Battle Interuptis

I am exhausted and rocking a major headache, so I will give you all a brief low-down on our school district meeting and go to bed.

Essentially, here's what happened. The entire team (Birth to Three, Three to Five, and the Head Honcho) came to the house and we all sat around the table and pow-wowed. The Head Honcho came out strong and a wee-bit hard-assed, and if I was anyone but me I might have caved at that moment and laid down like a rug. She informed me, with a lot of academic high-flalootin programy wordage that they are not required to provide the same services during the summer, they are not held accountable to the Least Restrictive Environment requirement, and that what they have to offer is good enough. Now, this is not what I have read, or heard, and I have done some research....

I didn't cave. I am not sure I came out swinging, but I do believe I made my point clear: J-man greatly benefits from where he is, will not benefit from moving his services to that location, they cannot provide what he needs there, he does qualify and should be able to get services where he is at. I explained that while I understand they don't have the program he is in during the summer, they should. And that, given his unique needs and situation they should make an exception to the hardcore position they have, since what we are asking serves him best and the other option does not.

My hubby popped in and provided our united front, plus a steely eye and presence that says "we mean business". Plus a few well placed (yet polite) words.

She didn't cave.... exactly. What she said was that she would "look into" whether they could make an exception for J-man for the summer. She needed to "consult with others" and will get back to me "soon".

So where does this leave us? Not sure. I know that if they turn us down our next step is to go into mediation with the Department of Education. While we did not out-and-out say we would take it that far, I am fairly sure she got that vibe from us. And we would... in principle alone. However, I find it utterly amazing that we might have to go there.... for 3-4 visits over the summer??? Really??? Don't they have better way to spend their time? So, I am hoping that they can "work something out" so we really don't have to make a mountain out of molehill.

Link UPDATE: For those of you interested, this is a wonderful commentary: Into the Mainstream

Books, I love. And Books I love.

Books. I love books. I always have loved books. As a kid I used to go to great lengths to read my books: under the covers with a flashlight, in the car, in the bathtub, at the movies. Yep, my mom will still tell stories about how I used to bring a book to the movies because... heck.... what else is there to do before and after the movie? And what if the movie is boring?

Exactly. I was... am... a complete, total, 100% geek.

Before I became a mother, I dreamed of reading aloud to my children. I would read my favorite books from childhood... the Little House Series, James and the Giant Peach, Winnie the Pooh. We would snuggle together in bed and stay up far too late reading stories. I would cave into all their pleas for 'one more story mommy'. A love of reading would flow into them from me, and we would share this one thing always....

*sigh*

J-man won't let me read to him.

I tried to do books at bedtime. I would try and read the words (think board books, people) and point to pictures, and he just wants to turn the pages or look at the pictures. I would just try labeling and he would sometimes watch me, but never expresses real interest. I am sure it is a language issue, plus a processing issue, plus another way to have my heart break. But, he is only three... so there is hope.

However, onward.... to books I love.

My Top Books From 2009

Ok, so this list isn't books published in 2009. Just books I read and really, really liked in 2009. Note: not all of these books are high falootin, fancy shamacy books. Some are just great trashy reads, some are brilliant works of art. I will try and distinguish them for you! Also note... they are in no particular order of greatness. I am not good enough to rank them!

1. Schuyler's Monster by Robert Rummel-Hudson. This wonderful memoir that has really affected me. Touching, funny and entertaining at the same time. See my "review".

2. This Lovely Life by Vicki Forman. This memoir just took my breath away. See my "review".

3. The Mercy Thompson Series by Patrica Briggs. Ok, so the previous 2 books are writing masterpieces. This series is just plain old Brain Candy. But really good brain candy. Pure candy, 100% no nutritional value whatsoever. Think Twilight, but good. Oh, and this is actually a series of 4 books, so it is kinda a cheat... but whatever. Paperbacks are cheap.

4. No god but God by Reza Aslan. Ok, complete geek book. In essence this is a book about the history and explanation about the Islamic faith. I picked this book up after I saw the author on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I found this book very interesting and well written. This is a book for the person who just would like to know and understand a little more about evolution of today's Islamic faith and how it effects the world today.

5. The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs. Whereas #4 is a serious exploration on Islam, this book isn't nearly as serious. And yet, it is. The author essentially attempts to live the Bible as literally as possible for a year. It is very funny, interesting and educational. I laughed and learned at the same time.

6. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. Lovely novel, just lovely.

7. My Baby Rides the Short Bus by Yantra Bertelli, Jen Silverman, and Sarah Talbot. This is a wonderful collection of short stories and essays from parents with special needs kids. These stories are NOT the "chicken soup for the soul" type of stories, but are hard and real and filled with truth. (Confession: I think I actually read this in January 2010. Oh well)

So if J-man can't appreciate my love of books right now, maybe you can enjoy it a little.

(oh, and if you have any recommendations... pass them on!!!!)

On Meetings and Other Battles

So apparently I am going to become "that parent".

Let me start with the story, and then move on to the rant. It'll be a little more coherent that way.

A few weeks ago we met the J-man's new teacher and speech therapist from the school district. Over the next few weeks we are going to lose Ms Kristin (much to our deep sadness), and Ms Becky and Ms Jane will be working with him at his preschool. Of course, Ms Kristen has set the bar shockingly high, but I am going to remain hopeful that his new teachers will be as excellent.

