Long overdue update

My teens are still a handful but overall they are pretty good kids. They haven't got in any real trouble. They are respectful to friends, relatives and people they meet in general. Life is pretty good right now. (knock on wood). Last school year my youngest seemed to be depressed but he seems to have pulled himself out of it after almost a year. It was rough though and he failed a few of his subjects. Luckily here you can go an extra year if you have special needs. As I said though things are going good now. I went to college and intend to go back for psychology is september. I guess its good that there is little to report. Hope my friends life's are drama free as well.

Merry Christmas!

Everything is good in this autism house. The kids are teens, what else can I say.  When I say do this they say no way. I stick to my word and they usually come through after a meltdown or two.  Merry Christmas to you and a peaceful time too.

Lansing School district mistreating kids with special needs

http://parentingwithaspergers.blogspot.ca/2012/10/your-story-needed-lansing-school.html?showComment=1349930147738#c6052548716301588436

High School

My oldest started high school this September. I met with his support worker and she said he is doing good. No meltdowns, no problems at all. He is finding his way around the high school. He is using his computer where up till this year he was refusing to use it. I am so proud of my big guy!

You're just NOT funny!

I just wanted to link to a friends blog. Please read it, share and stand up for our children!
http://aspergersinfo.wordpress.com/2012/09/22/stop-mocking-children-with-autism/

Easter Holidays

Yesterday was a rough day. We had Easter dinner at my parents.  My dad and I had several disagreements mostly about my kids. He usually keeps his mouth shut even though I know he thinks they are badly behaved at times and doesn't really understand.  My  oldest was calling my youngest a loser so my dad said well your a loser then because your his brother.  I told him u shouldn't call ur grandson a loser. He said well, he shouldn't call his brother a loser. I said well, siblings do those kind of things.  Me and my brother did. He said not while he was around. He then made a comment about my kids never listening to me.  I said well, we didn't always listen to mom but that didnt reflect on her parenting. He said I don't want to talk about it. Fine by me! Later... My oldest called his brother the b word.  I sent him for a time out and he yelled and ranted and raved but did go for one.  My dad says why does he have to do that?  in a disbelieving tone.  I said probably because of his autism. Good thing he didn't say anything else cuz I was in no mood between disciplining my son and his comments. Later I had invited a friend over that has known my parents and I for many years. We were having a discussion about my friends  boyfriends stepson. Long story short because I don't really have her permission he said your not my real dad, I dont have to listen to you.  My dad said he should have responded then I don't have to drive you places, buy u things, do things for u etc.  My friend and I both disagreed and said that would just start an argument. My dad said it would make him grateful for the things the step dad did for him. I seem to remember times when I didnt want to do what I was told and my dad would respond by saying then I don't have to drive you anywhere or do things for u and that would make me just think he didn't care.   Of coarse I didnt think to say that. In the end of that convo I just ended up saying Its pointless to argue and my dad of coarse had to have the last word saying I think I have learned something in my ____years. Funny cuz I could have sworn my mom did most of the parenting unless we were really in trouble. What approach do u think would work if a child says your not my real parent?

Fun stressbusters.

Today I was feeling kinda stressed. I was walking down the street with my son and he started making kinda annoying noises but it was just his way of being silly and having fun.  At first I told him to be quiet. Then I thought about it and said "actually do it again!" He was happy to oblige and we both made happy silly noises together. Im sure we both looked and sounded silly but who cares we were having fun and  by the time we finished our walk home I wasnt stressed anymore.   As we all know parenting kids with extra challenges can be stressful.  What do you do with ur kids for fun?  Please share ur silly stories!

A good day!

I did a bit of job hunting in the am.  My oldest is staying with his grandparents for spring break so my youngest and I had a fun day together today.  I ran into an old friend of mine and so we had lunch and blizzards at DQ with her and her bf. My friend and her bf were very good about including my son in the convo too which meant alot to me. Then me and my youngest ran a few quick errands and he bought a video game. We were goofing around together. Singing and bumping into each other for fun.  He is such a fun kid, I'm glad we got to spend some alone time together. We had lasagna and steamed veggies for dinner and watched a movie together.

Normal is just a setting on your dryer!

Parenting with Aspergers
http://parentingwithaspergers.blogspot.com/2012/03/weird-is-new-normal.html
has a son who had to go to a new middle school and was nervous about being called weird because he has been bullied b4. Lets show him some support and show him that weird is the knew normal.
First I'm going to tell u a story from high school. A guy in class asked me "Are you normal?" so I said "define normal".  He couldn't so he asked our English literature teacher.  The teacher said" anything that is not weird or off the wall is normal.  Someone having a shower in their clothes is weird."  Well that sounds more like a definition of weird to me so as far as I'm concerned weird vs normal is all a matter of perspective.

