...first bite...

 6.September.2023

Henri's 1st day of Pre-K (the homeschool edition)

"The beginning is the most important part of the work" -Plato

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. " - A.A. Milne

~~~

Here's to setting your spark ✨ ablaze and finding your own lifelong love of learning, little one.

Here's to celebrating your unique interests, creativity, and approach.

Here's to developing your intellect alongside your independence.

And...most importantly...here's to you and all that you are becoming!

🍎

...leaps and bounds, dinos and dares...

 Leaps and bounds, folks...leaps and bounds!

But a handful of hours ago...one turned page prior...Henri conquered 'the jump'. Two feet in the air...aloft...

After months of trying and failing...after months of frustration and consternation...after months of my staring at 'the goalpost' and watching it move ever backwards.

Until, it didn't. Until he didn't...or rather...did...did jump. By himself. For himself. At a time...in a place...by a manner of his own choosing.

A handful of hours later...and that page is done...

and another lay empty, waiting for the story of today.

(There are hours yet to come...the day only halfway through...)

And the page is already full!

Because today, I followed his lead (a bit) and decided to use his 'tools for success' to 'up the ante': I took those dinosaur puzzles that he'd jumped over to such awe and delight, and placed them atop one of the balance beams we'd tried so unsuccessfully to master.

Why not? Why not believe in magic? Why not hope that a handful of dino puzzles might just be the missing ingredient in the spell?

~~~

And, oh!

Friends...

He leapt!

I led him to the obstacle, and he...well, he sparkled....glee and anticipation and the enticement of challenge....

He sparkled...and chirruped a little battle cry...and he leapt!

Up and over...two feet in the air...weightless flight...and then landed on the other side.

A grin...from ear to ear and far beyond.

My shriek...applause...and laughter.

And then he turned right round and did it over and over and over again...each time with more abandon. A master of magic!

~~~

And then...

He looked at me with a glimmer in his eye...and took the puzzles off, laying each one carefully in a row, next to the balance beam.

A brief pause...to kneel down, raowring as he tapped on each dino with outstretched finger. Then he backed up...crouched down, pushed off...

Up! Up! And over!

I let out my breath in relief that he'd made it across without stumbling, or landing wrong, or crashing into the table.

Again and again he jumped...right over those magical dinos of bravery.

~~~

And then...

He stopped. Clapped for himself and chortled at me.

Straightened the balance beam.

Stepped carefully onto the end...and walked across it.

Oh, the pride on that little face!

The laughter bubbling up as he walked, back and forth...balancing...dinos below, at the ready to catch him in misstep.

~~~

The page is full. Perhaps the chapter is as well.

Leaps and bounds...

Dinos and dares...

And a magical little boy who mastered them all!

...leap of faith...

 For my future self, who will want the memory tied to a specific time:

Today, he jumped.

Both feet in the air.

Up, and over.

(On his own timeline, of his own accord, over an impediment of his own making.)

He'd set out his dino puzzles...all in a row...blocking off the doorway.

He trilled out a little lilting call for attention and, sure of the audience, jumped up and over. A self-congratulatory clap... then quick look up for praise.

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

~~~

For months now, I've been 'failing' in my pt/ot efforts. The gains, impossible to see. I'd given up, a month ago...packing away the equipment "for a summer break" and revising the schedule to exclude those hopping and balancing and jumping drills.

And today? Today he jumped!

Today, it all came together for him.

By him.

Today he reminded me of the lesson I first learned from his big brother: all the pieces will settle where they are intended to, when they are intended to.

Have faith...stay the course...

Teach...and then let go...

And he'll jump when he's ready!

...from way up here...

From way up here, I can tell you...

Have faith.  

Have faith in yourself.  Keep trying all the suggestions.  Keep doing what you're intuition tells you to.  Keep believing that there is room for improvement.   Keep asking questions and seeking out answers.  

And keep up all that hard work.

I know you're tired… I know you're exhausted…but don't stop to rest.  The breakthroughs (and there will be many) will come when you least expect them and are weary to the bone.  The miracles are on their way, but you are going to have to sacrifice everything first.  Give it all your time. Give it all your energy and all your emotion and all your strength.  I promise you, the results will be worth it, but you are going to have to give him your all. 

From way up here, I can tell you…

Have faith.

