This is not going to be fun. Having everyone in our room at night is a bit overwhelming. Unfortunately, with Gavin now home, we don’t really have a choice. I slept like crap and I don’t think Lizze slept at all.
The boys however, slept well and that’s good news. 🙂
We have to get the alarms and locks this afternoon as Gavin was wandering around last night.
New rules are in place but it’s absolutely exhausting to enforce them. For example, for Gavin to be upstairs while his brothers are, it requires either Lizze or myself to be present. The same goes for anywhere else in the house. There has to be constant supervision and I can’t even begin to explain how difficult that is.
We see Dr. Reynolds this afternoon and hopefully he will have some idea of what we need to do.
I’m already having to deal with problematic behavior from Gavin again. Neither Lizze nor I, want to say or do anything that is going to set him off.
We are once again, prisoners in our own home.
I have been reading your blog for a while now. And I can not imagine how hard this must be for you and your family. We have an Autistic son with PDD. Although he is mild, he can be very violent. My heart breaks for you and your family and worries me that I see my future in your present. I know you are feeling "lost and tired" but know that your honesty and sharing is helping others. Hang in there. You and Lizzie are in our prayers.
can you use county funding for little cameras? kind of like a monitor?
can you use county funding for little cameras? kind of like a monitor?
I remember the "prisoners in my own home" feeling. I used to lock myself in my room so my son couldn't come in and get me. My daughter locked her door also. AND, the not doing or saying ANYTHING that could set my son off. When it has gotten to this point, the only way for anyone to survive is to have your child placed out of the home. I know you are working on it and I know it's so hard with medical/mental issues, but it will happen. I also want to stress the not feeling guilty about it. As a parent you will in your heart, but in your head you will know it is the only right thing to do. I think about your family all the time. Please know we are all thinking of you.
Perhaps I missed it in the posts, but I don't understand why you wouldn't lock Gavin in his room rather than lock everyone in your room. Why do the rest of you guys have to punish yourselves and put up with the discomfort? I also have a fear of thinking if Gavin gets even more dangerous, would he be lying in wait if you or one of the kids had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night? Gods I hope something changes for you soon. 🙁
That\’s a really good question. The answer is simple. At least in Ohio, you are not allowed to lock your child in a room. They Site safety issues, like why happens if there\’s a fire and they can\’t let themselves out of the room.
Ahhh… Ok. I guess I can see the sense in that. I guess the only other way then is to get the room alarms so you know if he opens the door at night. :/
This really bugs me. To me, locking a child in their room when they cannot be trusted to stay safe otherwise is no different than putting an infant in a crib. Both require an adult to take care of them in the event of an emergency. A child who has well documented self-injurious behavior and poses a potential threat to others should be able to be secured at night. Stupid rules, crippling people who have enough to worry about. It would be simple enough to wire a smoke detector to a magnetic door lock so that the lock would disengage if the smoke detector actuated. And I have read many posts from people who use key locks on the inside doors to their homes to keep wandering ASD kids in. How is that different, simply because it's the door to the house and not just an inner room? Best of luck, Lost and Tired Family. I'm sending good thoughts out to you.
Cant even imagine how tired you are,could you secure two of the bed rooms and you and Lizze could trade off nights,One night in room with kids,one night alone to sleep , and are the other boys on any sleep meds or melatonin to promote them sleeping? Can you get any respite help even in the home to just help supervise or is there trusted family or friends that could help even for a couple hours a day so you and Lizze could grab a nap or get things done etc I have known people to use small magnetic locks that emit a sound when doors and windows are opened (If you have air ,I would just nail Gavin's window shut for now,) When we had to have kids sleep in our room we also hung blankets for a little privacy and lots of fans for noise coverage, And look at nursery moniters with camaras so you can observe Gavin in his room lots of thoughts and prayers Gloria
I understand completely. Still working on my book about securing the home from within. The response has been overwhelming when I put out that I was writing it. let me know if you have questions…
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