An Anniversary Like No Other....

You would never forget your spouse's birthday, would you?  How about your children's birthday(s)? Or your anniversary??  Of course not.  We even have other 'anniversary' dates that we celebrate, or we at least reflect on.


Today is one of those days for me.  2/1/13 is an anniversary day of  reflection for me.  It was on this day 2 years ago, I sat in the psychologist's office with the Boy to receive his diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome; Asperger's I part of the Autism Spectrum Disorder~~you will hear me refer to it as these; or simply Autism. The terms are interchangeable in our house.


I think of how far this child has come in the past 2 years.  There was a time when he would cover his ears & run & hide if the word 'autism' was even uttered in his presence.  He had horrible meltdowns because of a 3rd grade teacher who would not follow his IEP & Behavior Plan.  He didn't want to be different than the others kids.  He had absolutely no control once he got overwhelmed.


Now he shouts 'autism awareness & acceptance' at the top of his lungs.  Okay, not in those exact words, but he is proud to have a brain that operates differently than most others.  He is learning to advocate for himself.  He is back in public school, surrounded by a teacher, Paraprofessional, & peers who speak his language.


Is it perfect?  Nope.  As a matter of fact, I have a meeting tomorrow morning to 'teach' his team how to implement some supports that have not been followed through with.  They need to not undo the progress that has been done; they need to trust that the reason I put these things in his IEP was because they work.  I'm not worried or upset; I am the Boy's first teacher, so I will teach them methods that will benefit not just my son, but them as well.


As I celebrate how far the Boy has come, I find that I also am celebrating how far the Girl has come as well.  If I've learned one thing, it is that behavior is communication.  While she was busy sneaking food into her room, and 'borrowing without permission' things that were not hers, I learned that she was in need of more attention.  She was spreading her wings & exerting her independence, as children are apt to do, but she needed some of the attention that was being handed over to her brother due to his autism.  She needed one on one time.  She needed to know that she mattered.  She needed to hear these words.  She needed hugs & kisses.  Is it perfect??  Are you out of your mind?!?  Of course not~~she is a kid; she is going to do kid things that a parent isn't going to approve of, BUT...she comes to Mr. Sassy Pants & I more than she ever has.  She is still the original Sassy Pants of this house, but we are closer than ever, and I hope to keep it this way.


While we are talking about how far everyone has come, I most certainly can NAWT (you know who I'm talking about) leave out Little Boy.  He spreads his wings on a daily basis, challenging our patience more than I ever thought a child could.  He is so smart & his imagination is just incredible.  He has come so far with his speech~~part of me is an eensy weensy bit sad for the day when his speech is no longer "Little Boy Language."  He is doing better in school than I ever imagined, and for the most part, is a role model for his peers, or so his teacher says.  When he comes home at the end of the day, his ornery comes out--I would imagine that it takes a LOT of energy to sit & concentrate & behave all day.  So when he comes home naughty, I get it--he needs to decompress.


As I share how far everyone else has come, I am going to share more, because I wouldn't be me if I didn't, right??  While I've been concentrating on my Littles, I have stopped concentrating on me.  Yes, I am now working 2.5 hours in the mornings, & one weekday evening each weekday, and I love it, BUT...I have neglected me.  I got Mr. Sassy Pants on board, and it is time to get back to taking care of me.  I will begin my early morning workouts again.  I will reactivate my account with My Fitness Pal.  I will do what I need to do to ensure that I can be the healthiest & happiest me that I can be.  I am surrounded by family & friends who rock my world, and whenever I need something, all I have to do is ask.  I am blessed.


As we move forward on this anniversary of 2-1-13, I reflect with great happiness.  I celebrate this wonderful family and this wonderful life that I have been given. 


For now, we will get back to our daily shenanigans. It's what we do best....