Have faith in him.  Diminish every disappointment for him, because he'll need you to put it in perspective.  Reward his efforts.  He's going to surprise you.  Catch him when he falls, and hunker down next to him when he's tired.  Follow that intuition of yours and celebrate every single step…every achievement…every success.  

From way up here, I can tell you…

There will be so many people who are wrong.

There will be so many predictions that are wrong.

So keep you chin up and push back, and don't you dare for a minute let it get to you.

From way up here, I can tell you…

This life you're living is going to be touched by magic.  Miracles are going to happen.   All the No's will be transformed into Yes's.  Things you thought impossible are going to change.  Dreams you never dared to dream will come true. 

From way up here, I can tell you…

Soon, so soon, it's all going to start.  You are already on the path.  That step you took way back there?  It's leading you all the way to here.  It's going to take you beyond even this moment.  

From way up here, I can tell you…

I want you to enjoy it this time.  Revel in it.  Stopping being such a self-conscious twit and let your guard down.  

From way up here, I can tell you...

You are going to sit in the audience at his fifth grade talent show and every single emotion ever will flood through you.  Every moment of every struggle that the two of you have gone through will flash through your mind as he gets up from the risers, retrieves his cello, and sets his music on the stand.  There in that crowded gymnasium, perched on a folding chair in the dress he picked out for you, you'll hold your breath as he picks up his bow.

He will begin his solo there, in front of children who have torn him down for years.  You will watch his face as he prepares...serious and determined.  That moment when he does just what you've taught him and shuts out the audience.  

He will begin to play.  The first note filling the silence...then the next and the next.  

He will give you back the music.  

That piece, played on that night, will fill you back up with every wish you've ever had for him and every tear you've cried.  

He will play. You will listen.  

And the music you sacrificed and thought was lost, will come pouring in.  

From way up here, I can tell you…

Go ahead and give it everything you've got, because he will give you back the music.

You will realize that you are the luckiest...ever.

~Leanna

...tame or wild...

We received quite the outpouring of support last week via texts, calls, emails and comments in regards to this post about bullying.  I'm so very grateful to each and every one of your for your concern, love and suggestions.  I'm glad I didn't stop myself short of writing and submitting those words...they were genuine expressions of how I truly felt and continue to feel.  I'm sickened by the way some children behave...and by the seeming lack of concern or involvement their parents have over what I deem troubling warning signs.  To be forced into the position of having to teach my special-needs 8 year old child how to defend himself against physical attacks goes against everything I want him to believe in.  And to have his view of education colored so negatively by these attacks angers me more than I care to admit.  He is such a bright and curious child with such and aptitude and thirst for learning...I absolutely hate watching that wither away in the face of these bullying occurrences.

It's important to me though, that I follow up with all of you and let you know how things played out.  After my phone call to the school, they followed their established protocols and interviewed Mister Man in a roomful of adults.  After establishing his side, they then did the same with both the girl who had attacked him and a classmate of Mister Man's who witnessed the event.  Apparently the girl went the foreseeable route and lied about the whole thing.  But the classmate's version matched Mister Man's, and the principle and staff made it clear they believed him.  So the girl in question lost her recess privileges and had to write an apology note to Mister Man.  Additionally, Mister Man's seat was moved to the back of the bus where he is now surrounded by 5th grade buddies as an effort to protect him. 

Ok, fairly cut and dry.

A few problems though.

1)  The apology note?  I'm not sure if it was scripted or prompted or actually written out by the girl herself, but good gosh the wording was kind of scary.  One line in particular threw me off... "It's just sometimes I lose control of myself. I get mean.   I don't know why." 

 Ummm...really?  Did any of the school staff read that???  Considering last year's temporary expulsion nonsense that we went through, I'm suprised those words made it to our home.  I don't think I'm over-reacting in my response...that statement give cause for question.  I'd take a long hard look at that child and send her off to the guidance office for starters.

Losing Control?  Getting Mean?  Not Knowing Why? 

Keep her away from my son.

2) Forcing a bunch of 5th graders to essentially babysit my child on the bus?  Yeah, that's gonna go over superbly.  Let's face it people, 5th graders consider that bus ride social hour.  You've just succeeded in making my son an inconvenience to them.  Oh, and considering his autism and the massive social/communication issues he has...way to go, you've just thrown him into a virtual lion's den of communication.   He has nothing to offer in 5th grade experience, and he feels the difference. 