During this initial meet-&-greet with the new folks, the subject of J-man's ESY (Extended School Year) eligibility came up. Essentially, ESY is summer school in 'special ed' language. And yes, the J-man qualifies. Apparently, however, they do not provide the community based services in the summer like he is getting now. The only way he can get any coverage of either speech or teaching is if we enroll him in their multi categorical classrooms.

Now, we have already addressed the issue of the multicat classrooms. We toured, we considered, and we rejected the idea. The reason he is enrolled at his current preschool is because we believe, strongly, that typical-developing peers are a tremendous benefit to our boy. He has been hugely successful in this environment, and the idea of putting him in an environment that is exclusively with other special needs kids (many of whom have significant behavioral and language issues) does not jive with our goals for him.

Now, the rant.

See, this all goes back to the idea of Least Restrictive Environments and Inclusion. In a nutshell, inclusion is the ideal in which all children learn together, regardless of disability or ability. According to Wrightslaw, the Individuals with Disabilities and Education Act states that the Least Restrictive Environment policy says that school districts are required to educate students with disabilities in regular classrooms with their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent possible.

Dan Habib eloquently deal with the issue of inclusion for his documentary Including Samuel.



I highly recommend this documentary (check out your local PBS station for viewings!)

Now, the issue of inclusion is a thorny one. I know this. Inclusion is difficult to start, requires lots of teacher training, good classroom supports, and a commitment from all involved to make it work. It isn't always easy. Another documentary series, Educating Peter (and later, Graduating Peter), highlights both the challenges and rewards of inclusion (another series I highly recommend).

I believe that whether or not inclusion is appropriate for a child is truly on a case-by-case basis. However, I also believe that.... done well... inclusion should absolutely be the goal for the vast majority of children. And for the J-man... well, this is a no-brainer. His current achievements in preschool, with appropriate support, is crystal clear. Hands down, inclusion is the only way to go. He needs typically developing peers. They help him learn. It is essential.

So now, we get to have a meeting with All-Powerful School District people to argue about getting him some summer service at Jack and Jill. Have I mentioned that we PAY for him to be in preschool... a lot of money...? And we are only talking about 3-5 one hour sessions over the summer to address issues and help him maintain skills?

Yeah.

So I get to be "that parent", and see if I can convince them that his least restrictive environment IS preschool, and they do have an obligation to continue his current programming. Wish me luck, because GEMM might have to peek out on this one.

Bad Days

Like everyone, J-man has good days and bad days.

And like everyone, I have good days and I have bad days.

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Lately, my days have been on the darker side. I am not sure if it is because of the winter blahs or if the everyday grind is starting to get to me. What I know is that I feel sad a lot, I feel frustrated a lot. As J-man develops more vocalizations and some awareness of the need to communicate, he has also developed more temper tantrums, more outbursts, and more stubbornness. Ooooh, he knows how to push buttons.

.

For example, today, after a series of outbursts and general crankiness from the boy, I was in the kitchen doing my least favorite chore ever (dishes) and J-man.... for reasons only he could possibly know... climbed on the table and proceeded to dump the entire package of Goldfish crackers on the floor. Now, in the grand scheme of things, this isn't that big a deal. But like an open wound that just keeps getting poked, my patience just fell apart. After what could be termed a complete parental temper tantrum, the J-man and I were both crying. We spent the next half hour making up and snuggling on the sofa.

I am just plain tired of dealing with his delays. I know that other mothers could call their 3 year old to dinner and they would come. They can get their own shoes, own coat, with requests from their mommies. J-man.... no way. Sometimes he seems deaf, and he seems to have zero desire to please me at all. Other mommies just don't have to work this hard all the time, do they?

I don't know how to redirect, regroup, refocus. I feel stretched thin as tissue paper, and more fragile.

Mother Words

Ok, so this is totally off topic, but I just had to share.

I am taking a writing class. Yes, me... a writing class! Why, you may ask?? I have no idea!

Actually, that is not entirely true. I think I have found a lot of solace in writing this blog, and I just want to be better at it. I have no great aspirations of writing an Oprah Book Club best-seller (Hey Oprah, call me *wink wink*), but I like the idea of treating it more like a craft. I'd like people to enjoy my stories and get something out of them.

The course is called Mother Words and is taught by Kate Hopper. Check out her blog here.

Anyway, I may plop a few of my attempts at "real writing" here. I would love feedback if you have the time!

The road is long

J-man has been going to his new speech therapist for nearly one month. Not long, to be sure. But his mouth has been moving more in the past few months than it ever has, making attempts at sounds and words every day. So our new therapist has had some of the best exposure to his new 'skills'.

I asked her yesterday if, given her experience and what she now sees J-man doing, if she thought Apraxia was the right diagnosis for him.

She said yes. Most definitely.

Of course, we both agree that it isn't the end of the story.... there is more going on that just apraxia. But getting a definitive diagnosis of apraxia has been hard because up until a few months ago, he wasn't making enough attempts to say anything. Now, however, she can "see" the oral-motor sequencing problems.

There are days, when J-man is trying hard and doing good, when I feel like maybe we will see the end of this road sooner rather than later. And then there are days... like today... when I just can't imagine how we will ever make it.

Three

Happy Birthday, baby boy!!!

Welcome to Three!

