Add another thing to the diverse list of interests for the Monster.
We have a cart near the door to our patio with all kinds of art stuff in it. It’s been there for a while – I don’t quite remember when we got it or what inspired it – but it has paint and markers and the like in the various rainbow-hued drawers, ready for the taking. Continue reading
The Monster turns eight today.
Since his last birthday, a lot’s changed. The Monster’s attending a different school. He’s no longer in private therapy for speech and occupational therapy, mostly because of how much the work for that’s been increased at his regular school. And we’re seeing, at least, a little bit of progress on those fronts. Continue reading
Just to get it out of the way: Sammy’s old. Like… older-than-the-hills old.
I’ve had Samson since he was a kitten. Friends of mine found him sitting on the trunk of my car nearly twenty years ago, looking pitiful, and asked me to hold him until the no-kill shelter had a spot in a few weeks. They’ve not yet told me when the opening at the no-kill shelter will be free… Continue reading
Certain holidays get really difficult with a child on the Spectrum.
The Monster’s eating, as I’ve referred to at various times, has gotten much better than it was. Where he used to eat about 10 things, he’s now eating nearly anything that comes in front of him…
And then, out of the blue, we hit Passover. Continue reading
I will be the first person to admit that I don’t always know how to get the Monster to do things.
I mean, sure, we do plenty of things with behavior modification, like any parent. He gets jellybeans for toileting appropriately. He used to get M&Ms for eating food at dinner (and still does sometimes for letting us clip his nails). But those are easy, concrete things.
What about the more subtle behaviors? Continue reading
I honestly don’t get it, sometimes.
Being the parent of a child with special needs is hard work, and the rate at which we burn ourselves out is probably legend. I hear complaints – constantly – through many of my groups about how tiring it is, and how they wish they could get some relief.
And then… no one shows up when there’s relief offered. Continue reading
Every so often, there’s a boys’ day around here.
Long-time readers are aware that I’ve taken a lot of “me” time this year – I’ve been putting some real effort behind another passion of mine (curling) and taking time to pursue it. This has had me gone for a couple of weekends, leaving the burden on her to watch the kids, and so turnabout’s fair play. And while she won’t take a weekend to herself, the least I can do is take the kids for periods of time on the weekend to give her a breather. Continue reading
I’ve entirely forgotten to talk about something important – the Monster’s annual IEP review. I mean, I talked about the prep meeting, and then entirely dropped the subject.
Most parents of special needs kids that I talk to, talk about how horrible the annual process is. To be honest, ours has usually been just a tedious process, until last year’s huge drag-down, knock-down fights. So anything’d be an improvement, right?
Right. Continue reading
I’ve mentioned before how much I love the programs for children with special needs at the JCC.
No, not just because they decided, against all sane judgement, to let me take over their blog for a day, though let’s be honest – anyone crazy enough to do that is my kind of people.
No, it’s because they get him. Continue reading
One of the Monster’s goals on his IEP is social turn taking, in the context of a game with other children. This isn’t a new goal for him – it was on last year’s IEP, and I think it was on the year prior’s – but this year’s was redefined to be more achievable. Specifically, it allows for more adult guidance/redirects to keep him on target.
Which anyone who plays with kids will tell you is a good and necessary thing.