Brilliant plan there.

3)  Really?  She loses recess for a few days?  For striking another person repeatedly with a metal object?  Last I checked that does actually sound like physical attack with a weapon.  Metal hurts people.  It leaves cuts and bruises.  And it's scary...being attacked unprovoked.  So losing recess?  Yeah, not exactly a punishment to fit the crime.

Now listen, I realize that in reading this some of you may be shaking your heads wondering why I sound so extreme.  But here's the deal.  Mister Man has been the victim of bullying multiple times over in this school.  I'm thrilled to know that come the end of the school year I am getting him the heck out of there...but in the meantime, he's scared to be on the bus, scared to be on the playground, scared to wait on lines.  And aside from literally standing next to him all day long at school, there's little I can effectively do to make him feel at ease.  That's the school's responsibility, and in my opinion, they aren't even coming close to fulfilling it. 

The day that I had to take my son in hand and physically teach him how to fight back for when flight is not an option, is the day his school failed him.

...slip-n-slide...

Oh boy, readers, was I ever right!  Mister Man and I both skidded down the length of the driveway this morning with umbrellas in tow and balance not so!  Thank goodness we were holding hands...I'm fairly certain that alone kept us mostly upright!  The ground here is just soaked through, so much so that the bottom of the driveway is taking on quick-sand qualities!

We've currently got several science projects in the works going on in and around the homefront.  For Christmas I gifted Mister Man with a grow your own crystals kit, and after a few months of putting it off finally got the first stage up and running.  We're currently observing the 8-10 day growth cycle of some faux amethyst.  (Yay-Mister Man's birthstone and one of my favourites!  I'm partial to emeralds, sapphires and amethysts!)  I was telling my sister about this on the phone and her response was priceless: "Oh, and then someday he can grow his Mami a whole necklace!"  Love! Mister Man is definitely totally all in on this experiment...he checks the bowl first thing in the morning, then again when he gets home, and right before bed.  I'm kicking myself though, because I really should have set him up with a notebook to journal any changes.  Ah well, next time!  We're both eagerly awaiting the end of the allotted time...and the next few stages ahead that involve growing a geode.  So cool!  Future paperweight, here we come!  In the meantime, we're measuring daily precipitation outside and then bringing those same containers in to measure evaporation inside.    

Mister Man is a a learning rockstar!  I am, of course, being modest. *wink*  He has, despite some pretty hefty odds, this utterly amazing love of learning and insatiable curiousity.  Hitting up google for answers to offbeat questions is my daily routine.  He asks awesome questions.  Too bad I don't often have the answers!  And he loves to take everything to the next level.  So if he begins to learn about something interesting at school he will come home wanting to keep going with it.  We make weekly treks to the library and leave with bags full.  And honestly...I love every minute of it! This was exactly what I wanted our life to be!

Of course, in the back of my head is that little niggling voice cautioning me that because he is so advanced, he might get bored.  And truthfully, we've already seen a lot of that this year in first grade.  My stance so far is that I don't really care if he's bored at school.  In the long term he's fostering a love of educating himself, and that's more important in my mind than whether or not he zones out in class when the teacher is reviewing juvenile facts and figures.  The caution is, I suppose, that if he's advancing to quickly then he may backslide at school because he's to bored to complete the guided tasks.  Don't get me wrong...I want him to excell in school...definitely.  But I won't stop encouraging him to dig deeper, or stop homeschooling him in more advanced areas, just because teacher says he's bored.  I'd rather pose to them the challenge of this avid reader, eager beaver child of mine and have them figure out new ways to challenge him!

Mister Man's awesome grandparents Omi and Grandad were generous enough to gift him an early birthday present in the form of paying for his next Mad Science course.  I wasn't to thrilled with this program when he took it in the fall, but he seemed to love it.  The subject matters are completely different for the spring sessions, and I can only hope that the instructor will be also.  The fall session was a fail for me mainly because the instructor was a foreigner with such a thick accent that the students could not understand most of the material she was presenting.  I think Mister Man was so psyched about it not because of any award-winning teaching on her part, but because of the weekly experiments he got to bring home and do with either Grandad or myself. 