According to everyone who is anyone, Three is suppose to be a Big Year. I have high hopes for Three. I think Three is gonna be Your Year. I don't exactly know what Three has in store, but I see great and terrible things for Three. I am excited for you and the magical Three.

So Welcome to Three.

I love you more and more everyday.

Mommy

Blogger's Block

Daddy and Boy

Whew.

Back from vacation for a few days, I have been meaning to write. And I just can't seem to gather my thoughts in any way that makes sense. So I guess I will just write a little update about our trip and try and come up with something cooler later.

Our trip to Arizona was... for the most part....lovely. The weather was freaky. When we arrived they had just had 3 days of rain, which apparently is freakish. After we arrived, it hailed. And was cold for Arizona.... 40's -50's. Then, it got nice, sunny, and in the upper 50's to low 60's. So that meant J-man could run run run. He was happy.

We saw the sun. He was happy.

He had his first ice cream cone. He was very happy.

Very very happy.

This was Daddy's cone for about 2 minutes.

All was well until the last day. Then the sinus infection... which had been brewing... hit him hard and fast. My once cheery, easygoing little man showed me the meaning of a complete meltdown. And lucky us, we were flying home.

Flying with a toddler with a sinus infection. Mommy was not happy.

So, overall, I give the vacation a "B". Illness and rainy weather aside, it was a good time.

What You're Doing Matters

For all mothers.

Into the Warm

We have not left you, dear readers.

We have flown the coop and are "snowbirding" (for a long weekend at least) in lovely Arizona. My parents, bless them, have fled the cold white winter north to warmer climes for the month, and we are completely using them for the weekend so we, too, can get warm. Too bad for us that we came down during a cold weekend in AZ! Ok, 55 F isn't bad, compaired to the great white north... but it isn't balmy either. Ah well, J-man loves to run outside at least! And we have hopes of 60's before we leave.

Sadly, both the J-man and I have wicked colds. Why oh why, always on vacation?!?! Of course, it isn't holding HIM back. He wants to go OU OU OU.

Stay tuned! Many delightful details of our adventures to come!!

Up High, Down Low

Hey there ladies

Tonight, the J-man and I attended a Family Fun Night for special needs kids at a local indoor park. Think McDonalds Playland without the french fries. J-man loves the place... and because all the families there were parents and children with special needs, it felt like a place we could be totally free. No one had any expectations, just complete open acceptance. How lovely for all these wonderful kids and their parents!

Anyhoo, at one point the J-man saw the candy machine and insistently signed "eat". I got him a few Skittles and we made our way to the seating area. He signed and said "candy" as he munched. One of the other parents seated next to us asked him his name. Of course, he didn't respond.

Then this man, in a friendly way, asked J-man to 'Give me five'.....

AND HE DID IT!

Jonathan high-fived a perfect stranger! And, to make it even better, he went on and did the "up high/down low" part. I didn't even know he KNEW that.

Isn't it just the little things ....?

When Mommy Gets Her Butt Kicked

Here he is, eating my phone

I love the J-man.

Love him.

But he is kicking my booty six ways to Sunday.

Limits: Pushed.

Patience: Tested

Now, I believe that the J-man is experiencing some serious brain growth. He has realized the communication is probably pretty darn important and that.. basically... he sucks at it. So he is frustrated. Impatient. And he is two..nearly three... and thus his favorite activity is doing whatever he wants whenever he wants, especially if mommy doesn't want it.

Ah, finally.... something normal.

Optimism & Hope

Some people might say daycare is a bad thing.

I say daycare has been Jonathan's lifesaver.

He loves it. LOVES it. He has evolved from this anxious, unsure child to this confident, excited, social boy. He walks in, goes to his locker and willingly takes off his coat and hat. Puts them away, by himself. Walks with me, hand in hand, to his room and knocks ever-so-gently on the door. We go in and he turns to me, gives me a hug and a kiss, and pushes me out while closing the door in my face. Yeah, mom... don't let the door hit you on the butt on the way out.

He joins in classroom activities willingly and joyfully. The other children in the room apparently love him. I am told that there are a few children who are particularly interested in him, will pull him to activities and try and engage him. The amount of things he has learned is utterly amazing. I believe that... for the J-man... being with peers who engage him, whom he can model after, learn from, and enjoy has made a huge difference.

His mouth is moving. And moving and moving. He is starting to imitate sounds...sounds I and hubby make, others make, even things on the TV. He is trying words. Mostly, he gets the first sound in the word, but he is making so many more attempts. It is encouraging. He still doesn't always try to use sounds or words to communicate his wants, needs or thoughts, but the fact we are hearing more noise out of him... aaaahhhhh, heaven.

I am not sure, but we might have had the best IEP meeting ever last month. Definitely, the bar was set very high for every subsequent meeting we have. We made the decision to continue to get the special education services at Jack & Jill Child Care instead of moving him into the district classroom, and it is the best decision we have made so far. The center had TWO staff in attendance at the meeting and they were completely willing to work with Jonathan on his goals. The district folks were wonderful, and we came up with a plan that I think truly addresses what needs to be the focus for Jonathan right now. I am just thrilled with the way things are going...

To add to it all, we are starting new speech therapy next week. We decided to go back to Associated Speech with Janet Jacobs, and they were willing to take us on. She is advocating a different approach with the J-man, and while I am not sure what that will look like, I am optimistic about what we might gain.

