I use this page.
Every day he fills out one. And yes…I have to remind him at times.
This thing was the result of years of trial and error.
I was actually thinking ahead when I started it.
I also have calendars filled with notes. BUT, they are my notes, not his. When he started taking notes, my initial goal was to teach him, over time, to manage his own condition. To be able to collect data basically and take that data to his Dr.
Instead, I found that I had an early warning system. If he can’t figure out the date (sometimes it’s months off!!!), doesn’t have enough lines for what he is worried over (really, limit it to two!!), or…
Well, it’s in his handwriting. He can’t argue about what he put, or say I’m making it up. For our son, it seems he will wait until we’re in the Dr’s office, and THEN accuse me of lying about the frequency/factuality of events. The Dr’s don’t care, as they expect this. For us, it makes for a really difficult ride home. (I can get very peeeeeeeved being called a “liar”.)
I keep them too…and I ended up with a better pattern discerning device than when I simply kept my own logs. Because, he puts stuff down that I didn’t even know was happening! (i.e. Under how I feel today: “my feet itch”…he had athletes foot. Under worried about: “when my mom dies”, and “I’m scared my mom and dad won’t want to take care of me if I can’t work”.)
Drs have said memory loss is part of this.
Wow…is it ever.
He’s back right now…clear headed and able to do school again.
And…we’re doing simple math…
again.
I have him set the timer on his phone. He loses track of time easily. He sets the timer for my stuff too, as this kept him from thinking it was a special thing for him.
A calendar above his desk…I have to maintain it. But, when he’s clear headed, I have him do it along with.
Son reports, and is adamant about this: that IF he has something constantly on the screen in front of him, he can do homework. I can’t stand it, but remain silent. Teachers have tried to remove this, to no avail. Last teacher said to let it be. After all, he’s getting his work done. Happily too.
Now…if he would not doodle all over each and every page of homework.
(It’s a little thing really. 
)
Edit note: please be aware that he claims he did chores…what he actually did was check to see if they were done. I did them. BUT, he does need to recognize that HIS bird requires fresh water/food. Clothes must be collected daily. Showers are DAILY. Changing clothes is a DAILY thing. He doesn’t remember that he ate, or will confuse days. As to “Notes” beside Daily Responsibilites…he claimed to brush his hair for over a week. However, he didn’t know where his hair brush was. A week later, I got a note: “Can’t do this, I don’t have a brush!” I wondered how long it would take to look (or ask) for his brush?