I've also just signed this boy of mine up for the spring session of TOPSoccer...and I have to say I'm looking forward to returning to soccer mom mode so much!  By the end of the fall season I was completely in love with every single person on that field!  Loved the coach, and the assistant and every single high-school volunteer Buddy...all these amazing people gathered together in one place to bring joy to these kids of ours.  I also met a new special-needs mom friend there...so for that alone I have fond thoughts!  I'm totally excited though for the upcoming season, and can't wait to take Mister Man in for some new cleats and shinguards!  I'm making up a little certificate printout for his birthday, with the TOPSoccer spring session and all the gear he will need as one of his birthday gifts.  Little did I ever dream that I, of all people, would ever be a soccer mom! 

Meanwhile, said birthday is but a few days away!  It's the craziest thing in the world, to think that this baby of mine will be turning 8!!!   Mister Man has had a hard time of it this year in school, with bullying incidents (in which he was the victim) and daily depression over having no school friends (his autism symptoms seem to mark him as an outcast).  So this year rather than throwing a party where all those kids who are mean to him can come and have fun and eat good food (NO WAY!), we're keeping things simple the day of and then celebrating in a big way with a weekend trip to Philly to visit my sis/his aunt!  So this weekend we'll be cashing in all his birthday rewards at Build-a-Bear, Lego, Toys-r-Us, etc...  His Omi and Grandad are taking him to see The Wizard of OZ the day before his birthday as a special treat!  And on Monday, we'll be ringing in the 8th birthday of this phenomenal miracle boy with a birthday dinner at one of his favourite restaurants!  (See I get a gift also-the gift of not having to cook!)  The big gift this year, aside from the trip to Philly and the standard Transformers, will be a gift card for Disney.  He's desperate to go, and I think if in lieu of a ton of little stuff for his birthday and other upcoming holidays, I save up for the larger gift cards (which can be redeemed towards tickets!) then I might just be able to make it happen next winter!  So now I'm just trying to figure out how to re-create the commercial vibe, where the kid opens the envelope and a whole celebration bursts out.  I'm thinking helium balloons and streamers inside a cardboard box might work well?!?

Alrighty...time to run...can't keep my espresso machine waiting...she'd think it impolite! :)

...small words...

What a blessing today was.

In the midst of some great tumult in my life, my son and I were able to take today to refocus in on what is most important and really, truly be happy for the moment.

I'm proud of myself tonight as I reflect on where I was 10 years ago, who I am today and what I may become. With all this comfort of time passed by, I now find it easy to see the shining moments more clearly than the dark. The sorrows and heartbreaks and fears of the past have indeed faded with time...receding in the face of minor triumphs and major glories.

It really is a matter of (as I told the Mister Man while kissing him goodnight) never, ever forgetting to dream bigger and better than what you dreamt last.

I know the hard knocks will keep on coming. And I know sometimes I'll stumble, sometimes I'll fall...sometimes I will fail. But I know that pushing onward and upward is the only satisfying way to get through life. And in years to come I know we'll have a great story to tell.

...oh happy day...

Mister Man and I are having a blast today...celebrating our annual Family Anniversary Day!
Born of the necessity to take the negative power out of my wedding anniversary date and create a special way of honoring who and how we are now as a family, we recognize this important date each year. It's the day I take off work, Mister Man takes off 'work-school-etc' and we indulge in every whim and whimsy we can come up with to build fun memories that will last a lifetime.

The truth is...had I not made that all important decision to marry my ex...this imperfectly perfect family of mine would not exist. And that is definitely worth celebrating!

On this day I can look back on the road to here and now and look forward to all the years and celebrations to come!

Mister Man and I wish you all an oh-so-happy day and want to remind you to embrace every day for the gift that it is!

...the rewards of a good education...

With the soundtrack of 'De-Lovely' on repeat, and his Mami singing along over a sink full of dishes, Mister Man is busy at the kitchen table this morning...having set a new challenge for himself regarding the completion of his math workbook. Yesterday, I'm so proud to relate, he raced to the end of his reading comprehension workbook and won his reward. Today he's going for gold again and I've no doubt by the end of the day his 'Bank of J-Bug Vault' jar will be overflowing with all the new rewards "bucks" he's been earning for himself.



Our summer-homeschool session is well underway, having begun the Monday after his Kindergarten year ended. And it's been going exceptionally well. I asked for a lot of input from Mister Man himself in creating the structured program and that seems to have added another motivational factor into his completing each task. He's taking more of an interest in the work because he had a say in what that work would be. Now wouldn't that be nice to see translated into an adult real-world workplace? Hah! Of course, I'm not negating the impact of a handy rewards system to perk up the student when boredom strikes or energy lags!



