Autism Moms Thursday Christmas

I know it has been a while since I have done an Autism Moms Thursday. Sorry about that. For this one, I thought we could share Christmas stories or pictures. Here are a couple of pictures from Christmas Eve at the in-laws. It was nice to see my kids and their cousins together. Of course, they had to figure out which presents were their's. If you want to participate in Autism Moms Thursday, copy the button above into your post and link your post below.

Autism Mom Thursday

Today's Autism Moms Thursday is easy. Your post can be about anything family related. Include the above picture with your post and link it to this post. That's it. I am going to post a picture. My son's OCD took over and he ended up with a tower that was top heavy. I had to hold it up with one hand while taking the picture.

Autism Moms Thursday Your Choice

Welcome back to Autism Moms Thursday. It's been crazy around here this week. Homeschooling my son has been interesting. I am also getting ready to take off for a camping trip this weekend. I am doing Girl Scout Leader Outdoor Training. Doesn't that sound fun? I hope it will be. It will be warm during the day, but cold at night.

Ok, now for today's topic. Whatever you want. Write up a post about anything, include the Autism Moms Thursday button above and link it to this post. Then come back here and enter the link to your post in Mr. McKLinky. I look forward to reading everyone's posts.

Autism Moms Thursday One Thing

I hope you will join us in this special Autism Mom Thursday theme. After you have written your post (please include the above image and a link to this post), enter the link to your post in Mr. McKlinky below.

Today, for Autism Mom Thursday, I decided to do a simple theme. It will be “Name One Thing.” Sounds easy, right? Hang on, there’s a catch. Name one thing that your child does that makes you feel amazed and happy. I’ll start us off with one thing that is one of the most special things about my son. Now there are a lot of things about my son that I absolutely love. I could come up with a huge list. That is the catch. Can you narrow it down to just one?

The one special thing that I have narrowed it down to is my son’s laugh. I don’t hear it that often. It is the sweetest sound. It sounds like a soft giggle that is full of joy. When I hear it, I stop whatever I am doing and just stare. I feel all my stress and worries go away.

It’s a wondrous thing to experience. Maybe it is the fact that my son is nonverbal that makes his laughter extra special. Maybe it is the fact that it isn’t an everyday occurrence. Whatever the reason, it has a remarkable affect on me. No matter what my problems are or how I am feeling, his laughter is like sunshine clearing away all the clouds.

Autism Moms Thursday What It Takes

This week, on Autism Moms Thursday, I have decided to go with the theme, "What It Takes to be a Mom (of an autistic child)." You can participate this week by posting a list of traits you feel are important that a mom of an autistic child have. Please include a copy of the above picture and link it to this post. After that, just add the link to your Autism Moms Thursday post to the McKlinky below.

Here is my list:

1. Must be a mind reader (expecially if your child is completely nonverbal like my son).

2. Patience, patience, and more patience.

3. Able to see the humour in what others may consider a humourless situation.

4. Go back to number 2 and add in love.

Autism Moms Thursday Budget Cuts

Today, for Autism Moms Thursday, I have decided to cover the topic "Budget Cuts." I want us to write up a post about how budget cuts for your state or nationwide have had a direct impact on our children or family. It doesn't have to be long, it can be a short and to the point post.

Here's mine. Please, add your link to the McKlinky and invite all your blogging friends to join us. You can copy the Autism Mom Thursday picture above and link it to this post. Thanks.

The biggest way that budget cut backs has affected my son is with his communication device. We have been waiting for approval for four months. We should have had it in August, but because of budget cuts, I don't know if it will ever be approved.

I am currently using the TapToTalk system with my son, and I love it. However, it is a basic communication and my son needs a more adviced augmen. device. Using the TapToTalk has given him a voice, but he needs to be able to say more than what the TapToTalk is capable of doing.

Another way we feel the budget cuts is in the summer camp that the Autism Society of NC has closed down. They had two camps for autistic children, and have had to close one of them down for lack of funding. This will make it harder for my son to get into camp, since only one is available for our children. Attending a week long overnite camp provides my son with a great experience that he is only able to receive from a camp that specializes in caring for autistic children. It provided me with a much needed respite.

