by Sarah | Aug 23, 2012 | All About Molly, Autism, Special Needs
[flickr id=”7665948176″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]The new school year began a week ago.
We didn’t get the early meeting with the teacher we’d expected.
We did get a phone call the day before. A 15-30 minute talk with her teacher about Molly and what to expect and where she should sit and what to expect and how she’d been at home (a bit bonkers in anticipation of the change). The call went well, I think we got things across and I liked her over the phone.
Molly has been…
Happy.
Busy (read: a bit ADD).
Talkative (?!!!?).
There hasn’t been (so far) any of the violent out-breaks of last year. No major throwing of fits. There’s a 7 year old’s attitude, but nothing in the extreme ranges.
I don’t know if its having a teacher with a different personality. Or now 2 years experience under her belt. Or what….
But so far so good.
Fingers crossed that it keeps up.
Now if only she hadn’t brought home the cold virus ~achoo~
by Sarah | Aug 13, 2012 | All About Denver, All About Kennedy, All About Learning, All About Molly, All of Us, Blogging Life, Clever Girls, The Teenager
School starts tomorrow for my kids. We did the school supply lists provided by the teachers. Pencils, pens, notebooks & more. Spent hours in the store fighting the crowd of other parents and realizing that the store was sold out of quite a few needed items. In the end, headaches abounded and we headed home.
Of course, that only got us the necessities the SCHOOL declared necessary.
I still had three kids to make happy. What makes kids happy for school? Getting all the clothes considered ‘cool’. The most important requirement for a new school year.
Which I find hilarious considering at Christmas they all sneer at the ‘clothing box’ shaped presents. What is it about the new school year that makes buying clothes more than acceptable when any other time you dare to buy clothes you’re the devil?
Ah well, my favorite part about shopping for clothes that we don’t have to fight the stores. The teenager doesn’t want me to ‘help’ him shop for nothing, my girls are chaos in a store and I know their sizes.
Online I can find great deals, clothes on clearance that have been wiped out at the stores (believe me I’ve tried).
I can get ‘cool’ clothes for my kids that they pick out (like the “Awesome” shirt above – tailor made for the teens level of attitude and confidence…and the adorable dress over here -> that fits with my girls obsession with dresses, both at Old Navy).
So easy, convenient and doesn’t waste my gas driving into town for a stress filled afternoon of attempting to shop with a teen and two girls – one of whom gets over-stimulated in our backyard and is oh-so-fun when we get to crowded stores.
My kids are happy. I’m far less stressed, and saved a few bucks.
No wonder I’m addicted to the internets 😉
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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
by Sarah | Jul 2, 2012 | All About Erik, All About Molly, Autism, Special Needs
[flickr id=”7089103379″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]Erik is in his 40’s now. Many years have passed since he’s had to live through school, classmates, the pressures of schoolwork.
But he still remembers.
The stress.
The desire to get away from chaos.
His ‘coping’ mechanism that gave kids a way to pick on him.
The “other”-ness he felt.
From day 1, Molly’s uncanny resemblance to her Dad has echoed in every picture, every look, every nuance and quirk.
It’s been both a source of great joy for him – and a source of great fear.
You never want your children to feel the pain you did.
And when you have one like Molly – one that struggles to express herself.
You don’t always know.
But sometimes you do.
You see it in her eyes.
You feel it in your heart.
Every day this past year I worried over Molly’s separation from her classmates.
It leaves me to wonder – how much does she know it? How much does she feel it? Will she remember when she’s in her 40’s? Or have we been able to spare her some of the pain? How long will these issues echo in her life, even with appropriate therapy?
The saving grace in her life is her sister.
Kennedy is the social butterfly to Molly’s cocooned existence. Kennedy relates to her when others can’t. For now, at least, Kennedy is her safe place.
If only we could keep her from beating the crap out of her safe place.
by Sarah | Jun 22, 2012 | All About Indiana, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, Blogging Life
[flickr id=”7415474854″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]Yesterday we got to buck routine and head into the Indianapolis Zoo for a special treat. We went to see the Flights of Fancy exhibit with a few bloggy friends & their kids.
For those in the know in Indy…the new Flights of Fancy exhibit replaced the old petting zoo.
