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My niece's car broke down and she is unable to help. I wish she still stayed across the street, but she moved 20 minutes out, to her dad's house, because the complex wanted to raise the rent to over 1k per month. My sister is still in the vicinity, but I don't see her woke, this early.
Brad has been eloping more--running out of the house and running out in public. Brad has always been a big runner. I stopped going to many places--parks, for example, because he will bolt. When we go somewhere new, I try to map it out on Google Maps, to see if there are any triggers--like McDonald's near by.
Memorable Incidents.
Need a new laptop
A few years ago, I wanted a new laptop because my old one (and now back up) was messing up. I couldn't even get on Blogger to type anything because it moved so slow. I had to type a blog post from my phone. Took over an hour to get it written up because of the freezes and restarts. I found one at Aarons but had to go pick it up. I mapped the area and didn't see any immediate triggers. I thought it would be ok to catch the bus; pick up the laptop; then head home.
I was able to go to the store and pick up the new laptop, so I can work, but ran into issues, getting home. The bus stop was a few feet away. I figured we can ride the bus to the transit center, then come back home. The other way-- was to cross over the highway, which I did not want to attempt.
Brad went postal. There was a McDonalds, across the highway, which I did not notice when I was looking for triggers. He wanted to bolt across North Freeway. I was able to keep him back, but I was struggling. A wonderful woman, saw me struggling, and offered me a ride home. I was so grateful.
Visiting my former church
A few years ago, I moved from my mother's house to my own place. The new place put me out of range, to ride the church bus, to and from church. My old church was close to my mother's subdivision. During vacation bible school, during the summer, I would walk, my brats, plus other brats, who wanted to go, because I could cut through the back of the church, once I got out of the subdivision.
I tried finding new churches, closer to me, but none resonated as a good home for my kids. I had one, I visited--where Brad had a screaming and rolling fest--and not a soul came to help me. I assumed special needs, would be open every Sunday, but it was closed, this particular Sunday. It was my 3rd visit to this church. I got him calm and just walked back home. It was a good 30 minute walk.
I had another one--tell me-- they had a special needs program--but found out after service--that the staff just walked the kids around the church, while I was in service. It didn't help, that while I was in a visitor session, after the service--that the lady, who sat next to me, mentioned the church (probably her) didn't like me typing notes on my kindle/blue tooth keyboard (miss you .need to get another one).
Anyways, I decided to attempt to visit my old church, for one Sunday. Get a good lesson in. See familiar folks. Enjoy my last year or so with them, since Brad was about to be 18. ( I have found an amazing church home, which has an amazing program for special needs kids and adults).
I mapped out the route. One bus to the highway. Walk across the highway, then walk about another 30 minutes to an hour. BIG MISTAKE. Got off the bus and Brad wanted McDonalds. I didn't notice the Mcdonalds, either because, it was blocked by a few other restaurants, which wasn't triggers. I said fine--we can walk to Mcdonalds, get the kids some food, which hopefully, will keep him calm. It didn't.
We started walking towards the golden arches, only to discover, before we approached, it was closed. It was Christmas and it was closed. He didn't want any of the other places, which was open. Brad was kicking and screaming. He ran across part of the highway. God was with him because the cars was stopped and I was able to pull him back. I had to leave Kalen, in his stroller, with our bags, near a ditch.
Concerned citizens called the police. The police tried to help calm him down. Luckily, once again, someone, from our old church, passed by, recognized us, and offered us a ride to church and home from church. The next time, we went back, my mother took us, but he had a scream fest, at church, and we never went back.
Incidents going to my current church
- Night to Shine 2020: I had to catch an Uber, to go from the bus depot, to church, because Brad refused to leave the bus depot. The walk is about 10-15 minutes. The bus depot has a sidewalk, which takes you directly across from the church, then just cross over the bridge and I can enter through the back of the church.
- Went to Sunday service. There is a retirement home, across from the back of the church. Brad refused to cross over. I tried to call the director of special needs, but his number would not connect through. A concerned church member saw me struggling with Brad and was able to contact the director, for us. The member also drove us to the back of the church.
I ran after him, with Kalen, on my back, and bags in hand. Kalen had no shoes on. I did meet, a lovely lady, who handed me a card to the church's food and clothes pantry, after she saw shoeless Kalen.
The past week
Brad upped his elopement game. In the past few months, Brad has learned to open the front door and just run out. I bought a small, under the door, alarm from Amazon, but Brad learned to toss/trigger the alarm, and still run out.
Brad started eloping more, out of the house, since the pandemic. He has been stuck in the house, with no where to go. Brad still hasn't been approved for day hab. It was so bad, last year, I had to be careful walking out to take out the trash or to stalk a delivery driver, because Brad would run out and it was hard to get him back in the house.
