Bus Time!

Pookie’s bus pick up time has been moved again. Because he is bussed to a school across town, he gets picked up at the door, not at a bus stop. His school is a regular public school, they just core some of the special ed in certain buildings, in order to get enough kids in each age bracket. Its been that way for his entire school career and we are fine with it. The district has always sent a bus for him, right to our door. So, its pretty easy. Up until this year, with the start of all-day Kindergarten, Pookie was always assigned to afternoon preschool. Just a coincidence, we never cared.

Well, now that he goes all day, his school day is 8am – 2 pm. Add in the fact that the Special Ed bus is supposed to let off their students a few minutes prior to the other buses, to minimize the gaggles of kids at the school door, and Pookie has to be to school by 7:45. Add in the fact that none of Pookie’s class mates live within the neighborhood of his school, us included, and you have a bus ride that is a bit longer because it picks kids up from many neighborhoods. Add in the fact that each kid is picked up at their door, not at a bus stop, and the time involved in doing the route grows. Finally, add in the fact that since Pookie’s bus is on the road picking up kids all over town anyway it is often used to pick up a small group of homeless children who are living out of school boundaries, but still attending Pookie’s school. Add this all up……and you get a 6:55 a.m. bus time.

6:55 a.m. 5 days a week. Rain or Shine. Me and Pookie at the end of the drive way. Luckily, there are a few things going in my favor:

1. Pookie’s bus driver is absolutely wonderful. She watches out for him and will always remind him to take his backpack when he gets off the bus. She thinks its cute when he sings on the bus. She knows that very soon I am working on bus independence and will not be stepping on the bus to get him on and off any more, instead I will wait by our garage. She is going to help Pookie and I get thru that transition. She would give us the benefit of the doubt if we were ever late. Just knowing that takes alot of stress off of me.
2. Pookie is awesome. He gets up every day at 6:00 a.m. No alarm. No Mom shaking the bed. He gets up before I do. He goes directly into the bathroom, pees, takes off his pajamas, goes back to his bedroom, flips on the light (Good Morning Geetle!) and gets dressed. All I have to do is approve his wardrobe choice and remind him to brush his teeth and slick down whatever unruly cowlicks manage to survive his buzzcut.

We also have a pretty tight routine for the morning, which is amazing when you consider that its not my best time of the day, Pookie would rather be playing than eating breakfast and there are also 2 other kids in the house. Now, I am not saying it always goes perfectly; if Giggles wets thru her Pjs I am screwed because it throws off the routine and all hell breaks loose. But, generally we do very well. I think there are a few reasons, other than those I mentioned above.

1. Breakfast is simple. Usually Cheerios. Almost always cold cereal.
2. Must get dressed before you go downstairs, including socks. Whatever they wear is fine with me. I only veto if Pookie accidentally grabs a pair of girl jeans or is not dressed for the weather.
3. We keep toothbrushes in the downstairs bathroom.
4. School snacks are pre-measured and packed in the pantry. They get to pick their own from the bin and put it in their backpack.
5. Coats, boots, backpacks are always by the front door, on their hooks.
6. Pookie follows a numbered checklist which is posted on the pantry door.

1. Get Up.
2. Get Dressed.
3. Eat.
4. Brush teeth and Hair.
5. Put on shoes.
6. Draw or Play.
7. Get on bus.

I watch the clock, but I do not advertise that fact. I keep them on task, but do not constantly harp on them about how many minutes until the bus. I also use the fact that Geetles’s bus is not until 8 am. I keep her on track with Pookie, but if something snaps, I just focus on him. She knows this, be have never talked about it. But I know that she understands that the primary goal is to get him up and out.

I am proud of my little school warrior. He gets on that bus every day at 6:55, before some of the working parent in the neighborhood have left for work. Before some people put their garbage out on Thursday morning. Before the sun comes up, on some days. I especially think that posting the numbered steps is important for helping kids with autism stay on task and get ready for school in the morning. He does very well and we are lucky.

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