Two Birds with One Stone
Our daily supply of energy and time never seems to be enough to take care of all the little details that need our attention. “I know that I could be helping my son with autism by spending more time with him each day,” said one parent. “Although I have good intentions, I rarely seem to have any spare time.” Another parent said, “Even on the weekends, meals and meds, bathroom breaks, and household chores seem to dominate our days. I never seem to have any time to just enjoy hanging out with my kid.”
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SOME IDEAS. Quality caregiving is tough under the best of circumstances. The challenges encountered by caregivers of individuals with autism just add another layer of responsibilities. The “Two Birds with One Stone” strategy of combining daily tasks might help decrease frustration resulting from too little time and energy. + For example, if you need to pay bills but you also want to spend some time with your youngster with autism, sit at the kitchen table and work together. Give them an inexpensive calculator, some paper and pencil, a few old envelopes, and some paper clips to enjoy while you take care of business. + Another example: Combine walking the dog with daily exercise. Just head out the door with dog and kid in tow for a brisk 15 minute walk, talking about the day’s events or the neighborhood sights as you are walking. Make it a daily routine – it will impact the physical and emotional health of you, your youngster with autism, and your dog! + Here’s an idea: get a porch swing so the two of you can swing side-by-side while you read the newspaper each day. If you get porch swing that is on a frame, you might even be able to squeeze it into your family room for swinging in the wintertime. + And don’t forget to use “drive time” for talking, telling stories, singing songs, and other quality interaction. Even if you are grumpy because of slow traffic or issues at home or work, you can lift the spirits of everyone in the car by bursting out into a chorus of “If you are happy and you know it, clap your hands!” Don’t worry about the quality of your singing – just do it! Of course, you can adapt the words and sing “If you are MAD and you know it, say GRRrrrrr!” + So, think creatively about mulit-tasking in a way that helps you check TWO things off your mental “to do” list every day.
NOTE TO LISTENERS AND READERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. www.FAQautism.com
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