing about #Sandy & all storms that ever happened. It's gonna be a LONG day. #autism
Tony Macchi Well that explains why you looked so tired this morning.
 
*Sigh* Just bring on the extra hour already. I'll spend it debating whether I should cave and buy the Ultra King sized bed, or just move back onto the dog bed on the floor of the boys' room.
 




1 comment:

Alysia said...

My kids just went to bed. It's almost 10.
None are on their own beds.
I soooo get this.