Thank goodness I'm a teacher

As we are into our second week of summer holidays, I have to commend working parents on the effort they must put into finding appropriate care for their children for such a long stretch of time. The planning, the organizing, the phone calls, the schedule changes. I can't even imagine. What a nightmare! Thank goodness I'm a teacher!

The lack of structure of summer holidays can be difficult for kids on the spectrum. Our first four days were filled with toileting accidents, meltdowns, demands, and a gazillion questions about "what's next". After that transition to the summer break, things have gotten better. We had a few days in a row without accidents and I would say an average, appropriate (haha) number of meltdowns etcetera. She needs to be kept busy and with a fair amount of guidance, that's for sure, but all in all we're doing well at the moment.

I have Sienna signed up for a camp this week and have sent a support worker with her. This is why I say I am so glad I chose the teaching profession. She's having a hard time. It's not very structured and I would go so far as saying it is quite disorganized actually. There is a visual schedule up on the wall, which is something she is familiar with and relies upon, but it is not followed. She is not given preparation for the transitions to the next activity. It's in a huge room that has two other large groups going on with a lot of echoing. Her group plays games and sing songs in a hallway. These are all challenges for Sienna. It won't be a camp that we return to again and I'm pondering pulling her from the week in August that we had planned. This is her first "older" camp with kids ages 6-8. She does better with the younger camps that have more structure and a lower counsellor-child ratio... Even with a support worker. It's unfortunate that it is not more inclusive. I would love to propose to the co-ordinator that I teach these counsellors how to design an inclusive environment. Maybe they'd pay me for that? Lol. Or maybe they'd sign me up for a psychiatric evaluation...

But anyway! Back to being thankful! If I was not a teacher and didn't have summers off, having a child with special needs would be even more challenging. First, where would I find the time to find appropriate camps and meet with the people to discuss our needs and fill out all the extra paperwork that comes with A) having special needs and B) verifying the support worker is legit? Second, how would I ever afford the $600 per week for 6 or 8 weeks that is paid to the support worker? Ouch. That plus the camp fees... And making sure there is someone who is knowledgeable, caring and available to support her each week? Third, and most important, how would Sienna ever get through 6 weeks of camps that are different, with different rules, different structures, different counsellors? Eek. Thank goodness I decided to go to teachers college... 

Plus I love being a teacher too -- just sayin'!