I have also felt the sting of reduced services for my son. Let me clarify. He is receiving the same services, but the monitoring of them has been changed. I no longer have the same amount of interaction with his case manager. I used to talk with her every month. We would have an informal meeting here at my house. Now, I haven't talked to her for three months, and that was a quick call over the phone. She has no idea what he is doing or how we are. It's like we have been put on a shelf and said to make do with what we have.

How have budget cuts impacted you and your child? I want to read everyones post on this. Maybe, if enough people join in on this week's Autism Moms Thursday, we can create enough of a buzz for someone to take notice.

Autism Moms Thursday

Todays Autism Moms Thursday is for all moms. It doesn't matter if your child has autism or not, we want to share this day with you. This will be a quick and easy post for everyone to do.

The theme is "Taking Care of Mom." List a couple of things you like to do just for yourself. I'll start us off and you can link to your post below. Please copy the picture above and link it to this post so that everyone can check out the other "Taking Care of Mom" posts.

1. Bubble bath. It's an absolute must for relaxation.

2. Body lotions. I love to use lotions. It takes a couple of minutes to put it on my legs and arms. Just the act of doing it reminds me that I am more than a mom, I am also a woman.

3. Volunteer work in the community. It gives me a connection outside the home. It helps my self esteem to help others and to interact with professionals in the community. I volunteer as a board member of a children's non profit organization.

Autism Moms Thursday Pet Peeves

This week, for Autism Moms Thursday, the topic will be Pet Peeves. Not any old pet peeves, but ones dealing with IEP meetings. I'll start us off by listing mine. When you have your post up (please copy the image above and link to this post), come back here and enter your link in the McKlinky.

We all know how hard getting through an IEP meeting can be. As you know, I will start homeschooling my son at the end of the month. This means that I will not be attending anymore IEP meetings until I feel my son is ready to go back into the public school system. Here are a few of the pet peeves that I have about past IEP meetings:

1. Being referred to as "Mom" instead of by name. Really, where's the respect?

2. Being talked at instead of to. Nothing like being talked at to make you feel really small and insignigicant.

3. Being treated as though I don't know anything about my son and his abilities. Really, mom here. Who knows their child better?

4. The look. You know what I am talking about. The look they exchange that they are dealing with an over emotional parent that is being unreasonable or doesn't know what is really going on.

Ok, I could go on and on. I won't, instead I will leave it at this and let you continue it on your blog. I look forward to reading your posts.

Autism Moms Thursday

It's Thursday (Almost. I'm going ahead and putting this up tonight.) and time for Autism Moms Thursday meme. This week, I would like to do something special. The theme today will be "Special Just Living Life Memory." Think of one moment that was all about living and enjoying life. Something that is a special memory of you and your child.

I will start it off by sharing a special memory I have of visiting the aquarium with my son. The aquarium we went to has a petting or touching tank. Children can touch shells, starfish, and other little underwater critters. I went through the line with my son and did hand over hand with him to touch each critter. Afterwards, while we were walking away, he was upset.

I took out his keypad so that he could tell me why he was upset. He typed that he wanted to do it himself. Well, I was concerned that if he did it himself, he would be too rough. I thought about it and decided that I should let him do it himself.

We went through the line again and let him touch the critters on his own. I stood close, just in case I had to intercede. I didn't. When he was done, he had the biggest smile on his face. He was a big boy and was able to be a normal child. I will always remember that moment.

Please share the link to your post of your "Special Just Living Life Moment." I look forward to reading them. Also, visit the other participants in this meme and read about their special memory.

Autism Mom Thursday

(Trish with Sweet 'n' Sassy Girls did up this button especially for this meme. Thanks Trish!)



I've decided to create an ongoing Mcklinky for autism mom bloggers. This will be done every Thursday and I hope you will join me.

This week, I thought I would start with "Things I Thought Would Never Happen." I'll start it off.

1. I thought my son would never learn how to walk.
He did at age 2 1/2,

2. I thought my son would never be potty trained.
He was at age 10. Yeah!

3. I thought my son would never be completely independent in dressing.
He became completely independent at age 10. (The shirt was the hardest)

4. I thought my son would never learn how to write.
He is finally learning. He has been making great progress.

Now it is your turn. Enter the link to your post of "Things I Thought Would Never Happen" Autism Mom Thursday. Then, visit others and read theirs.