The COVID pandemic has been a nightmare. While it does appear to be moving in the right direction, at least for now, it’s still keeping me apart from the people I love. That part is really challenging but someday soon, we’ll find ourselves on the other end of this.

It hasn’t been all bad though. Thankfully, everyone in my orbit is safe and healthy. COVID went through my family as well but thankfully, everyone is okay. I’ve met some new people who have enriched my life and that’s super awesome. One of the best things to come out of this nightmare, is that Gavin has discovered a new level of independence.

I’ve touched on this before but as Gavin has been fully vaccinated, and I’m halfway there, we’ve begun talking about his life after COVID. It may still be a ways off but no time like the present.

Here’s the plan and keep in mind, the plan is a work in progress.

One of the things that I worry about with Gavin living away from home is that he is fairly easily distracted and can lose track of his daily routine. It’s not a huge deal now because I’m here to guide him. If he’s in some type of independent living environment, I won’t be there to remind him. I’m concerned about that.

I have found what I believe to be the absolute perfect solution and it’s called Goally. Basically, Goally is an app I put on Gavin’s phone that helps him navigate his entire day without me needing to remind him of anything. There are literally a million uses for Goally but my focus is on helping Gavin prepare for independent living. He doesn’t necessarily need a reward system, which Goally offers, he just needs the visual reminder.

At the moment, I’m setting up some very basic routines, so he can acclimate to using it. For the first week or so, I’m just going to setup reminders so he knows when it’s time for him to play the XBOX or Playstation. I know that sounds a little weird but I want him to see this as a positive thing and it’s not just about chores or stuff like that. Gavin is pretty stoked about this because he’s very focused on wanting to move out and I think he recognizes how benefitial this is for him.

While he gets used to using this, I will slowly add additional things to his routine. The next thing I plan on adding is what he’s supposed to do when he wakes up. He does a really good job already but he gets distracted and loses track of time. Goally will remind him and keep him on task.

I should also say that I’m involving Gavin in creating these routines because they need to work for him. I want him managing his own day and he’s more than capable of knowing what he wants to do and when. Again, Goally is simply there to help him remember. It really is a perfect solution for our situation. There are so many additional uses going forward. I can use Goally help Gavin master new skills and I’ll talk more about that when we reach that point. For now, we’re just getting started and I’m so excited to see Gavin grow and become more independent.

My ultimate goal, pardon the pun, is to reach a point where I have included as much of his daily routine as possible. This way if at any point along the way, he needs a reminder, he has it. I also like the idea of him using this, even if he does remember on his own. I think it would make him feel good to remember that something needs to be done, without having to be reminded. That would be a confidence booster for him.

Anyway, I’m so excited for Gavin as he enters this next chapter of his life.

If you’re interested in checking out Goally for your child or just want to learn more, click the button below. I cannot recommend this enough. I’m so excited.