And having the rewards envelope present at every school-session serves as a visual reminder that it's enclosed treasures are ripe for the picking...Mister Man need only stay focused and complete the task assigned and he'll be able to add to his stash!



So far, so GREAT! At the rate we've been able to manage, we may well get into a good deal of 2nd grade curriculum before Mister Man's 1st grade school year starts in the fall.

....my hands are small I know...

I may indeed spend more time apologizing for breaks in posting, than I do in posting itself. Oh dear!

So let me just take the easy route here and say...

I've Hit The Wall.

It's not often I find myself overwhelmed. In fact I think it's usually a point of pride with me that I can usually 'cover all the bases'. My friends view me as the 'gets the job done' gal, employers know I'm the queen bee of efficiency and multitasking, and my son believes (and rightly so) that this Mami can do anything!

Lately though, I've been breaking the rules...and maybe breaking down just a wee bit here, there and everywhere. To say my cup is full is pure idiocy...that darn thing's been overflowing for years...and now it's spilling over into every aspect of my life. I *might* have taken on more than I can handle...but Ssssh...don't tell! ;)

I know I'm usually pretty open-book-y here in regards to a lot of what is happening in my life but I don't feel like that's appropriate right now because of who might read what I'm writing. So in that regard I'm taking a huge step back and processing through entirely on my own.

That said, I fully intend to get a few new posts up here over the course of this week. I'm a debtor at this point...owing back postings of pictures chronicling Mister Man's final school days, pictures from the last month or so, cheap chic finds, and some insight into what's filling my days right now.

So for those of you still checking back in for the highlights of this 'single Mami life', for pics of and vignettes about Mister Man, for moments of fashion and fluff, or for whatever other random drivel I tend to feel the need to write about....thanks for your patience and apparent hopefulness that I'll be back in full-force at some point.

Autism Awareness Month Kicks Off

How much do I love that the official start of Autism Awareness Month shares a date with April Fool's?

Particularly since, in raising my own spectrum son, I'm daily challenged in explaining all that is not literal. Part of the challenge in communication with individuals on the autism spectrum is the tendency to not conceive of emotional language or read facial communication appropriately.

Of course, throw into the mix my own 'extreme sarcasm levels' and this little boy of mine is officially in the school of hard knocks when it comes to effective incoming and outgoing communications.

The interesting realization though is that my primary mode of outgoing communication tends to the melodramatic in both tone and facial expression. (Blame it on the Musical Theatre major in me.) I tend to think that because my son daily gets my emotional communication in full effect he's more able than most spectrum kids to read those expressions and intonations in others.

Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong...but gosh darn it, I'm patting myself on the back all the same!

At any rate, for this month, expect a lot of Autism Awareness focused blogging. Show your support for our little family with comments directed at the Mister Man himself. And feel free to ask me any questions about Autism and our journey through it all. Worry not...I have no shame! :)

...a little time to reconnect...

We're off to the Jersey Shore this weekend...and Mister Man is going to have a blast! Fresh caught crabs, a little dockside fishing, frenetic boardwalk rambling, and a stroll down memory lane in good old Beach Haven is on the to-do list.

...the first real let-go...

He's there, in that building just a few blocks down the street. And I'm here alternately frantic and teary-eyed, heart pounding, arms strangely empty feeling.
I've been rushing around scrubbing and washing and rinsing and folding...blasting my iPod to drown out thoughts.

The bus never came, so he ended up on another and I had to race down to make sure he actually was there. But not go in...just stand on the step and hear the confirmation, but not see for myself.

It's the next step...I know that. And there will be many more to come and they will ache just as this does. With every growth and change he makes, I will mourn what is past. I will rejoice in the achievement and the challenges and the changes...but I will mourn. Because I know what it felt like to be his whole world.
I've felt bits and pieces of this before...when the first diagnosis was made, when we went to the first speech therapy, when we went to the special needs preschool that first day...and once, for a whole week as I dealt with the first autism spectrum diagnosis and I thought I had lost something. Now I know better...I lost nothing...rather, that which was now had a name.