Next week will be a tremendous week for the J-man. In addition to starting his new speech therapy, he is also moving into the preschool room at Jack & Jill. With the big kids! I am nervous but extremely optimistic. I think he will love it. And I think that we will start to see even bigger and better things down the road.

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope or confidence. -- Helen Keller

Innocence

January is the month of resolutions. As a result, you can find every Tom, Dick, and Henretta at the gym running on treadmills and sweatin’ to the oldies. Alas, I am no different. These three years post J-man have not been good for my body, and while I would love to blame him, I have no one to blame but myself. The gym is possible because of daycare. Because of daycare, I can drop the J-man off at the gym Kids Play and he runs off without a care in the world. I get a guilt-free hour or more to partake in one of my least favorite activities knowing that he is happy as a clam.

Yesterday, after what can only be described as a bum-numbing spinning class, I went to Kids Play and peeked in the windows. J-man was running around with all the other kids, chasing balls, climbing on the indoor playsets, and generally having a grand time. As I secretly stalked my own child, this Man-child appears at my side. He was over six feet tall, gangly, pimply and awkward-looking as only the newly pubescent can look. He looks down at me through these off-kilter wire framed glasses and launches into this friendly banter about how much fun the playland is.

How much he would love to be able to still go in there.

How he really didn’t having anything to do because his mom was in yoga and he didn’t want to disturb her. Because that was embarrassing.

How he was with his younger sister in the Kids Fitness class, but they were jumping rope and he can’t really jump rope. Because that was embarrassing.

How he wishes he could go swimming but he didn’t have the proper swimsuit and he didn’t want to go ask his mom.

How it was all OK because he can just wander around and see if there is something going on.

His face, pimples and all, was so open. So innocent. His soul was right out there for all to see. His eyes never wavered, but met mine with that uncomfortable intensity. In fact, his whole being seemed to radiate this intensity. He would have told me… a stranger… anything.

And I wondered: when life was going to beat him up? Will his spirit be hurt by the cruel world… by his peers or by people unwilling to listen to this boy in a growing man-body? Or listen to him in the wrong way?

I wonder if my son will be like him, so open and fragile.

Welcome 2010!

Happy New Year to all!

We have been blogging for a full year now! Who knew I could keep this up? But truly, it is cheaper than therapy (for me, at least!). For those of you so inclined, I would love to hear from you about what you like (or don't... but be gentle please) about my little blog. I aim to improve in 2010!

I had hoped to write this brillant piece on how far we have come and what we are hoping for in the new year. I wanted this insightful retrospective on this journey. Something thoughtful and inspirational.

But instead, you get our Christmas photo.

Enjoy!

GEMM, Kicking @ss and Taking Names

When GEMM rears her head, it is rarely a welcome thing.

However, sometimes her fire is just what is needed.

As I suspected months ago, the attendance policy at Family Speech became a problem. After 6 months of not missing ONE Speech or OT session, Jonathan got sick last week. He oozed green stuff out of his eyes and nose. He ran a fever of 102. He ended up on antibiotics for the second time in his life. He missed one session. ONE!

I called the day before and told them he was sick with fever and oozy green stuff. The receptionist (whom I admit annoys the crap out of me) immediately said, "So when would you like to reschedule to avoid the cancellation fee?". I proceeded to inform her... yet again... that we felt that the policy was unreasonable. She was unmoved. I informed her that we already attend twice a week and the other two days he is in daycare all day. I said the only time he could possibly come was after 4pm on those days.

"Couldn't he miss daycare one of those days?"

"Errr.....no"

"Well, I guess we just have to put you on the waiting list for a cancellation."

Well, swell. Just what I want, to sit on some waiting list to make up a session with a therapist Jonathan doesn't know for a session we really don't need to make up.

Emails flew. Voice mails were left. And management would not budge on the policy.

Well, that is not entirely true. The manager stated that they could make "an exception" to the policy if no time could be found to make the session up. And that is when it hit me... basically, this whole policy is about control. Now, for them, they want to control their money stream. They want to be the one who call the shots. They want the power to decide what is.. and is not... a 'good excuse'. And they want us to bend over and bow to their will.

So we quit.

What they failed to realize is that they really don't have any more control then we give them. They can create all the policies they like, but WE control the purse. I am so angry that there hasn't been a general uprising by the other parents who attend their office. Most of them probably assume they have no control, no choices... just what the management wants. Talk about taking advantage of vulnerable families.

With GEMM on my side, I am absolutely determined to not allow people more power over our family then absolutely necessary. I encourage all to do the same.

On Being Brave

Recently I was Therapy Dog shopping online.

Actually, not shopping. It isn’t like you can get on Ebay and get a therapy dog. I was actually just looking at therapy dog programs specifically for children with developmental delays. I had gone to a parent support group last week and several parents had therapy dogs for their children. One parent talked about how the dog helped with calming during tantrums, the other with communication issues and safety. It was an interesting discussion because I had been thinking for several weeks that a dog might be good for Jonathan. I hadn’t thought as far as a specially trained therapy dog, but nonetheless something appeals to me about the idea of a dog companion for our family.

