Switch-a-roo . . .

I spent Saturday evening switching bedrooms. I am not sure yet if it was good idea. We tried to make a bedroom change a while back and it backfired, but so far this one is going well. Dustin moved to Harrison's room. Due to major anxiety, Dustin's psychologist suggested years ago that we create a corner for him in our bedroom. It was a god-send at the time. It was the only time in the many years that we had Dustin that he actually began sleeping thorugh out the night. Prior to that he would roam the house and get into numerous things. Once, I found him playing with matched in the living room. Scary.

We mixed things up a bit at home and now he is in his own room. With the new alarm system we have, we are immediately aware if he leaves his room. He is absolutely unable to fool his alarm system unlike others we have had in the past. He knows it. He hates it. But it works. He stays put because he knows he cannot get out without us knowing.

I am not sure if this is a good thing or I will be coming back here next week saying we failed and I spent another 8 hours moving rooms back like they were. The only way I would know is if I tried. Pray it works, it is a much better configuration.

This weekend went okay. He is never more than 2 feet away from an adult at all times. It is tiring, but oddly enough he was well behaved. He really didn't have too much of an attitude and he was mostly pleasant. It is as though he knows he has boundaries and he is comfortable in giving someone else the ability to control his actions. Subconsciously I think it makes him rest.

I took all three kids to church yesterday myself so Robert could rest. Lord have mercy! Our service is one hour. I am fairly certain Dustin asked me to go to the bathroom 1317 times! I just kept giving him the "mom eye" and lo and behold after church was over the urge passed. We met the entire family at a local Ice Cream Shop last night and one of the younger cousins who is a friend of mine on facebook said, "Dustin, glad to see you put some clothes on for us!" referencing the Great Underwear Incident of April 2011. Dustin was mortified. I think it was good for him to understand that people know what happens when you run out, acting the fool, in your drawers. He looked at me and I shrugged my shoulders and said, "This one is on you bud. Perhaps you shouldn't run out where people can see you." He was awfully quiet while we were there.

Will it change the behavior next time? Probably not, but it was nice to see some realization on his face.