I’m here to tell you that it’s miles above the old petting zoo. Miles and miles.
First off, the area is sort of its own little oasis set onto about an acre of land on zoo property. With a concession stand, tables (w/ umbrellas), a little playground, restrooms and – for the mothers – a Nursing Mom’s Nest (which has private feeding areas, changing stations & a chalkboard/books for the siblings).
While we waited for everyone to arrive, Jackie & I felt comfortable sitting at one of the tables while our children played about in the area. No matter whether they were staring into the aviaries, watching the flamingos, or scrambling through the tree-house play area they were never out of our sight line.
[flickr id=”7417292054″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”right”]The Flights of Fancy exhibit hosts three aviaries. First is the Budgies. With one of the tickets (you can purchase at the ticket window right inside the exhibit) you get a seed stick to feed the birds. A tip we were given – go early in the day. When the birds little bellies aren’t full – they are all over the seeds then. And they didn’t disappoint. Hopping onto hands and heads. I got buzzed more than a few times in there! The budgies are adorable, colorful, and hungry little guys first thing.
[flickr id=”7417285584″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”] They also have an “Out of Africa” aviary. There’s no feeding here, but lots of birds much closer than in any standard exhibit. After that you get to the Lorikeets. These guys feed on nectar – which you can also get for the cost of a ticket – I was fortunate enough to have someone hand me their leftovers so the kiddos could divulge the feeding of these exceedingly bright birds.
Over all, this area is totally my new favorite place in the zoo. We could have spent all day there – but the kids demanded time in the splash park. A demand we were also happy to acquiesce to.
[flickr id=”7417302996″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”right”] While the kids had their fun cooling off on the splash pad, the mom’s all made time to talk. I got to know Jackie better – finding out we have led similar lives. I got to know Katrina and Veronica too, and expanding your circle of friends is never a bad thing.
Lately the zoo has become our meeting place with other bloggers & I love it for that. It’s a great central location that is kid-friendly and relaxing even on the busiest days. I also learned about some other zoo events I knew nothing about – that I plan to take full advantage of.
Bonus for me? The girls & I got there early, right at opening. Because of that for the first time we got to see the Tiger Forest for what it was meant to be – Tigers in your face.
I’m probably going back next week. Who wants to come with me?
[flickr id=”7417293736″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”7417290450″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”7417299848″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”7417296470″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”]
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*Disclaimer: The zoo provided us w/ free seed sticks for our kids and free tickets to the 4-D adventure movie. My zoo membership & my opinions are all my own.
by Sarah | Jun 12, 2012 | All About Molly, Autism, IEP, Special Needs
[flickr id=”5888385257″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]I’m pretty certain that I would not be remiss to say that the beginning of last years school year was a colossal failure. If we sat all involved parties down at the end of the day we would all agree that the road became more rocky than needed.
The school didn’t listen to us. Her teacher didn’t listen to us. Molly was unprepared for school starting again, unprepared for the new teacher…all of us were unprepared for all developments.
This year we’re putting the cart before the horse.
Before last year ended we talked to the principal to make sure we are prepared for the fall.
We will know who Molly’s teachers are before the school year starts. Molly will have a chance to meet her (her homeroom at least, if not all three teachers) before the school year starts.
More importantly, we will meet with them before the school year starts.
We won’t wait for “Meet the teacher” night. We won’t be ignored and told “Oh I don’t look at previous years”.
This year we will be heard.
We will cut the crap off at the past.
We will show that we learned from our mistakes – and force the school to learn too.
by Sarah | May 23, 2012 | All About Denver, All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Learning, All About Me, All About Molly, Crap, Random
[flickr id=”6987996541″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]One week.
That week includes a three day weekend.
And the kids are out for summer.
10 weeks.
I’m both filled with dread and…
Um…joy? Fear?
Well whatever it is, I’m filled with it.
We have plans, quite a few of them. It will pass quickly.
It will probably pass even faster because I will most likely be employed again by the end of the month. Part time. VERY close to home (like walking distance) and w/ hours that will let me meet the kids at the bus and kiss them at night before bed. Also, once school starts again I’ll still have a few days a week home w/ no kids.
No kids.
All the school day long.
How many days until school starts again?