So, as I am cruising the Internet, I find this video:




I was speechless and in tears. So much about this boy… his face, his smiles, history…reminds me of Jonathan. Not everything, mind you. I would guess that this boy’s need for a therapy dog is greater than the J-man's. Jonathan does not have the same issues. But this video and its song spoke to me.
.
"... the way it always was... just isn't good enough... you make me want to be Brave..." (what a wonderful song)

Being brave means doing what you need to do to help your child. Being brave means living with grief. Being brave means having every kind of hope. Being brave means being more than you thought you could be. Being brave also means loving and laughing in spite of... or maybe even because of... the frustrations you experience. I am meeting such wonderful, brave people on this journey of ours.

So, will we get a Therapy Dog? What do YOU think we should do? Most of the Therapy Dogs are quite expensive (think thousands of dollars)... and our needs right now are small. There is a local place that does some companion dogs that I am looking into. But allow me to encourage YOU to look into these organizations and consider donating a little tax-deductible coin toward the efforts. When you read some of these stories .... oiy, my heart!!

For Whit: http://www.4pawsforwhit.com/

http://www.4pawsforability.org/dream.html

http://www.autismservicedogsofamerica.com/

http://www.puppyloveinc.org/ (Our local place)

A Blast from Christmas Past

This is from Jonathan's First Christmas.
He was about 9 1/2 months old.
He is still as delightful.

Driving Mr. Jonathan

There are lots of things to update: recent Word Watch activity, our IEP meeting last week, holiday plans, etc. However, I think I will just tell a little story.

Despite his relatively calm demeanor, the J-Man is a man of action. Clearly, he was meant for parents who are willing to run with the bulls and leap tall buildings with a single bound. Alas, he got us. Much like Tiger Woods, Jonathan likes variety. He likes new and exciting diversions. He is not a “stay at home and veg” kind of kid.

Now, any parent with a language-delayed child learns early on that in order to encourage communication you have to make the kid “work” for the good stuff. They want the cool new toy? Make them say “toy” (or some approximation thereof). A cookie? A drink? A Nintendo Wii? Make’m work for it! Motivation is the key… hookm’ with their heart’s desire and they will try to do the hard stuff for the highly sought reward.

And then … there is Jonathan.

Not much motivates Jonathan enough to really, really, REALLY work for it. He has to want it pretty darn bad. Unless whatever you are asking him for is easy to do, he is likely to move on then keep trying. The list is very short of things he will work for.

So whenever we get one, we pounce, regardless of the consequences.

And this is how we have ended up driving Mr. Jonathan around every night for his “Evening Constitutional”.

Here is how it starts:

Jonathan grabs my hand and pulls me to the stairs. He sits down (2nd stair only, thank you very much) and pulls me down to the floor to sit.

On his own he says, “Coooa” (Coat)

“You want your coat?” I ask.

“Coooooa.” He looks at me expectantly.

“Why?” I ask.

“Gooooo…. By-eeee!” He states impatiently. Emphatically.

And from this point I can elicit any number of other vocalizations. Where are your shoes? Shoo (with the sign) Where is your hat? Haaa (with the sign). Where are your socks? (just the sign for socks… oh well).

But... lest we wish to witness a meltdown… we must go out. Somewhere, anywhere. Preferably the gym playland, but Target will work. And since we are trying to encourage communication and vocalizations, we are giving in to his evening demands.

I don’t mind.

I mean, let’s face it. This is practically a conversation for the J-Man!

When ECFE Breaks My Heart, Part 2

(for Part 1, click here)

So, there I am, choked up, teary eyed and embarrassed beyond belief. I am not a huge fan of crying in public. In response to a question regarding how I knew something was "off" in Jonathan's development so early, I was explaining that... while everyone seemed to think I was nuts... my previous background in autism gave me some insight into the 'red flags', so I pursued assessment earlier than most. And then, the inevitable comment:

Lead Teacher (paraphrasing): OH, God meant for you to be Jonathan's mother! What a blessing for him!

Sigh.

I have heard comments like this before:

God picks only special parents to take care of these little angels...

I could never do what you do.... you have been chosen to a higher purpose.

God only gives people what they can handle, and you are meant to be his mommy.

These special little angels are sent here to teach us something.

Ok, let me explain something to any dear readers out there who do not have special needs or disabled children.

Don't say crap like this. EVER AGAIN.

Now, I think people are trying to say is that they think you are a good parent and they think that the child is lucky to have your support and love. Cool.

But this is what I hear:

Apparently, you believe that God has rewarded me for my education, training, and desire to help others by giving me a child with a disability so I can experience the sadness and anguish that causes. If I had just quit school and worked at Wall Mart I would have a "normal kid". And, of course, because YOU don't have all the fine virtues I have, you are safe from ever being 'blessed' to have such a special child. Also, only people who are good and educated and "capable" have disabled children, because God would never give an idiot a child like with a disability. It would seem that if you ever did have a child with a disability, you would give it up for adoption or leave it in the snow, since you could "never do what I do". And thank goodness God gave him to me to raise, because apparently all disabled kids are here to teach you how to be a better person.

Let me make this very clear. I am no different than you. Any parent .... ANY PARENT... could be in a similar situation at some point. You do what you must. You rise, or not, to the occasion. I do not believe God gives special needs kids like some kind of "gift". Frankly, that would just make me pissed off at God. Sometimes, shit just happens. God, or Allah or the Universe might be able to lend me a little strength, but I don't think our lives are like some massive chess game that is under some kind of master control. There are plenty of kids, special or otherwise, with crappy parents who shouldn't have children. That is just how the dice rolls.

