Why my children don't go to school.

It seems like every time I turn around, I am reminded why my children do not attend public school.

Today's reason centers around my 2 middle sons who have asperger's syndrome. They are funny, witty, wickedly smart, but disabled children. They have issues. I am honest about that. But their issues are due to a problem that has existed since birth and not due to character or parenting issues.

In other words, they do the very best that they can.

Today I read about 8-year-old Evelyn Towry and realized that if my boys were in school, that could have easily happened to either of them. Both of them go into a primal state when they are overstimulated. For them it is similar to the reaction of someone with a deep seated phobia that has been triggered. They will do whatever it takes to get out of the situation.

I know this. The boys' therapist knows this. Even our school therapist knows this. But I can guarantee that all the rest of the teachers at the school we are zoned for, do not know this.
I can see this happening at just about every school across this nation.


And that is wrong.


Our autistic children are not going away. We will not institutionalize them for being different. We will not hide them from the public. We will not allow them to be treated as inferior people just because they want to wear a cow sweatshirt. They have the same rights guaranteed int he constitution as every other person in the is country.

Aren't we supposed to be embracing diversity these days? Aren't we all supposed to be more enlightened nowadays? And just how threatening is a cow sweatshirt anyway?


Bev, an autistic adult whose blog I read faithfully, co-oped the diddy:

We're here.

We're weird.

Get used to it.

Coughing, achng, stuffy nose, fever....these kids won't let me get any rest

Actually, I am feeling better today. I started a cough and that's not fun.

But I also discovered that ZD pays more attention than I realized. He gave me a stash of chocolate for Christmas. I ate the Godiva chocolate first. (of course)

Then I ate the little Ghirardelli squares. (I like to freeze the caramel ones.) After that, I alternated between Hershey kisses and frozen Milky Way bars.

That left me with this little gold wrapped candies from Dove.

Today, I tried one of those and found that they are creamy milk chocolate with caramel in them.

I would have eaten them before the Kisses if I had known that.

I got a blog award. Actually....I got two blog awards. First, Michelle at Whimsey Way gave me this award last month when I was swamped by Christmas.

Go visit her blog. She is an incredible homeschooler with way more creativity than I can muster on my very best days. I always learn something when I'm there and she has great music.

According to the rules, and I'm really bad at the rules, I have to link back to my awarder and then pass this award on to 5 others. Easy Peasy. I chose people whom I'd love to get together in one room, just to hang out. Y'all come on over.

First off is Kathy Jo at Barefoot Meandering. Boy mom, homeschooler, and knitter. I'm saving her a piece of land in our "Galt's Gultch." If nothing else, I'll get great joy from seeing Ernie in his Castro hat.

Second is Dy at Classic Adventures. If you want to see peace and love, then go visit the Forever Home. Even Dy's most chaotic moments, are incredible. I don't know how she does it all.

Third is Tammy at Tammy Knits. Who has 5 boys. Five of them. She knits beautifully, seriously beautifully. She posts pictures of them too. And she has a thing for Dr. House....which is another plus.

Fourth is Seanna, my IM buddy and go to girl on all political matters. She doesn't knit or homeschool. But I like her because she is the stuff of PTO nightmares and she's all crafty.

And lastly is Lisa at Hopewell takes on Life. She never gets down. She just keeps on going through whatever life throws at her. She's a teflon mom.

And speaking of Lisa, she gave me an award too. Talk about an embarrassment of riches.

Ok....so I decided that I would give award to the people who inspire me...that make me say "Gosh, I wish I could do that." Y'all can come over and hang out too. Hurry up now, the brownies won't stay warm forever.

First is Tish at Hoosier in the Hive. Tish does a lot of camping in incredible places. I envy her so bad because I am still here. And she is funny as heck.

Second is Jennie at Far Beyond Pearls. Jennie is the most amazing mom blogger. She just exudes peace. Really. I feel calmer when I read about her day.

Third is Becca at Foward Motion. Another knitter and homeschool mom. She's also a military wife. Since we don't get to travel anywhere, I can live vicariously through her. I wish she'd find out where we're going soon. Or at least help me score some Wollmeise.

Fourth, is Donna "Booshay", I'm sure that most of you have been to her blog. She has the most beautiful pictures and has such a warm spirit. I enjoy my daily peek into her life.

And lastly is Sadie at It's a Boy's Life. Another boy mom and uber creative homeschool mom. You know all those salt dough maps and other creative stuff? She does it! Amazing!

This post has been disinfected.

I am sick.

Really sick.

And I don't get sick. Sure, I might get a little sniffle or two but never a real "cold."

I have one now though. Ugh! And it's a bad time for me to be sick. We have stuff going on every weekend and most of the week days. Stuff that I can't get out of either. I just have to suck it up and drive on.

I have learned a few valuable things so far this week.
1. I cannot take Tylenol cold medicine and expect to stay vertical. It does alleviate my symptoms but has the unfortunate side effect of making me feel like a bobble head.

2. I cannot take Benadryl at night....not and sleep anyway. Adding further insult, the Benadryl makes me unfit to knit and doesn't help my cold at all. So I'm still stuffy but also jumpy, unable to sleep or knit.

Vicks vapor rub has been my dearest friend, but you can't go out in public reeking of Mentholatum. I'm hoping that ZD will bring home a wonder drug that will help me sleep, function, and get better quick.

For his sake as much as mine. I've sufficiently germ'ed up the entire bed, blankets, and all the pillows. And he's the only one in the house that has escaped this little virus.

Word for 2009

So, I'm jumping on the "Word of the Year" bandwagon and picking a word that will be my goal for the year. A word to remind me of what I should be doing.

My word for 2009 is Order.

Order in my household. Order in my parenting. Order in my priorities. Order in my activities. Order in my family life.

Order so I can find the time to do all the things I want to do for myself and my family.