Although I mentioned the parallel between taking my boys to therapies and other moms taking their kids to various sports activities, I never before did the math. One or both of my boys have attended various therapies in three different locations for the past several years. These are rough calculations, granted. For the sake of my sanity, I'm saying every month consists of four weekly sessions, even though there are sometimes five. Okay...here we go:
Both of my boys have attended roughly 208 physical therapy sessions, and 208 social skills/play group sessions in the past four years (in different locations on different days). Although each attend their own groups, they go simultaneously to cut down on driving.
My Owen has clocked an additional 156 sessions of either occupational therapy or speech therapy (or both for a short time) during a three year time span that ended in late 2013.
Most sessions, I should add, are an hour long. That's roughly 572 hours (again, I'm using easy numbers) of therapy. Since each center is about 30 minutes away, each way, my boys have spent an extra 572 hours in my car! That's a total of 1,144 hours!!
Most astounding to me is that my Owen, who is only nine years old, has also had over 1,000 hours of behavioral therapy in our home.
Now...let's talk mileage, shall we? I currently take my boys to two centers per week. One is 19 miles away and the other is 16 miles. That means I drive a total of 280 miles, round trip, a MONTH. That's 13,440 miles in the past four years. Back when Owen was still receiving OT and SP, it was an extra 80 miles a month, or 2,880 miles in three years.
Whew! The thing is, although I'm feeling pretty good about myself and my boys- WE ROCK!!!- I'm humbled that these calculations are mighty small when compared to the numbers other special needs families can offer up. Still, though...I can't imagine anyone being prouder. I'm typing this with my amazing Noah reading as I go. So, I guess when I take him and his brother out for ice cream tomorrow, he'll know why :)
Both of my boys have attended roughly 208 physical therapy sessions, and 208 social skills/play group sessions in the past four years (in different locations on different days). Although each attend their own groups, they go simultaneously to cut down on driving.
My Owen has clocked an additional 156 sessions of either occupational therapy or speech therapy (or both for a short time) during a three year time span that ended in late 2013.
Most sessions, I should add, are an hour long. That's roughly 572 hours (again, I'm using easy numbers) of therapy. Since each center is about 30 minutes away, each way, my boys have spent an extra 572 hours in my car! That's a total of 1,144 hours!!
Most astounding to me is that my Owen, who is only nine years old, has also had over 1,000 hours of behavioral therapy in our home.
Now...let's talk mileage, shall we? I currently take my boys to two centers per week. One is 19 miles away and the other is 16 miles. That means I drive a total of 280 miles, round trip, a MONTH. That's 13,440 miles in the past four years. Back when Owen was still receiving OT and SP, it was an extra 80 miles a month, or 2,880 miles in three years.
Whew! The thing is, although I'm feeling pretty good about myself and my boys- WE ROCK!!!- I'm humbled that these calculations are mighty small when compared to the numbers other special needs families can offer up. Still, though...I can't imagine anyone being prouder. I'm typing this with my amazing Noah reading as I go. So, I guess when I take him and his brother out for ice cream tomorrow, he'll know why :)