I have no superpowers. There is no difference between you and me. You cannot construct some magical fate to separate my reality from yours. I am not chosen. I have and will continue to make mistakes. I may not be able to handle this. Do not assume I.... or any other parent of a special needs kid.... is ready, willing and able to handle this.

Our kids provide an opportunity. We can learn from them. But don't give them the JOB of teaching us. They have enough on their plate. Each of us has the opportunity to learn compassion, understanding, strength, courage, and justice from all the events of our lives. And maybe someone will learn some of those lessons by knowing Jonathan. But that is not his job. His job is to be Jonathan. To make the most of his life. And my job is to help him because I am his mommy and I take my job seriously.

Jonathan might have gotten lucky to have me as his mom. And I am lucky to be his mom. But we are as real as you. We could be you. And when you accept THAT, you will truly learn how to have compassion and understanding for us.

When ECFE Breaks My Heart, Part 1

Last week, I cried at ECFE.

In my defense, I had a long night at work the night before, was having some issues with back spasms the last few weeks and had taken a muscle relaxant (Evil Flexeril) the night before and thus had a very bad Flexeril hangover. (BTW, I hate Flexeril) In addition, the week had been long and somewhat stressful. We received Jonathan's re-evaluation from the school district, and while I am not going to go into the details today, needless to say there were many 'numbers' that made me sad. Not that he is doing poorly... actually, he is doing great! But to see how delayed he is in black and white...hard to feel good about it.

Ok, so I have had my issues with ECFE. But generally, it has been going well. However, when I walked into the parent classroom and saw the words "Language Development" written on the blackboard, I knew it was going be a quiet day for me. Since I was already feeling like ka-ka, "being quiet" wasn't going to be far from the mark anyway.

My resolve: Just keep my mouth shut. Do my best to fade into the woodwork. Find my happy place.

Yeah, right.

So, the question posed: what are your kids doing, saying, etc?

And let the brag-fest begin!

It seems petty to be jealous and upset about these things. But GEMM doesn't care. Her giant fiery head rears itself at time like these, and the throat closes, stomach acid churns, and I become an expert on the lines of my hands. Goooo to your happpyyy place..... happppy plaacee...

And then, the teacher turned to me and another 'special needs' parent and made a point of asking us what our little ones were doing. It is well known we are the 'special needs' parents, and J-man's issues are known. I was prepared. I had my script. I rattled off where we were, while aching inside because I knew... as it came out of my mouth... that it sounded bad. Real bad. But it is a script I am used to delivering and questions I had heard before. I could make it!

And then one mom asked me "And how are YOU doing with all this?"

Let the waterworks begin.

I just opened up my mouth and nothing came out. I truly didn't know what to say. No one asks me that. Not really. I just wasn't prepared. I honestly am not even sure what I said, I just teared up and mumbled something and who knows... I probably babbled. With my face in a tissue.

It just snuck up on me.

It is funny. Just when I feel like I have got it together, am working toward some level of acceptance... I find out it is just a lie I tell myself.

The Pursuit of Perfection

We had Thanksgiving at our house this year, which consisted my parents, brother, sister in law and nephew. Six adults, two kids under the age of five. A simple and (mostly) quiet holiday.

The task fell on me to prepare The Turkey. Now, for those of you who have prepared The Turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, you know this is no small task. I mean, sure, it should be simple… put turkey in oven and roast it. Ta-Da! But no, there are a myriad of pitfalls in the preparation of a turkey. First, you must thaw it, a process that takes place over a 3 day period. There is no thing as a "last minute turkey thawing”. Then there are a dozen questions to answer.... to brine or not to brine? How long to cook for maximum juicy-ness and least likelihood of salmonella poisoning? Method of cooking... grill, roast, deep fat fry? Stuffing in or stuffing out? Seasonings? The turkey is the centerpiece. The "make it or break it" part of the meal.

Juicy Turkey = Thanksgiving Perfection.

Dry or Undercooked Turkey = Complete Failure.

Can you feel the drama?

.

After dinner, my mom and I were chatting. She confessed that this time of year is not her favorite... that there is too much pressure to do everything "just so".... sorta sucks the joy out of the season. And that got me thinking about the pursuit of perfection.

I think (and mayhap you agree) that many people dread the holiday season because of this pursuit of perfection. The holidays are suppose to be happy! With singing and good food, smiles and perfect presents, joyful church activities and holiday decorations. And family and friends in perfect harmony. And if you don't have those Norman Rockwell moments, something is seriously wrong with you.

The "perfect holiday" is a like a condensed example of our pursuit of the perfect life.

And to not have a "perfect holiday" is some sort of failure....

Much like not having the 'perfect life'.

Jonathan is teaching me that there is no such thing as that 'perfect life'. Not that I didn't know this before Jonathan. But the pursuit of perfection ... the possibility of having the perfect house, job, and family is still there somewhere. The illusion still beckons from the shadows. But that definition of perfection has faded in importance for me. I am trying not to care about those things anymore.

My goals are smaller now, but so much more important. My desires are simpler, and yet so much more complicated. I feel like a square peg trying to fit in a round hole, not quite knowing my place in the world where the pursuit of "perfection" seems so important. I don't fit... we don't fit... and I am not sure what that means. Or how to be apart and yet a part.

