Yes.
I have been blogging lately about myself.
It has always been about myself and my children or husband or family. Until lately its been about me. How I feel, How I want to be, what I am doing.
I guess a bit selfish. But as I look back I realize this place has been what I needed at the moment I needed it. So here I am going back a bit to a favorite topic.
Jack.
Last week he started eighth grade. I can look back on this blog and see kindergarten even pre-k. What a blessing that is. To see how far we have come in these 10 years since starting school at Good Shepherd Academy.
The other day coming home in the car Jack was explaining to me that the kids in the II classroom are now in his specials. This means that the Individual Instruction class are in his music, art, computers, gym and library once a day. He was explaining to me that "These kids aren't just Autistic kids mom, these kids are the really special kids, they dont read, some dont really talk. One boy has almost 5 helpers and he still has trouble."
"So how does everything change since they are in your specials this year?"
"I don't really care, it doesn't matter to me, its kind of cool i guess, I get to see how lucky I am."
The beginning of this conversation led to his question of "Do I have autism?"
He and I have hit that question before. We have said you had a speech delay, you had a slow start, you have had a few behavior issues but that's over now.
Last week I let it all fall. I started and just told the whole fucking truth.
1. You didn't talk
2. You didn't focus
3. You didn't play with other kids
4. You freaked out one minute then fine the next
5. You picked and flapped and ran away
6. You screamed and hit and kicked and punched
7. You bit
8. You cried uncontrollably
9. You couldn't write or spell.
" I remember all of that."
He was looking out the window. "I don't do any of that now though?"
I know and it truly is amazing isn't it?
"But there is still something not quite right, I know that too."
I explained that a diagnosis on the spectrum means someone can fall anywhere between barely any symptoms to someone like our friends Tommy or William that don't talk at all.
How did we get from there to here though?
So we went through allll of the places and things he remembered.
Music therapy
dance therapy
art therapy
speech therapy ( at 5 different locations)
Psychotherapy
Autism studies, control groups, medication, occupational therapy, Special school for three years. Tss workers, IEP's,
Occupational therapy, play therapy, social group therapy.
Boston, Philadelphia, Danville
OH yeah swallowing therapy LOL LOL
By the end of my list we were both hysterically laughing!!!
He was laughing out loud and we were by now sitting in our driveway!!!!
Then he said "So did GSA know about all of this?"
Yes they all know. They have always known. All of them. Probably even all of the kids since you have been with them since the beginning.
Will High School know?
That depends on where you go to High School.
OK.
We read through the symptoms of Aspbergers since that was the last official diagnosis he received and we both kind of laughed at them. He had alot of them.
I then asked him what he wanted, do you want me to do anything for you?
"Nope. I think I am alright."
After school today Jacks math teacher called me and said Jack came for extra help today since he "Couldn't remember ANYTHING form last year."
He also asked her to not be surprised or disappointed when he got a 30 on his test.
We will go early tomorrow for refresher time with the math teacher to try to "remember" the math from last year. I'm not worried. He is not worried. We will just do it.
PS
He beat the coach and ALL of his team mates in a 200 meter dash at practice today.
His smile warms my heart
That is all I need.
It has always been about myself and my children or husband or family. Until lately its been about me. How I feel, How I want to be, what I am doing.
I guess a bit selfish. But as I look back I realize this place has been what I needed at the moment I needed it. So here I am going back a bit to a favorite topic.
Jack.
Last week he started eighth grade. I can look back on this blog and see kindergarten even pre-k. What a blessing that is. To see how far we have come in these 10 years since starting school at Good Shepherd Academy.
The other day coming home in the car Jack was explaining to me that the kids in the II classroom are now in his specials. This means that the Individual Instruction class are in his music, art, computers, gym and library once a day. He was explaining to me that "These kids aren't just Autistic kids mom, these kids are the really special kids, they dont read, some dont really talk. One boy has almost 5 helpers and he still has trouble."
"So how does everything change since they are in your specials this year?"
"I don't really care, it doesn't matter to me, its kind of cool i guess, I get to see how lucky I am."
The beginning of this conversation led to his question of "Do I have autism?"
He and I have hit that question before. We have said you had a speech delay, you had a slow start, you have had a few behavior issues but that's over now.
Last week I let it all fall. I started and just told the whole fucking truth.
1. You didn't talk
2. You didn't focus
3. You didn't play with other kids
4. You freaked out one minute then fine the next
5. You picked and flapped and ran away
6. You screamed and hit and kicked and punched
7. You bit
8. You cried uncontrollably
9. You couldn't write or spell.
" I remember all of that."
He was looking out the window. "I don't do any of that now though?"
I know and it truly is amazing isn't it?
"But there is still something not quite right, I know that too."
I explained that a diagnosis on the spectrum means someone can fall anywhere between barely any symptoms to someone like our friends Tommy or William that don't talk at all.
How did we get from there to here though?
So we went through allll of the places and things he remembered.
Music therapy
dance therapy
art therapy
speech therapy ( at 5 different locations)
Psychotherapy
Autism studies, control groups, medication, occupational therapy, Special school for three years. Tss workers, IEP's,
Occupational therapy, play therapy, social group therapy.
Boston, Philadelphia, Danville
OH yeah swallowing therapy LOL LOL
By the end of my list we were both hysterically laughing!!!
He was laughing out loud and we were by now sitting in our driveway!!!!
Then he said "So did GSA know about all of this?"
Yes they all know. They have always known. All of them. Probably even all of the kids since you have been with them since the beginning.
Will High School know?
That depends on where you go to High School.
OK.
We read through the symptoms of Aspbergers since that was the last official diagnosis he received and we both kind of laughed at them. He had alot of them.
I then asked him what he wanted, do you want me to do anything for you?
"Nope. I think I am alright."
After school today Jacks math teacher called me and said Jack came for extra help today since he "Couldn't remember ANYTHING form last year."
He also asked her to not be surprised or disappointed when he got a 30 on his test.
We will go early tomorrow for refresher time with the math teacher to try to "remember" the math from last year. I'm not worried. He is not worried. We will just do it.
PS
He beat the coach and ALL of his team mates in a 200 meter dash at practice today.
His smile warms my heart
That is all I need.
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