Parents of autistic kids learn, like good scouts, always be prepared. I learned this the hard way 3 summers ago when Ian broke his only pair of glasses the day before we were going on vacation. Now, we always have 2 pair of glasses for him, and we take the spare along whenever we travel.
Yes, it is expensive to do this. Whenever he has a prescription change we try to work with the old frames and just buy new lenses. This week proved to be the all-time worst week for glasses at our house.
For several months now, Ian has had 3 pairs of glasses. We let him select a new pair of frames to have something different to wear. New lenses were put in one of the old frames, and we left the oldest pair as is, but kept them just in case. A few weeks ago, that oldest pair became his primary means to view the world because he broke one of the others. The newest ones are rarely worn because the lenses pop out. They were just a bad choice altogether.
Yesterday was not a good day for Ian. His temper was seething all afternoon. When Steve informed Ian that it was time to turn off the computer and do something else, the maniac within was unleashed. It was like watching a miniature Incredible Hulk - he stormed to his room, mumbling something about running away from home. Then he trashed his room, took off all his clothes and proceeded to break his glasses in two.
Eventually, the cauldron stopped boiling and I was able to tell him through my own clenched teeth that I was going to have to think about the consequences for this destructive behavior. He went to bed wondering what his punishment would be because I was so ticked, I couldn't be reasonable about my expectations.
Today was better...sort of. Steve and I agreed that Ian should pay for his next pair of glasses. Rather, he will WORK OFF the cost of the glasses. We had just finished telling him about our decision, and I was on the phone calling opticians for prices, when Steve came back to the office and showed me what I was dreading would happen. In an altercation with his sister over a play-dough sculpting implement, a lens in the final pair of glasses had been cracked. The trip to buy a new pair, which I hoped would be put off until next week, was now being frantically rescheduled for immediately.
Before Ian and I left, Ainsley was informed that SHE would be working off the cost of Ian's backup pair of glasses.
When we returned about an hour later, Ian and I made up a list of extra chores he and Ainsley could do and how much each of them was worth. Unloading the dishwasher - $1. Sweeping the kitchen floor - $1. Helping to cook a meal - $2. Cleaning up dog poop in the back yard - $5. At this rate, they will each be just about old enough to begin using their college funds when they pay off these glasses (with interest, of course).
3 comments:
I just got my eyes checked and prescription changed yesterday-guess who needs progressive bifocals?? I asked the optomestrist about having Littleman's eyes examined since Ron and I both wear glasses, what was I thinking????? I guess I just assumed that kids that wear glasses don't want to be without them, guess I was mistaken. Doing extra chores sounds like a fair compromise.They need to start making unbreakable eyewear!!
When my son was younger, his glasses often got broken accidentally because he would fall asleep wearing them. Now they sell flexible frames that can be twisted and bent but still go back into their original shape with no harm done. I wish those had been around ten years ago!
Good job putting both kids to work cleaning up the dog poop. Maybe they'll think more about their behavior next time. When my kids were younger and got extra chores for acting up and breaking things, I didn't let them use the computer or Nintendo for however long it took to work off their debt, either. They just had to toil in unrelieved boredom.
Just a note: The two older pairs of glasses that Ian broke with his bare hands WERE the flexible frames that are supposed to be "indestructible". They can take a beating, but they can't take Ian!
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