A Thought....

I have been thinking today about what the Autism Puzzle piece means. Many Autism Awareness and Support Organizations use the logo of a puzzle piece to signify how one piece of the autism puzzle is missing. It is a mystery. It is a very puzzling disability. You even see the puzzle pieces on the support ribbons. As much as I understand this and see this I also see the puzzle piece as signifying something else. I feel a lot of times society views all children as a puzzle piece that fits into the big picture. The problem is that the puzzle piece has to be shaped and cut out a certain way. If you are not that shape you don't fit in. When you are doing a puzzle you try to fit the pieces in and when they don't fit you put them to the side until maybe they will fit in later. I know we have come a long way in today's society compared to years ago but so many people are uneducated and lack understanding of today's children and the disabilities that have changed their "FORM".

Asperger's Syndrome

This is a video on ABC News that explains alittle more about
Asperger's Syndrome that my oldest son Dominic has. It has many challenges but I have to say that early intervention is key in helping a child with this cope. Dominic has gone through therapy for behavior and social skills. He would not be where he is today if I could have ignored it and acted like it wasn't an issue. We still have challenges with it but it is still better than it would be. I am alittle apprehensive about how the teen years will go with him. It can be an awkward stage in your atypical child but I think the challenges might be a little tougher for him socially.

Interesting Perspective on Education and Special Needs Children

This morning I read a very interesting and deep felt blog about Special Needs Children and Education. Since I have a lot of mommies that read my blog that are parents of special needs children I thought I would pass this blog on to you. Check out Bart's Blog

Frustrated

I am not sure what to do and welcome any advice you might have. My 7 1/2 year old has Aspergers and with that comes a delay in potty training skills. Night time has been his only issue. About a month ago he wanted to stop wearing pull ups at night because he felt he could stay dry like he had with the pull up. After a week of no accidents we proceeded to let him go without it. We started out ok with a few accidents here and there. I would tell him that he could wear a pull up if he wanted to and he would get very upset and not want to wear one. Who can blame him? Lately though it has been happening much more frequently. I do not have a washer and dryer and have to go to the laundry mat and it is hard to get there everyday to wash this bedding over and over again. I just don't know what to do. We have tried waking him up when we go to bed but sometimes he still ends up wetting the bed. I know this affects his self esteem and I don't want him to feel bad. He doesn't get in trouble for the accidents and we try not to make him feel bad. I just want to help him. Maybe there is a birth history of bed wetting. I have no clue.

Therapeutic Nursery Program

I found a therapeutic nursery program here in the city and finally after a week they returned my call. After a long conversation with them they told me they would call me back later today today to let me know how long the wait list is for Ki to get into there program. We had a long conversation about how the behavior is different in a child who was born addicted to Crack Cocaine. I have to admit I knew most of what she had to say but it reassured me to know that it isn't from bad parenting skills on my part. I am not saying I am the best parent out there but your kids reflect you. When you have a defiant child so many people out in the public right away judge you and blame it on your parenting skills. Or they are quick to say that your child just needs a swift kick in the pants. They have no clue how the brain was messed up by the drugs or the alcohol that the parents decided to indulge in. Not thinking of the affect it has on their unborn child in utero.
When the woman called me back today they told me that because of Ki's history and the fact that she was in a therapeutic nursery before we left, they moved her name to the top of the list so that she can get back into therapy right away. Praise God. I should expect a phone call from them in the middle of next week.

Abandonment Issues

While we were at church on Sunday I noticed Reynaldo was crying during worship service. He had been a little weepy the past few days because we are in the middle of switching his meds. When I asked him what was wrong he asked me if I will be his mommy forever even when he is grown up and has his own children. It made me cry because he was very upset and you could tell this was something he had been worrying about. I told him I would ALWAYS be his mommy and went on to explain how my mommy is still my mommy. I gave him a big hug and he seemed to feel better. This made me see that he really is having some abandonment issues. I didn't see how he could because we got him at nine months but we were also his fourth placement. He says to me sometimes that he misses his birth mom. He actually only met her a few times and never lived with her. I think it is the whole concept though. Like maybe a guilt thing that he feels like he should miss her. He has always been an emotional and deep feeling child. He will also say that he misses his sister. He has always been very clingy and attached to me and gets upset when I leave him. When I come back he hugs me hard and doesn't want to let go. He tells me he misses me so much. That is also why it is hard for him when he has people in his life and then he doesn't see them anymore. He feels like they don't love him anymore. This has happened several times and I just don't know how to help him with that. I have tried to explain it to other people but they just don't seem to get it or they just don't care. I can't protect him all his life but I can try my darnedest to not let people do that to him.

Heartfelt Poem

Someone recently posted this on a mommy list that I am on and it always touches me when I read it. I am not sure who the author is but it is so beautifully written. I hope it touches someone out there like it did me.

Before I Go To Sleep…
Mommy, don't you cry now and Daddy don't you weep.I want to whisper something before I go to sleep. I know that when I came here I looked perfect in every way. And you were so proud, Daddy; when you held me on that day. Mommy, when you kissed me and wrapped me up so tight, I knew that I belonged here and everything was right. But then there was concern about developmental delay, I saw your worried faces as you knelt by me to pray. Mommy, I always notice how you wipe away a tear, When you watch the other children as they run and laugh and cheer. I may not be able to tell you how much I love you so, Or even show you how I feel and what I really know. But when you hold me, Mommy, at night when all is still, I feel the love you have for me and I know that all is well. And Daddy, when you take me to the park to run and playI know that you still love me though the words I cannot say. I want to tell you something before I go to sleep. I may be sort of distant and you may not understand, I know that I am not that little child that you and Daddy planned. But I love you both so very much and I know you love me too, And if I could only speak my heart, you would feel my love for you. I know the future is unknown and you will always have to be, The ones who love and listen and take good care of me. I know that you are frightened and you shed so many tears, And if I could I'd wipe them dry and take away your fears. So Mommy, don't you cry now and Daddy please don't weep. I want to say…I love you both, before I go to sleep.

Author Unknown