I'm fidgety on the inside...my stomach is roiling and my head is dizzy and pounding and silent all at the same time. I'm so very used to days that are full up of reaction...and now there is nothing to react to. My coffee cup has no danger of being tipped over onto the carpet. My lunch will not be picked at by sticky little fingers. The clean folded laundry will remain clean and folded...there will be no tent topped with skivvies in the livingroom.

And meanwhile I wonder...do they see the miracle? Do they know he needs so much but can give them even more? Will they help him with his lunch and keep him safe? Will his feeling be hurt? Will he be hurt?

Where is the book that will teach me how to be Mami from a distance?

...school days are a'comin...

This afternoon Mister Man and I entered the hallowed halls of education...and then we found the toys!

In just a week my ever-growing miracle will be off to Kindergarten...out of my safety net and into the great big sea of school. I'm petrified, terrified, wistful and desperate...and trying my damndest not to show it.

Today was the scheduled walk-through...a chance for Mister Man to greet his teacher, see his classroom and meet his classmates. We poked about in the library, signed up for email notifications and found a box of awesome blocks that link together.

Mister Man is ready to go back...provided that both 'pokey blocks' and legos are still in the classroom when he gets there!

Mister Man's Mami could not be less ready...

...a weekend away...

So much of the beginning of the week was colored by the impending anniversary and my desire and need to overshadow the negative with immensely positive activities and memories in the making, that I gave little time or thought to the weekend ahead.

We traveled early on Saturday to Pennsylvannia, cutting our trip into nice, neat pieces.

1)One of the highlights was our first destination, or moreso, the person who awaited us there...my sister, and Mister Man's beloved Tante. We met up at the King of Prussia mall...huge, immense, shop-tastic...and due to its overwhelming size so similiar in feeling to all the other places we've been able to meet up with her. I hold out hope nonetheless that someday, someway...we three will enjoy a cozy comforting visit. Crackling fire, vegan marshmallows and board games.

2)An all to brief visit later, and we were off to our hotel to enjoy the amenities that my first experience with Priceline had garnered us. Two pools and a whirlpool? Bliss! And in what has now become the summer of exponential achievement, Mister Man experimented with putting his whole face underwater! Mami pride!

3)A family dinner that night with relatives I hadn't seen in years, and whom Mister Man had never met before made for an interesting end to the day.

4)The following morning we packed our bags and headed out, determined to enjoy a touristy, vactioney morning.

5)And in the afternoon we went to a beautiful church for a beautiful service to lay my uncle to rest. Once again we were surrounded by people vaguely familiar to me and completely unfamiliar to my child.

...stripped of power...

In the summer after my marriage ended, with our anniversary fast approaching I came up with an idea...instead of wallowing in misery on the day intended to celebrate what was now a failed marriage, I was going to celebrate it's existence in a new way. And so, our Family Anniversary Day was born. On August 19th every year since, we've celebrated because the wedding that day put into place the family that Mister Man and I are, today.

Every year I've taken that day off from work and made it all about fun. No phone calls, no emails, no interruptions...just pure, unadulterated fun and indulgence. In the past we've incorporated one-day travels, zoo trips, museums, farms and fabulous food. And every year I come up with one activity where Mister Man is doing something for me and I'm doing something for him.

This year everything is off...and odd...and different... Because of our transitory living situation, we're not just able to take off on our own for the day. So this year, no big celebration of us. Instead I'm making Mister Man's favorite foods...declaring it no home-schoolwork day and spending the afternoon outside. And in the evening we're heading to his favorite store, !?!Target!?!, and shopping on the sly for a $5 gift for each other.

In years past we sort of stuck with a theme for each day and planned accordingly. So I guess this one's theme is: creativity within a budget, time allowance and location.

Doesn't sound to fun, does it.
Particularly since I fear that's also the theme of my everyday life.
Ah well...

Here's to another year of our perfect, if tiny, family. Mister Man, you make it worth it! Love you oodles of noodles! :)

...BRILLIANT BOY...

If this ain't bragworthy I don't know what is...
J-Bug, brilliant boy, handsome Mister Man, and all around love of my life just READ!!!
Yuppers...two full-on sentences!
And no, we're not talking Easy Reader here...this was words...with syllables!
I was in the bathroom picking at my face (bad habit I know) and I heard him in the other room...ran out, made him read it again, and then had him read another one.
I think my heart might actually burst...there's this pride pressure rapidly expanding from the inside out...
We totally did the happy dance...full out...
And then called everyone and anyone and bragged!!!
We're totally getting Mister Man his own library card today!

