My Newest Favorite Show

This moving TV series is about an 10 year old Autistic boy that has never spoken a single word in his young life, but his Father who raises him on his own out of desperation has found a way to communicate with, and hear just what Jake wants to say.

I've been drawn in to this series from the very beginning.

Its down right touching, passionate, and riveting and undoubtedly full of all the love and raw kinds of emotions only a parent can have.

First School Camp

  
  
My Big Boy had his first school camp last night.

I may or may not have panicked a little bit......

Ok I panicked A LOT!

His class went to Taronga Zoo to participate in the Zoo snooze, we had to drop the kids back down at the school office at 4:15pm for a 4:30pm departure and they are to return today at 3pm normal school finishing time.

I found myself snapping at hubby before we even left the house yesterday as I cracked under the pressure of the boy venturing off into the unknown, “His bags bigger and heavier than him, read the brief GI Joe it say’s SMALL Backpack” My gosh I’m the first to admit I’m a bitch when I stressed.

Hubby took him into school as requested by the boy, dagger to mums heart but I waited, wounded in the car with the other two.

We attended Miss Moos dance class and returned home.

The house, safe to say was eerie quiet (aside from the rhythmic patter of my pacing feet)

Funny how you take away one child from any family with 3 kidlets and the dynamics change completely, things normally moved remain untouched, house stays cleaned, parent stay calm and productive, children become angelic and quiet, it’s all rather strange really and for reasons unbeknownst to mankind it's unexplainable and I found it really unsettling.

The boy had a choice of buying his lunch today or taking it, but I sent him with both, I panicked at the last minute and thought what if he didn’t like anything at the shop, I know he would just go without, but would anyone notice? Would anyone help him?

So I packed his lunch box with a mountain of snacks to feed him + 2, just in case and a sandwich.

After annoying hubby with a million questions on if the boy would be able to open his sleeping bag and unroll his mattress on his own, and be able to roll it back up and pack it away without a meltdown, because we know he’s a perfectionist.

I laid in bed half the night worrying sick.

What if he sleep walks?
What if he panics and there's no night light?
What if he wets the bed, Oh god he has no spare change of clothes!
Will his class mates tease his after this trip?
Will he hate school after this trip?
Will his behavior change after this trip? Good? Bad? No Change?
What if he wants to come home?
What if he's scared?
What did he have for tea?
Is he warm enough?
Will he have nightmares now?
What area did they sleep in? please not with the spiders.

I roll over and look at the clock it was 3:12am

I was fuming that the school only allowing 4 Teachers for 2 classes (which is ample I know) and no parent volunteers, no contact number for parents to call.

I don’t know if I would have called or not, had I have had a number but I may have been more settled knowing I had the option there if I wanted to.

I’ve really over thought this trip and I really worked myself up over it, I’m exhausted from lack of sleep, I know he’ll come home had the best time, had no dramas (or if he had not tell me for 4 days)

but that’s what happens when you’re a parent, and when you’re a parent of a child with special needs the worry is just that much greater.  

Sometime's It Just Get A Little To Loud.

With a house hold of 5 people, 3 of those being smalls, our family is what I affectionately like to call
" lived in " door slam, feet stomp, voices raise, things clatter, dogs howl, we make noise and a lot of it.

Sometimes thou for master Z despite his best efforts, and I know he is trying so hard with every flinch of his bony body, wincing an scrunching of his little face, it all gets to much, especially in confined spaces like cars when theres no escape, no retreating to his quiet space, so lucky for him hubby's a Carpenter and salvation is never to far away.

Peace and quiet has never looked so serene.

Parent Teacher Interviews

I'm sure every parent dreads parent teacher interviews, or at least has some sort of apprehension going into them; no parent wants to hear their child is lagging behind or they need extra work, or the worst of their child is disruptive...

 As a mother of a child who is on the Autistic spectrum I dread these days even more.

I knew we would breeze through Miss Moo's interview she's a bright little spark, popular with all the other girls, a social butterfly some would say, top level for reading, comprehension, maths, writing content is spot on, the only constructive thing her teacher said was her writing was "a little flicky" but that comes from her first year in the Victorian school system, and it's slowly improving on its own.

Miss Moo's teachers comment was she could have 24 of Miss Moo in her class and it would be perfect. I know Miss Moo's teachers eccentric, but 24 of my daughter you'd have to be bloody mad.

Walking over to Master Z's class I asked if there was anything he should confess before we got there, I got no last minute admissions of guilt, not that I really expected one.

Now the thing with my boy is, academically he is brilliant, I’ve never really had to worry, he doesn't struggle but he’s no child genius, he is happily somewhere in the middle plodding along for his age.

But socially, and this is where the autism comes into play, he just out right doesn’t get it.

Master Z is what I'd say, is an awkward child, for me I love it, it makes him unique, but most parents and there “normal” children don't necessarily understand him, and sadly don’t want to take the time to, so they just ignore him, leaving him outcast.

The conversation that took place that night during our parent teacher interview still have me reeling, I’ve partially digested information only to bring it back up again, sift through it and digest again (graphic I know but that’s how it is) here I was at 7pm (with a splitting migraine) sitting across the desk from a bubbly teacher whom looked no older than myself expecting her to tell me the usual stuff I hear about Master Z, how he was a quiet student, a pleasure, sometime withdrawn,  produced great work but took his time about it, yahdah yahdah yahdah. But what she said floored me, made me sit up straight and fight back tears.  

Master Z had (after sometime) befriended one of the classes more “popular” kids.

 Now when I say popular what I mean to say loud, rowdy, boisterous, mischievous, some would dare say naughty kids in the class.

Now from my understanding this young lad comes with his own set of issues, some I’ve seen so many times before with my field of work as a special education aide, and majority of these kids appear rough but have hearts of gold and are just looking for someone to care (I have a soft spot for these kids I really do).

 But my boy is my boy and I’m his mother I protect and guide him, he doesn’t have the regular coping social skills of other children, but only just finding out now of this up and down flourishing relationship, I was little help. So I listened very intently.

 Turns out this kid has heart and is the confidence my son doesn’t know he lacks and the confidence and freedom of innocence I wish he had.

This kid lead my son, my quiet, meek, skinny bag of bones, never break a rule boy on his birthday along with the whole entire class on a conga line through the classroom just because it was his birthday and he thought he should, the smile couldn’t be wiped from Master Z’s face, Master Z has confidence with class for oral talks, he no longer feels nervous amidst his peers.

He even feels free enough to be cheeky and turn around during class work and chat to (disturbs) other students.

I know they say a bad influence is not a good influence but if it gives my boy the confidence and freedom to express himself any influence is a good influence.

Although the teacher and I (thankfully she was on the same page) are keeping a close eye on things and I have strong faith in Master Z's strong values of what is right and wrong, for the time being I think it's a good thing.

An Old Hand.

I'm not new to the world of blogging, not by a long shot, I use to blog some years ago, but as life goes for all of us and mine was no different it got busy with kids, school, study, sickness, daily mundane tasks, a few removals, and some momentous family events to balance things out. As time has rolled on, and the kids are settling in there respective new schools I have the time I longed for to blog, journal and document our most treasured memories.