Its Monday

Its Monday and it was a good weekend.  I am definitely feeling more like myself.  Yes, I still have things in my life that are stressors and depressors, but with the help of medication, I am able to put it to the middle of my mind and function as a person.

I had a pretty good weekend.  I'm slowly getting caught up on the housework that I've been ignoring in favor of my couch.  Jakes came over for the weekend and we got along pretty well.

I went to a Girls Night Out that benefited the local Autism Center.  It was fun!  I wandered around with ESM and Janet.  We had some girl talk and a couple of drinks.  ESM got to vent about living with Dad a little bit.

Saturday, I took Jakes to the Farm and then caught up with ESM for some yard sale-ing fun.  I bought a grill!  Ok, you don't usually buy grills at yard sales but this one is in good shape.  All it needs is the propane tank.  I cleaned it up and am ready for summer grilling!  Dad went with us and we all had a pretty good time.

Sunday, Jakes and I spent the day with the GParents again.  This time we were helping Dad to open up the RV.  They are going away next weekend.  Dad was able to do a lot of the stuff, not just give directions. I know that made him feel good that he was able to help, not just stand there and be helpless.  I'm also sure he went home and took a nice long nap after we were done.  I know I wanted to!  lol

I'm slowly working on my Pallet Garden.  Its taking some time because I am digging the dirt on my own instead of buying it.  I will have to buy the plants instead of seeds because its such a late start.  Next year, I will get seeds and get started earlier.  But I am still looking forward to fresh veggies on the grill this summer!

What's going on in your world? I hope you're enjoying the spring weather that's finally come to us!

Our Autism Center

A couple of weeks ago, I received an email from the local Autism Center that they had unexpectedly lost their funding and were going to have to shut down most of their services.  Oh no!  That's included Jakes therapeutic riding at the Farm.  Double Oh NO!

After many phone calls with Ms. Jill, we decided that Jakes could still go to the farm and work with the horses and the instructors (which Jakes LOVES) but he wouldn't be able to get a true lesson.  Ok, we can deal with this.  At least he has the opportunity to be with the horses and his friends.



This is on the wall of the conference room of our Autism Center
Pieces made by kids and their families

Last night I stopped by the Open House at our Autism Center.  They had been donated a building, raised funds and worked day and night with volunteers to create office and therapy spaces for our Autistic kids.  They have vowed to continue to provide services as much as they possibly can.  Just last night, they had enough in donations to start services once again!  Its amazing that the community came together for this wonderful organization!

They will continue their fund raising activities and are looking for volunteers to help with that.  Since they have done some wonderful stuff for Jakes and I am a grant writer, I have volunteered my services.  I can't let this opportunity pass to give back to a place that has done wonderful things for me and so many others in Southern New Jersey.

Beautiful!

The Autism Center is a non-profit organization and is always accepting donations!  Contact me via private message for more details!



ESM loved this one of the crab



Remember, 1 in 50 kids are diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum! 

Son's Goal

Son has been having difficulty with his Aid recently.  Well, not really recently, more like ALL school year.  He is very disrespectful to her and I don't know what to do about it. 

At every IEP meeting with every new child study team, I expressed that I would like to see Son taught the skills he needs to cope with daily school life without an Aid by high school.  And since he is in 5th grade, I felt that a reasonable goal.

In his last IEP meeting we discussed working toward cutting the Aid to half time with him.  There seemed to be only certain times of the day (as well as every other Monday) that he needs the extra support.  His teacher seemed to think that as long as the class size stayed where it was, that she and Son could handle things without the Aid.  Btu there were skills that he needs to learn and practice in order for the Aid to be cut back and eventually weaned out completely.

This week, I have received not one but TWO emails as well as write ups on his behavior paper about his attitude towards the Aid.  I have told him in the past that this behavior is UNACCEPTABLE and we discussed and practiced ways that he can do better with her.  It seems to me that there is something about her that just irritates Son and makes him snap.  He can never seem to tell me what goes on and why he is mean to her.

So this week, when I got the first email from the teacher about his mouth, we talked.  I explained to him what I see as my role in his education plan.  I am his advocate to make sure he gets all that he needs to get through school as best he can.  I asked him if he wanted the Aid.  He said he didn't want her to go to 6th grade with him.  I told him that there are things that HE needs to do in order to be without an aid and that I would work with the teachers and the Aid to figure out what everything is and how we can help him to learn those things.

I was SO proud when Son said he didn't want the Aid to go to 6th grade!  This is the first goal he has set for himself during all this.  And now that he has a goal, I want to do everything necessary to ensure that he gets to meet that goal.

For now, I have a meeting with the Aid on Monday to find out what she does to help him through the day as well as to find out details of WHEN Son is mean to her.  I want to see if there is a pattern to his attitude.

I also have a meeting with the behavioral specialist at the Autism Center (which keeps getting postponed due to snow!) where I will discuss ways to help Son with his attitude.