by Sarah | Sep 8, 2011 | All About Molly, Autism, Special Needs
[flickr id=”5800817094″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]Tomorrow we meet with the school.
One year later and I still can’t muster any enthusiasm for the special services department.
Yes. Riley did improve last year. She did learn a lot.
Still it seems as if it’s always a secondary thought. Like she’s lost in the sea of students. Like her needs are not as important as some other students.
We’ll see how the IEP goes.
If we find progress and hope.
All fingers are crossed.
But we’ll see.
by Sarah | Sep 6, 2011 | All About Me, All of Us, Crap
[flickr id=”6110555951″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”] One day will they look back and think of their childhood with a smile like I do?
Or will they remember the screaming Mommy monster.
Will they feel they were robbed of delights and joys because our money is so tight?
Or will they think we gave them everything they truly needed?
Hindsight is 20/20 and there are days I have such regrets. I feel like such a failure.
Then I turn around and see them thriving in their own areas and ways. And I again think I’m not as bad a parent as I fear.
Right now I’m in the abstract. There are more tomorrows than there are yesterdays…then again for Brandon there are more yesterdays than tomorrows in his time under our care.
I struggle. I worry. I fight for the happy memories and try to look past what might not be so good.
I hate the abstract…
But I am working to enjoy every moment of it that I can. It’s the only way we can hope to give them happy hindsight.
by Sarah | Aug 30, 2011 | All About Family, All About Home, All of Us
[flickr id=”6097566204″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]Used to daydream in that small town. Another born romantic that’s me. But I’ve seen it all in a small town. Had myself a ball in a small town. ~John Mellencamp
I used to hate it.
I couldn’t go anywhere without seeing someone I knew.
The grocery store. The library. The doctors office.
Everywhere.
It was annoying. Invasive. Like the whole world was spying on me (the adults at least…they all knew my parents).
Now it’s 20 (*gulp*) years later. I have left the state (living in 3 other states over 5 years) & returned. I now live 2 towns away from where I went to high school.
Once again I can’t go anywhere without seeing someone I know.
Driving down the road. The gas station. The drug store. The grocery store. The park.
Just today Angel & I went to the park and I ran into someone I knew. Haven’t seen her in over five years – she’s since been married & had a child. We worked together for a brief time.
The other day I went to the grocery store & saw Riley’s teacher & an old neighbor all in the same visit.
The other week I went to the drug store and ran into my favorite high school teacher.
Now I love it.
I appreciate it.
Knowing that even 20 years later you can see familiar faces. You can look people in the eye and smile and know them.
I like that my kids will grow up here.
That they will have the same love/hate relationship with it that I have.
by Sarah | Aug 26, 2011 | All About Denver, Cross Country, Cystic Fibrosis
[flickr id=”6083043811″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”] I knew he’d do me proud.
That was never in question.
But right out of the gate.
First meet of the season.
He blew me (and everyone that knew him) away.
He paced himself well.
Drafting behind another kid.
Then at the end hauled ass like you wouldn’t believe (see picture).
Pulling in 6th place overall.
4th on his team.
A final time (in the 1.9 mile race)…
Of 12 minutes, 12 seconds!!!!!
That is an entire minute than his best ever time.
His best placing ever.
The kid is a rocket.
And ready to roll the rest of the season.
He made me proud.
Okay, he made me cry – but I didn’t embarrass him by blubbering all over him.
Best.Race.Ever. Until next week 😀
*******
P.S. Can I tell you how hard it is to photograph when you’re screaming your heart out for your kid?
by Sarah | Aug 19, 2011 | All About Kennedy, All About Learning, All About Molly
[flickr id=”6060662240″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]It has begun. The 6AM mornings. The scrambling for the bus. The wondering if we put on warm enough clothes.
School.
It’s heaven.
Except for the 6AM mornings.
Wonderful.
Except that KG is only half day (not long enough).
Great.
Except the girls are strung up tight and killing each other and us.
But we’ll adjust.
by Sarah | Aug 17, 2011 | All About Denver, Cross Country
(All these pictures were taken last year. His first meet is not for a week)
Last year out of the blue, he decided he wanted to take part in a sport. The one that seemed best suited, the one that he wanted was Cross Country. This year he’s still in it.
It’s great to see him as part of a team.
[flickr id=”5008090207″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”center”]
To see him run with determination.
[flickr id=”6052893997″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”center”]
To find his place.
[flickr id=”6052893449″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”center”]
Knowing that each step, each strong breath builds his lung strength. Each meet builds friendships.
[flickr id=”6053444260″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”center”]
He’s growing up. Finding his place.
Even though sometimes he frustrates me. He’s a teenager.
He’s a good kid. And he’s growing up too fast.