...sense and sensibility...

The backstory: Last year I met Stacy at the school the mister man attends. We bonded nearly immediately and became fast friends...hopefully for life. She has two boys...one close in age to the mister man, and one 2 years old. Two year old M. has Down's Syndrome, and four year old N. has a speech delay. N. gets VERY upset if his clothing gets wet...as little as a single drop of water on his shirt triggers tantrums, crying and general discord. In addition, he has a few other sensory issues...mostly related to touch...though noise seems to bother him occasionally also. At any rate, I had suggested to Stacy that she fill out a sensory profile on him through the school's resources, and she called today to tell me that the results were normal. Frankly, I was suprised. I had rather expected that they would have found he had some form of Sensory Intergration Processing Dysfunction, or something similiar. I went ahead and suggested that Stacy do some research on her own, just to see if any of the techniques recommended for SIPD might help N. It was only after I hung up that I realized how telling that was of what kind of a parent I am.
Here's the thing...I understand that doctors go to school for a long time, learn a lot of info, memorize a lot of techniques and are generally supposed to be far smarter than I. But at the end of the day I hold firmly to the position that I know both myself and my child far better than any doctor. It's not necessarily that I disregard doctor's orders or advice...I just believe in research. To many times in my life I have gotten the 'one size fits all' diagnosis or cure...and found it lacking. The fact that I know more about autism than the pediatrician is somewhat appalling. The fact that I have, on occasion, been prescribed the same dosage painkiller as a healthy adult male is somewhat appalling.
Maybe it's the fact that my son is on the spectrum that has made me more of a 'think outside the box' parent...or maybe I was just made that way to start with. Either way, I believe that if I am observing a certain behaviour or symptom than I need to look into what can be done about it. I guess my whole point is, I believe that one should follow intuition...even if it goes against what the professional says.
To quote Jenny McCarthy, "my son is my science". I'm not all about curing autism or preventing it or even changing my son. What I am about is making sure that he has the right tools at his disposal to be as happy and functional as he wants to be. And that means trying what I think might work, even if the doctor or therapist or teacher disagrees.

...shallow thoughts from a deep mind (or the reverse)... (crosspost)

September is drawing to a close, and after a brief spat with cool weather, we've warmed up again, and my tank tops and I both wish the warmth would last till November. I miss those mild autumns of my childhood, when come Halloween one did not have to wear turtlenecks and long underwear under costumes. Of course someone somewhere is laughing loudly...as it's more than common knowledge that I sport the jeans/tank-top combo all year long!
The mister man will be representing the Batman this Halloween...and has already begun getting into character. At least twice a day we enter stages where I am only allowed to refer to him as Bruce Wayne. I've known now for a while that his obsession had moved from Spiderman to Batman, and it was luck indeed that found me a thrift store goldmine in a $0.90 costume that includes both cape and mask/hat/bat-ears. Rock on! Now all I need for him is black slacks and turtleneck and he'll be good to go. I, on the other hand, am still spinning my wheels in regards to my own costume.
I've rearranged my entire home (or so it seems) and the upshot is that for the first time in years I am actually getting real sleep! Yay me! Could this mean those dark circles under my eyes are a thing of the past? *cross those fingers* Additionally, the mister man now has a defined room for play/therapy and I have a defined place to put him when quiet-time NEEDS to happen.
I find it funny in a sad way that nearly every blog/group/organization online that is Autism related devotes 99% of its energy to 'in-house' fighting. So much for support and community. I liked how Jenny McCarthy said 'my son is my science' or some such sentence. That's just how I feel.
I love the very beginning of each season...as it inspires me to get cooking. It's really the only time I get down to using all those seasonal recipes that I fanatically cut and paste. Fall has me dreaming of apples and squashes and soups. But I know before long I'll be back to my old standards.
Having never had cable, I don't really know what I'm missing...but can it be any worse than 'The Bachelor'. Hurling wads of crumpled-up paper at the tv does not ,in fact, cause the contestants to check their desperation at the door. Do other people change the channel out of embarassment or am I the only one?
Speaking of TV, why do I turn it on for background ambience? At the end of the day when the mister man is finally off in dreamland, I usually settle down on the sofa with a good book and a warm cup....and turn on the tv. Maybe it's the flicker? Or the garbled voices when the volume is a step away from muted?