The gentle increase of light in the sky is a sign of upcoming changes.  A yellow light on a traffic signal is a warning – however brief in duration – about change.  I watch the website at NOAA and keep an eye on the weather to have a heads-up on possible future changes.

I like to be warned about changes; most of us do.

For Builder (who is currently designing and decorating a house in Google Sketch-up), we have to sign-post changes for him.  Preparing him for transitions is even in his IEP (Individualized Education Program) — essentially, anyone teaching him has to prepare him for a transition. There can be no surprises.

I don’t like surprises myself, so this is all good with me.

When we knew we had to alter his sleep schedule, we informed him and we are sliding him into a new routine gradually.  Since he and the calendar are good friends, we are starting a few new things in June.

1. He will not wake me up until five in the morning.  He is often awake at four, but he is to stay in bed and read or draw on his Magna-doodle or something until five.

2. He will take his morning meds with apple juice.  He has learned to swallow pills whole, which is wonderful. To facilitate this new skill, I let him choose what beverage he could use to take his meds.  He chose Sprite.  I have allowed it to allow him some say in taking his meds as the procedure was new to him.  Now, we’re changing the beverage to apple juice.  It matters to me, anyway…

3. A visit to the grandparents’ is planned in June.  So he has been prepped, we have looked at the driving route (again) and we have gone over all that he will see and do at his grandparents’ house.  He has reviewed every picture we have of the houses, their appliances, and so on. He has spoken much more than usual to his grandma.  He is preparing himself for the visit.  We talk about the drive up and back and the possibility of sightseeing.

These are just some of the changes coming. In June.  After he’s been prepared for them.

We can’t transition when there’s a power outage. We can’t prepare for sudden rain storms.  But for some things, we can and we do.

Hopefully, we will have a more peaceful summer.