How can this work?
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| Mon, 11-13-2006 - 7:03am |
BF and I are wanting to move in together. We have started "trialing" things between his kids and mine. I don't know how it will work, although we both want to make it work. His kids being older at 5 and 7 are pretty reimbuncious. The biggest problem is around sleep...
My boys take their meds and fall asleep between 6 and 630 pm. (they are 3 and 4 years old). His kids have a very hard time staying quiet so the boys can fall asleep. Mine fall asleep right now and get carried to their beds--will face that battle later. It would only be saturday nights and maybe twice a week that we have to deal with this issue.
Then, I tried to keep the new house completely open without gates and Matty got very worked up. He seemed to need the boundaries of gates. Still, there is use of bathroom and upstairs. He says his kids aren't use to been confined and having to be quieter in the evening until they go to bed around 8pm.
I guess I just really want this to work. But how do you integrate new kids into an autism household and make it work?
~V

Well to be honest, combining any family with another is tough; just the age gap of 3-7 is big. How can you get your kids to sleep by 6:30pm????? Wow, I am soooo jealous.
Val,
My only suggestion
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Val,
I think compromising is going to have to be the thing to do. All the kids should be comfortable and happy. Is there a specific reason your boys go to bed so early? I think stretching it to a later time would be good. I also agree that your bf's kids need to find something quiet to do when your boys are going to bed. Once they are set to a routine of this......it should run smoothly. Its just "changing" everyone's routines and habits that might be difficult at first. But once its in place, they will all be used to the "new" schedule.
Nathan has some difficulties with change too. But as he grows older, changes have to take place. Its not fun, but it needs to be done. I'm sure everything will work out fine. Is your bf willing to compromise on some of these issues? Lots of patience and understanding and working with all the kids needs can be hard to do. Blending families is difficult. Good luck.
Hugs,
michelle