But how about that Turkey?

Thawed.

Brined.

Seasoned.

Roasted with onions in an oven bag

at 325 F for 3 1/2 hours.

Perfect.

Puzzler

The J-Man put together a fifty piece puzzle today.

Fifty pieces.

He turns 3 in two months.

Fifty pieces!?!?

Is that normal? To be honest, ever since we started down this strange road, I have no idea what is normal anymore. To me, it just seems like 3 year old child shouldn't be able to do a 50 piece puzzle. But he does. He sits and works on it with way more patience than I would have now!

I am reading a book by Temple Grandin called Thinking in Pictures. For those of you unfamiliar with Dr. Grandin, she is an amazing woman and probably the most accomplished and well-known person with autism in the world. She has her doctorate in Animal Science and has written several books on both autism and animal behavior (no, not in the same book!). She didn't speak until she was 3 1/2 years old, and yet through her own determination and that of her family has reached levels of functioning far surpassing what anyone would have dreamed of in her generation.

In her book.... of which I must admit I am only 30 pages into... she is talking about how she (and presumably many other people with autism) are highly visual learners. In essence, she thinks in pictures, not words. So, that internal dialog that goes on in your head, or my head.... that is not how she thinks. She sees things in her head, three dimensionally, and creates associations based of memories of pictures.

One of the things she mentions is that many people with autism have this level of visual-spacial ability. Often... and I know you saw this coming... they are highly artistic or interested in design, and guess what.... they tend to be good at puzzles.

Now, while I could take this as a sign that the J-Man truly has autism, I am not really ready to go there yet. His social nature is starting to peek out, and I think we might start to see it blossom in the months to come. But, I am willing to say that undoubtedly he is a visual learner. To my core I know it. As I watch him solve the problems of a puzzle, I marvel at how focused and persistent he can be.... so very different than when the task involves language or auditory input.

The puzzle for me, now, is to find a way to harness this ability.

Kendra's Story

I am lucky to be a NICU nurse.

I am lucky to make a difference.

Not every story ends up like this...

In fact, many don't.

But I get a chance to be a part of the possible.

This is why I do what I do.

Happy Birthday Kendra!

Goals

How many two year olds do you know who have goals?

Next month, we have Jonathan's IEP meeting. An IEP (Individualized Education Plan) is essentially a road map or 'contract' for establishing educational goals and tracking those goals. The IEP not only establishes these goals (and some kind of metric to measure those goals) but also helps establish the ways in which these goals will be met. Generally speaking, the goals are built by information on the the educational assessments previously done, and on both parental and teacher feedback on where the child is and where they need to go. The IEP is like the Bible for special education students. It guides all.

Crafting a good, quality IEP is not an easy task. It requires an understanding of the child's strengths and challenges, how they learn best, how to capitalize on those strengths and minimize the impact of the challenges on overall performance, and how to address the areas of weakness in a way that is most effective.

Parents come to the table with the Child Knowledge. We know our kids. Alas, we don't always know the best way to address the issues and implement them in the classroom. We don't always know the words to describe the subtle problems and issues, and frankly... if we could fix our 'broken' children, we would.

In a perfect world, teachers and therapists have the education and skills. They are suppose to know what to do and how to do it. And we parents look to them to help craft the perfect IEP... the IEP that will provide everything the child needs to progress... no, EXCEL!!

.

Do I set expectations too high, perchance???

So with Jonathan's IEP coming up, I have started thinking about what kind of goals we should be establishing for him this next year. I have been brain storming a list of "good goals" for his IEP.... and I found that this was not an easy task! It is so hard to articulate what his goals should be in a meaningful way. It is so much easier to just say what I want....

I want him to say "Hi mommy!" when I walk in the room.

I want him to share with me his interests and show me things he likes, not just get me to do things that he needs or wants.

I want him to play with me, not just by me.

I want him to have friends. Real friends that he likes to see and wants to play with.

I want him to try and tickle me. And chase me. And chase and tickle me.

I want him to be able to use his imagination and play creatively.

I want words.

Lots and lots of words.

Am I asking for too much?

Quiet

Sometimes he is so quiet.
Frequently he is so quiet.

Word attempts are sporadic.
I can never predict when
he might make a sound or word.

He doesn't jabber or babble.
Not to himself, and not to us.
At least, not often.

He is quiet.

Some days I think he wants to communicate.
To talk.

Other days I think he is happy being quiet.

Wordless.

Our Halloween Fireman

Rockabye

We have a fairly standard bedtime ritual in our house, one that is no doubt very similar to most households. After bath and teethbrushing, we get J-man a drink of milk, read stories in the rocking chair, turn out the light and rock him a little bit and then lay him down in bed. One of these days.... no doubt soon.... we will do away with our rocking time. But, for now, it is my favorite time of day.

Tonight, after the lights went out and we snuggled together in the rocking chair for a bit, J-man started wiggling and turning (my signal that it is time to lay him down in bed). As I picked him up and started to his bed, he said... clear as day... "Bye-ie".

He told me BYE!

It both thrilled me and sent a pang into my heart. But thrilled me more.