I'm weird too! I wore dress pants to school growing up and didn't realize how different it was till I went to a new school even though no one else dressed like that.  I was always quiet and shy in high school. I once stared at a guy I liked in science class across the room for a whole hour and made him blush.  I have been known to splash in the kiddies pool we had up till a couple years ago and jump up and down and yell right along with my kids. I used to sing walking down the street but had to stop cuz my kids hate it and they are teens.  I still like stuffed animals and I am 38.  I was not worried about turning 30 and Im not worried about turning 40. Common people, its just a number. Do you really feel older the day of ur birthday then u did the day before your birthday?   I'm sure there is more but I cant think of it right now. I think normal is boring!!!

Head on over to
http://parentingwithaspergers.blogspot.com/2012/03/weird-is-new-normal.html
 see more posts about people who are "weird" and proud of it.

Merry Christmas!

First I would just like to say Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all my friends in bloggyville.
Our Christmas started off to a rocky start on Christmas eve day. We found out my mom was very sick and wasnt up to having us over that day or cooking turkey and having us over Christmas. It would be a quiet day with just me and my kids at home. At first I was sad but the boys took it really well.  My dad brought the presents over Christmas eve day and I gave him theirs.  I decided not to let this snag ruin our Christmas though. Christmas eve I let them open one present like I do every year. My oldest opened a video game and my youngest opened his bop it!

He got up to 48 last night. He loved it. Its great for co-ordination not to mention thinking on your feet.  My oldest son liked his video game to of coarse.  I prepared a breakfast casserole the night before and put it in the oven while we were opening the rest of our presents. I cant take all the credit, I got this idea from a friend.   My youngest got a nerf gun for Christmas and so I bought them 100 foamy darts for them and needless to say there are more than half missing lol.  They spend at least an hour running around the house playing nerf wars. They had a blast but my oldest got overstimulated and almost went into meltdown so I had to get both of them to calm down and do something relaxing for a while.  They spent the rest of the day playing with their presents and we watched The good luck Charlie Christmas special together.   Because I didnt expect to be home for Christmas we didnt have a turkey but we had restaurant style nachos which we all love. So although it was different it was still fun.

What do you know? Its columbus day in the US!

Happy Columbus day to my US friends or happy kick our new neighbors off our land day, whichever u prefer.

Happy thanksgiving!

I know most of my friends on here don't live in Canada but happy thanksgiving anyways :). I am thankful for my net friends who I can relate too. I don't feel alone anymore. I am thankful for good friends and family.  I am thankful for a house to live in and food to eat. I am thankful for my kids who bring such joy to my lives.  I am thankful just to be alive. I am looking forward to my big thanksgiving meal at my parents tomorrow. Happy thanksgiving everyone!

A furry friend has passed on.

This morning I had to tell my kids their grandmas dog Peach passed away.  My kids have spent alot of time at their grandparents over the years.  I dreaded telling them as I found out last night but didn't want to upset them b4 bed.  They reacted better than I thought they would.  They were sad when I told them but no tears not even from the youngest one who is usually the emotional one.  I guess that's good just surprising.  The paternal grandparents are going to send us pics of peach.  She was a beautiful dog friendly dog but was unwell for a while. I guess even the kids could see it coming. Im sad too :(  I know she has joined Cherry, her mom who also lived there, in heaven though.

Delicious Dinner!

My oldest went with his worker today and made us a delicious dinner.  We had lightly breaded prawns with corn fritters. A yogurt drink and a chocolate covered brownie on a stick for desert.  Its so nice to have dinner made for u once in a while, doesn't happen much when your a single mom again, and something we don't usually have.  They went to their last therapeutic riding till September now its time to decide if they want to go back for the next session or do something else.  My youngest has really been slacking off lately. I don't know if its bcuz its not challenging enough or he is just not too interested anymore. Also my youngest often doesn't want to go but when its time to ask do you want to go for next session he always says yes.

Temporary Homemaker/housekeeper

I am lucky enough after years of asking for help to have a temporary homemaker for the last few months. There is only a few sessions left but I cant stand this lady anymore.  Oh my freakin head! In the beginning I made the mistake of telling her my ex and me had split so she had to know why and keep asking questions I didn't want to answer. I would give her short answers and she didn't get it.  She is so nosy.   After several weeks I had to tell her I don't really want to talk about my separation all the time, its not really a pleasant topic. I told her twice before she dropped it. My separation is best for all concerned and soon to be officially divorced but I don't want to talk about it all the time.Then over time she started trying to tell me that my autistic kids should help more saying if they can watch TV and play their video games they can help to pick up.  She keeps repeating this and also keeps saying it week after week. Its none of her business for one and she knows they are autistic. She comes in here today complaining about the mess which excuse me but its kind of her job to come in here and clean and mind her business. She asks me if I like living with this mess. I say no that's why I asked for help. She says why don't u clean it up? I walk out of the room.   She starts mumbling under her breath that she is not coming back next week. Oh, and she also said I make a mess on purpose! What the heck??? I am sooooooo...sure I run around my house before she comes and mess it up. Omgosh I was so mad I went in the laundry room and called the kids disability worker and told him what she is like and that I don't want her back next week. I said she is causing me stress and my kids disability worker said she is supposed to be helping with the stress not causing it. What a b*tch!  (Unfortunately you must be home when the homemaker is there.) Also she comes in for the last few weeks and says "tornado, tornado! Its a tornado in here!" It got old fast!

