Walking Through the Snow

This is our deck as mentioned in the previous post, and that sort of slender oval shaped object is the kayak, after some 15 inches of snow fell on Wednesday, 10 February 10.

(For those who wondered how we were managing to store a kayak, three bikes, a sled, two scooters, and other random outdoors items in a single condo garage: We didn't. All those items---most of all, Charlie's and Jim's bikes and the yellow bike I inherited from Charlie---have been safely stowed in the pale yellow shed at the end of our back yard.)

The snow started falling around midnight and pretty much kept coming down, sometimes with the wind whipping it hither and yon, all day. Charlie's school was closed as were mine and Jim's. My parents had been planning to drive down to Philadelphia on Wednesday---they had rescheduled their flight as Charlie's school was supposed to have a special visiting day for grandparents on Wednesday---but all flights had been cancelled and they'll be staying a couple of extra days.

There's quite a bit of snow out there.  We know not only from watching it fall but shoveling, shoveling, and shoveling it, and walking, walking, walking, walking, and walking in it. We did five walks with Charlie. The last part of the walk goes through a tree-edged field and, as the day wore on, the amount of snow we had to break a path through piled up till it got into my boots.

  

Charlie must have gone through five pairs of pants and as many of socks. Fortunately we have multiple pairs of black shoes in sizes 10 1/2 and 11 for his and Jim's use.

 

Earlier in the day we'd taken a ride up by Charlie' school. Good thing we got out when we did; wasn't a day to be on the roads.

Another snow day (= Thursday) which will be a challenge (but it could be far worse---friends further south have not had school for days). With the help of all those walks and a written schedule we hung by the front door, Snow Day 1 passed almost without incident. Both times that Charlie just couldn't handle being in the house anymore (there was one instance of kitchen cabinet-emptying and, therefore, kitchen cleaning up), we were able to get him very quickly outside. Nothing like having to stomp your way through several inches (a foot in some places) of snow to redirect pent-up energies.

I've Thursday off too from work as my school as closed. Jim's is open but he doesn't have to teach any classes. Am just hoping the inside of my boots dries out as I'd hate to miss any winter wonderland walks in Charlie's footsteps.

(And am I glad I didn't schedule the IEP meeting for Thursday of this week.)

 

Comments

[Regina]

I'm smiling a little because of all the sports equipment that might be useful right now, snowshoes or x-country skis might fit the bill.

Does Charlie like to watch the snow come down or is it just old hat to him?

That is a lot of snow - I think several years back when I was in NJ you all had had a big snow and it still hadn't melted completely off even though I visited quite a few days later. Seeing all that white kind of brings it back (it's just kind of soggy/mucky here, and I'm not sure if I'm thankful or jealous).

I hope you, Charlie, and family have a good day, don't get frozen feet or cabin fever. Take care.

[Kristina Chew]

We're just wishing Charlie's school could have had a delayed opening---having President's Day on Monday off is going to make the next couple of days 'interesting' (and may convince us to invest in snowshoes).

He's not interested in watching the snow fall. Already had a 6.15am walk which he enjoyed until we got to the snowed-up field---we're going to have to work on getting him to walk other routes or it'll be one pair of soggy, snow-icy shoes after another!

I'm actually kind of appreciating the snow in some ways -- not going to argue to have two extra days off myself.....

[Rose]

Ben is jealous. Living in Atlanta, we don't see much snow...and he LOVES it. At Granpa's funeral, we flew in to Chicago with snowflakes big enough to put your eye out! Ben knew Grandpa did it for him!

The cupboard emptying would be so frustrating! What's up with that, Charlie? I wonder if Ben releases a similar frustration by cussing...or if it is similar to Tourettes in that it is just an urge that is hard to suppress. A behavior "tick".

Sorry, off on a mental bender...

[Louise]

Can Charlie help shovel? That can use up a lot of energy!

Can you tell us more about how you are using schedules to help Charlie adjust his expectations? Can he read the words that you use? Are you beginning to use hour references?

What a success for you all :)

And I hope that you didn't suffer any property damage - we lost two very large limbs from my favorite flowering magnolia, down here in Central NJ. (14 inches fell.)

[Brenda (mamabegood)]

Have to tell you that reading about your daily walks gives me inspiration to get out there with my son ... no matter what. And he loves it.

[Club 166]

I'm thinking that the kayak would be a blast going down a steep, snow covered hill. :)

Joe

[Bill]

You're right Joe, it DOES look like fun! Especially in this kind of wet, dense, 'snowman' snow:
http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/873567/snow_kayak.swf

[Kristina Chew]

Kayak down steep, snowy hill = make sure everyone wears their bike helmets! It's not exactly a bobsled......

[Autism and 14-Monkey Experiment]

Charlie sure went through a lot of pants in a short period of time. It pays to be prepared.

[Kristina Chew]

@Louise,
sorry to hear about your tree (and I love magnolias). One of our neighbor's is under a huge heap of snow on his front lawn.

I keep the format of the schedules very simple---I usually take out a piece of paper and just write a list of words on it. I _think_ Charlie can read the words; his teachers use lots of these sorts of things at school so he's use to the idea. I read the schedule out to Charlie and point to the letters and, with the snow day schedule, tape it up in a place that he can see it. The schedules can get a bit over-elaborate! (Some are here difflearn.com.)