Less Traveled Roads

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

--Robert Frost

There is this famous essay by Emily Perl Kingsley called Welcome to Holland. In this essay, she compares the difference between parenting a 'typical' child and a 'special needs' child to planning a trip to Italy, but ending up in Holland. While it is an interesting analogy, it sounds too easy. No offense, but Holland and Italy both sound pretty swell to me.

For me, I tend to think of it a little differently. I look at parenting like taking a walk in the woods. Now, most parents hike the well worn trail. It is wide and well traveled, with many other parents hiking right along side you. You see similar overlooks and panoramas, beautiful vistas and mountain creeks. There are definitely hills to climb, bugs to avoid, and the occasional rain storm. And sometimes you are the unfortunate one to step in the doggie-doo or trip on a big rock. But you have the benefit of others who travel with you on this same path, and mostly share the same experience.

For the parent of a special needs child, parenting is different. There is only a very thin trail, or maybe no path at all. Grass and tall weeds cover the forest floor, and there are unexpected mud pits that suck your shoes in. There is wildlife galore; some of it beautiful and some of it scary and dangerous. Gnatty, swarmy bugs bite. You aren't very sure where you are going or what direction to take, and the few guidebooks or fellow travelers you meet all have a different opinion or direction in mind. Mostly you hike alone, but occasionally meet others who hike these woods too. They know your hike because they are doing it as well. They can share tips and tricks to making it though the woods. But always you must hike on your own, because no one's journey is the same. Eventually you learn to navigate this woods. Slowly but surely you learn to avoid the mud pits, to defend against the scary critters, and to cut though the tall grasses in order to make the journey go more smoothly. And you hope that you are going in the right direction and that you aren't going to run into a bear or a mountain lion. You hope for the beautiful vistas, but you are never quite sure where you might end up.

Last week I attended a class on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). According to Wikipedia, IDEA is a United States federal law that governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to children with disabilities. Essentially, IDEA is the rules of the game that States have live by when providing special education services. This course was put on by a parent advocacy group (PACER), and was organized in such a way as to explain to parents the essential "what you need to know" rules. It covered topics such as the evaluation process, getting services, evaluating those services, and how to troubleshoot the issues and conflicts that could come up.

I wanted to take the class because as we approach the J-man aging out of the Birth to Three programs and entering the next phase, we will be starting to revise both the types of services he gets and creating an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for him. I figured it might be pretty important for me to not only know the rules of the game, but also how to navigate the system. Avoid the mud pits, tall grass, and toothy critters as much as possible.

What struck me was how lost and frustrated so many of the other parents were. One mom, upon learning that she should have been receiving quarterly reports from her son's teachers and that he was grossly overdue for a re-evaluation (by 1 year, no less), burst into tears. Angry pissed-off tears! Another mom's voice cracked and her eyes welled up with tears when she explained that her son would never progress beyond a 4 year old level, and she wondered how she could ever make a meaningful IEPs for him. And yet another mom explained her frustration in finding an appropriate school district for her child in a recent move (been there, done THAT).

We have been so fortunate. Jonathan has a brilliant team and we have had very few struggles thus far. While I worry on a daily basis about where we are going and what we are doing right or wrong, Jonathan could care less. He is happy. And I think... no, I know... that the reason we have had it nice so far is that I am always willing to ask the questions. To be his advocate. And I have enough knowledge and skill that I can do it right. It doesn't mean I am not filled with doubt everyday, but I know we can make it.

My heart breaks for other parents on this journey who are struggling. There is no real guidebook for these woods, and feeling lost, scared, and confused can become a regular event. When people try to live from a place of stress and fear, things always go terribly wrong. And yet, this is where a lot of these families are ....trying to negotiate the forest without a map, a clear trail, and a solid endpoint.

A little spooky...

My analytical side does not believe in fate. It does not believe that God micromanages our lives.  It believes that we have free will, and that events that happen in our lives that seem like fate are really just freakish coincidence.   I am rational, logical, intellectual, and not persuaded by fantastical talk.

And then, there is my other side... my secret side.  This side believes in fate, in a guiding hand of God, in Santa Clause and in the idea that "there are no accidents".

This side looks back on my life and sees some crazy acts of fate.  The way my husband and I met (long story).  The fact that I have this wealth of previous experience and education in the area of early child development and autism, which in many ways primed me to be aware of Jonathan's issues early on instead of catching it later. 

And now, another example of the crazy hand of fate.

In April, 2008, Jonathan was just starting to be evaluated.  The school district hadn't yet started to test him, speech therapy had just started to get involved, and we were waiting on an appointment at Children's Hospital.  Anxiety was high.

One night I was watching the local evening news and saw a story celebrating a "Top Teacher".  Only half watching, I keyed in when the story explained that this teacher worked closely with young children who had autism.  Obviously, given my fears at the time, this caught my attention.  I distinctly remember thinking "If needed, I wonder how we would get Jonathan in her class in the future".

Time passed, and when we expressed concerns about our first teacher, the district very kindly assigned us a new teacher, Ms Kristin. And we have been massively impressed with her ever since... her knowledge, her sensitivity, her willingness to work with us and Jonathan, her observational ability.... I could go on and on.   We sorta felt that the district must have given us their best, given the fact we bitched.

And... strangely... she felt familiar.

Today, something sparked my memory about that news story.  A little Google search later and...



Ms. Kristin is the exact same teacher. THAT is a little spooky...

Of course, they were completely right, Ms. Kristin.  You are a Top Teacher!