It's not always easy

Sometimes you try to do „normal “things and it just ends up really bad. Yesterday we wanted to take a family trip to Pisa and Lucca. But Jessica (our 22 year old autistic daughter) was so stressed out it made the whole trip very stressful. Jessica kept hitting and pitching me. I am black and blue. The rest of the family was on pins and needles the whole day. Yes they got to ride bikes on the wall in Lucca, and see the leaning tower but it was not a fun day. It was a mistake. Next time I know we just have to take turns going places (this makes me rather sad). It’s supposed to be a family vacation but Jessica does make it pretty hard at times. But I’m also trying to push her out of her room. And she is fighting every attempt at change. Autism is ugly…it’s the monster in the room. If I expect it to be easy I always end up disappointed. It is partly my own fault for not facing up to the reality. I should have let them go to Pisa without me. I could have taken Jessica shopping and we would not all be so stressed from the day. Live and learn. Today I’m trying to get Jessica to sit and eat breakfast before she can have her TV. She is very stubborn. But it is a small battle and I will win. I am tired and I had no interest in going anywhere. It’s raining outside. It’s gotten cold. Mom is going to make us an apple pie. We are all tired. It’s a good day to read and play guitar. A good day to watch the world cup and paint.

Comments

chicken coop idea

Why not start with an IBC and cut a hole for the door? You could build closed laying boxes into it, and something for the chickens to roost on. Put some straw or saw dust on the floor. You could add vents to the side for air. If it sat inside a chicken run that you can walk into, the chickens could be safe, dry and happy. I have an extra IBC. Maybe this could be my chicken house? I bet I could even plant the outside of it with mud and grass for extra insulation and good looks.

Reading Kingdom

I am very happy to review the Reading Kingdom. This is an online program that uses a variety of methods to teach reading. I decided to share this product with my adopted granddaughter Ruth. Reading kingdom uses a six skills integrative method Ruth only just began to use the program. She is only 3 years old and cannot use the program without help. But her mom says that she can already recognize words like girl and kids when they are shown on the screen. Sylvia wrote that she loves the repetition of the words in the program . That Ruth is memorizing the words she sees. She will be able to use it for an entire year. But I expect her to become a very good reader. And what a great gift to give to any child! She will have a lifetime love for books. Sylvia also works with teenage mothers in Uganda. And many of these women have never attended school. So she plans to use these ideas to h...

Happy Birthday to Jessica

Today Nicole and I took Jessica shopping. She turns 22 years old tomorrow. She has grown over the past year. She now likes her disabled workshop. And she has begun to learn to write again on the computer. It is a slow process, but maybe she can write independently in the next 5 years. Her teacher is wonderful. We are very blessed to have her help! If I stopped and thought about what Jessica might be doing if she was healthy, it could break my heart. Birthdays should be happy, but when your child is disabled it's always bitter sweet. Bitter because of the milestones that were never met, and sweet because of the person that is still very valuable and wonderful. But I'm sure everyone feels bitter sweet about something in your life. Life is never only sweet. For me it is much better to fix my eyes on what is there and let go of what I hoped for...what every parent hopes for. Jess bought a new book, 3 DVD's and a Fanta. I also took her to McDonalds because that is ...

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