Ok- so the "once a week" writing thing hasn't worked out as I had planned, but I hope to be better about it in the future. I thought it might be fun to write an entry about what our typical days are like here at the Dougherty house, from the point of view of what goes on in Sam's life, of course. We usually get up around 6AM- Sam is buried under blankets and stuffed animals and usually wakes up talking a blue streak (which we are trying to tone down a little bit these days). We all hang out down in the living room, drinking our juice and coffee, watching the news and weather, and reading the paper (when it shows up early). I prepare Sam's breakfast (these days a corn muffin, yogurt and applesauce) and then his lunch. Sam eats breakfast while watching "Max & Ruby" on TV, and usually while drawing or writing one of his numerous books. Sam washes up, brushes his teeth and gets dressed after this, then he goes downstairs to pack his backpack. He usually has a few minutes of free time before the bus comes. Jack the bus driver and Pam the bus aide pick Sam up about 7:25 for the 45 minute ride to Rotterdam. The school day starts off with breakfast, then the class meets for some circle time. This year they've been doing "centers", a different activity with each of the aides (Jim, Sandy and Stacy), the social worker (Angie) and their substitute teacher (Mrs. Conlon). Sam has been bringing home reading comprehension exercises that he does in school- read a story, then answer questions about it, and draw pictures relating to it. He has math tests in school, and usually brings home math homework each night. He enjoys gym the best of all the specials, although he often talks about the songs they sing in music. They have free time at the end of the school day that they have "earned" through good behavior. He usually arrives home around 3:15PM. The bus rides so far this year have been uneventful, and he's handling the distance and time on the bus well. Usually when he gets home from school, he wants a snack of some type, and he goes on the computer for a timed 15 minutes, or continues writing his book started in the morning, or watches a taped TV show from earlier in the day. Sometimes we'll drive to visit friends somewhere or walk to the library, or ride bikes. He usually does his homework right before dinner- it generally takes him about 5 minutes! He sometimes helps with preparing dinner or setting the table. Dinner is around 5PM. I'm happy to say his food preferences have matured somewhat. While he still mostly eats a seperate meal from what we eat, he now eats most kinds of fruit and a few vegetables. We are stressing the point that "big 8 years olds eat the same thing that their parents eat at dinner!", since he's been on a kick lately telling us the kinds of things 8 year olds do, in anticipation of his 8th birthday in March. After dinner he has 15 more minutes of computer time, then we often play a game or go for a walk. Bedtime is usually around 7:30, sometimes later. Lately he's enjoying having me read to him from "The A to Z Mysteries"- chapter books about 3 friends who solve mysteries that crop up in their small town. He almost always goes right to sleep, listening to NPR and thumbing through books.