Tough days!

I realized the other day that I was giving my oldest child, the one with the most behavior problems too many chances.  He is getting really mouthy. I realize part of it is being almost 13 but not all of it.  Being a fair person I informed my kids about how long they are going to get a time out for what and that I had been giving too many chances.  5 mins for mouthiness, being rude, name calling etc., 10 mins for swearing, yelling at me. 1/2 hour for violence.  5 min time outs in the morning for everything because lets face it if I stuck to the regular time out thing my oldest would never get out the door.  If they have 5 time outs in the morning then they are off the computer till dinner.  Anyways, my oldest is not liking this so of coarse was yelling and name calling and being rude yesterday morning and got himself kicked off the computer. After school he proceeded to beg me to give it back to him. You know how our kids can obssess about things. I told him drop it or u wont get it back and he slowed down considerably.  He was able to get it back after dinner. this morning was better although he still had a hard time getting motivated to get dressed and get out the door he had miraculously lost a large part of his mouthiness.  He still got 2 time outs in the morning but thats far better than 5.  Thanks for listening, just had to vent :)

Happy Mothers day or HUGS for those who have a hard time with this day.

Happy mothers day. My kids made me pancakes with mixed berries in them and whipped cream on top. Yum! Then we went to the fair. At the end of the fair I bought them cotton candy and candy apples. We always buy one cotton candy to share but the apples were a treat cuz the guy at the booth offered us an "end of the day deal"  I hope you all had a good mothers day and for the trauma moms following my blog hugs. I hope u had a good mothers day too but I get that some of you arent at that point. Keep up the good work all the moms of special needs kids out there. You have a hard job.

Stole this from a bloggy friend.

A. Age: 36

B. Bed size: Queen 

C. Chore you hate: folding clothes

D. Dogs: Im a dog person at heart but I have a cat and a budgie, go figure.

E. Essential start to your day: computer and a hug from my boys when I go out the door.

F. Favorite color: Purple!

G. Gold or silver: either. I like shiny things.

H. Height: 5'10"

I. Instruments you play: nothing

J. Job title: SAHM

K. Kids: 2

L. Live: simply but Im happy.

M. Mom’s name: Susan

N. Nicknames: Angel. 

O. Overnight hospital stays:  childbirth and sleep study on a hard cot with my son.

P. Pet peeve: ignorant people who dont try to understand.

Q. Quote from a movie: My name is  Iñigo Montoya you killed my father prepare to die.
R. Right or left handed: Right

S. Siblings: 2 brothers

T. Time you wake up: 7:00

U. Underwear: Yes 

V. Vegetables you dislike: cooked peas, cooked carrots

W. What makes you run late: kids having tantrums or my absentmindness.

X. X-Rays you’ve had: mostly ankle ex-rays. I fractured one and a few years later I pulled muscles and ligaments in another. Can I be done now? lol

Y. Yummy food you make: chicken fajitas, mexican stroganoff, my lasangna is the best.

Z. Zoo – favorite animal: the wolves

Ring giveaway

http://wronginalltherightways-travcat.blogspot.com/2011/03/give-it-away-now.html

These people are having a draw for her beautiful wedding ring. Only $5 for entry to bring their daughters home that they want to adopt and give them the medical care they need.  If you can help please follow the above link to their page or spread the word by posting it on your blog.

The Teen Years...

The teen years are almost upon us. My oldest is getting so mouthy. His favorite sayings are you're mean, you're crazy and I don't have to do what u say. He is so rebellious lately. Just when u think u have them mostly able to control their emotions (well except for when it comes to school work) then hormones rear their ugly head. My son will be 13 in September but he has the BO and the zits and the attitude so he may as well be a teen.  They have also had a bad cough for almost a month and nothing the dr can do. I am trying some vitamins and trying to kick it out though.  Are the teen years generally worse with kids with autism or just hard in general?  I think the younger one, 12 years this year also got signs of puberty (worse BO then his brother, zits and blackheads)  He  is being more emotional too but he is a whiner and cryer.  My oldest one is a yeller. How did things change in the teen years for your kids?