Routines
I have noticed throughout my life that most people I meet on the spectrum have very routine- oriented lives. My theory is that this is because there are a lot of things autistic people cannot control most aspects of their lives. A lot of their decision making is made for them and most of the time it is difficult to even control their own emotions. So clinging on to the things that are predictable day to day likely offers a sense of comfort.
When Nick was hospitalized back in 2019, that was the most unpredictable thing to happen in his life thus far. It was only natural that when he came back, he wanted to make sure no other changes would be happening. It took him a little while, but he eventually started to adjust back to his routine of waking up to go to school, coming home and having therapy, eating dinner, then going to bed. Right when he was finally adjusted, COVID came around and we were all on lockdown. This was really difficult for Nick. It was hard for us to explain to him why we were all staying home and why his routine was being tampered with yet again.
That was the origin of his strict routine. Since things became so unpredictable in the world around us, we needed to make Nick’s daily life as predictable as we possibly could to keep him sane. However, what makes him sane sometimes tends to drive the rest of us insane.
Ever since COVID, this has been Nick's routine:
Wake up around 8:30 to be at school on time at 10 because he takes so long to do anything.
School from 10- 2:15.
Get home at 2:30, take twenty minutes to take his socks and shoes off. He goes to the restroom and has a snack which takes another thirty minutes.
He then has therapy, which only lasts about an hour because he takes too long to accomplish the previous tasks.
Once therapy ends, he goes on a drive and listens to the three same Pitbull songs on repeat the entire car ride. Eat dinner, then take another drive to either Jamba Juice or Cold Stone, either shower or go in the jacuzzi, then go to bed and do the whole thing over again, and again, and again.
If one small, minor detail is left out of the routine, this causes a tantrum in some form, so it is HIGHLY important that each step of the day is completed in a timely manner.
Some days feel like the movie Groundhog Day where the same day keeps repeating itself over and over again. Other days, it’s kind of nice because when we try to be lazy, Nick does everything in his power to make sure that never happens!
All jokes aside, having a routine comes with its pros and cons. It is predictable, yet effective. As long as being on the most strict routine known to man keeps Nick happy, that’s all that really matters.
