I know it been a couple of weeks since I last wrote anything, but thats what happens when you have a busy life.
The week of Jan 16 I started my spring semester of classes. Let me tell you that as an adult learner, I forgot how much time goes into reasearch papers. This semester I will be writing a reasearch paper on Faith and Autism for one class. I am also taking Biotechnology, which is a lot of reading. Today I am trying to study, but it is hard.
This past weekend I attended my first class with Wisconsin Partners in Policy Making. So much information in such a little amount of time. But it has rengerized me to make a difference in the life of people with differing abilities. I met some really cool people and am so grateful they came into my life as we go forward making changes for the ones we love. The policy making class is being attended by 30 people in the state be it parent or self advocate.
On Sunday we spent the day with my family at the farm having a belated Christmas. It was nice until the icy rain came down and made the roads yikey. Gotta love Wisconsin weather in January (NOT). I keep asking myself why we continue to live here as I hate the snow and cold. Yet if it's too hot and humid I get sick.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Why oh Why
So last night I watched a show on the Food Network call the Biggest Waste. It was about all the food that is discarded due to blemishes or not being perfect. They also showed the meats and fish that can not be used because of small inperfections. I found this very sad to watch, be I loved the foods the Bobby F, Michael S, Anne B, and Alex G made.
I find it sad that the food pantry's and soup kitchens in the area do not take the food. I understand there may be liabilty issues, but with the number of homeless and people who have a hard time making ends meat there should be something that can be done.
There was one man on the show who I believe was a freegan, basicly he went through the garbage that was thrown out by stores to see what he could take home to make his meals out of. I found him very interesting. Maybe we need to start looking at what we waste in food on a daily basis. Maybe our parents and grandparents had the right idea in making food and using it from head to tail. Not sure if I could do it, but is something really think about.
I find it sad that the food pantry's and soup kitchens in the area do not take the food. I understand there may be liabilty issues, but with the number of homeless and people who have a hard time making ends meat there should be something that can be done.
There was one man on the show who I believe was a freegan, basicly he went through the garbage that was thrown out by stores to see what he could take home to make his meals out of. I found him very interesting. Maybe we need to start looking at what we waste in food on a daily basis. Maybe our parents and grandparents had the right idea in making food and using it from head to tail. Not sure if I could do it, but is something really think about.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Jan. 5
OK right now it is past 9pm and I am listing to my youngest son bitch about how many songs and videos we have downloaded on I-tunes. Guess what I don't care. Now he is signing a Maroon 5 song like we are not listening to him. I am really trying not to listen to him.
Can't believe that the first week of January and the new year is almost complete. So much has been done this week in getting ready Jordan becoming an adult. The next step is for him to register with the selective service, as much as I don't want him too. I also know the law how it is important to do this. Sometimes it sucks when you have to tell your child that they can not do something. But as a mom I have gotten good at saying NO to my children.
I think that NO is the first words we learn as parents and it the first word we teach our kids. It's funny because we talk about how we want to give our kids everything. Yet when it comes right down to it we end up teaching our children boundaries. The worst is the first time as a parent you hear "I HATE YOU" our of the mouth of the cute little face that you thought would never hurt you. Yet those words hurt so much. I can say it does not get better as they get older.
When I heard the words out my almost 18 year old it cut, he was mad and having a melt down. For those of you who don't know what a melt down is. Let me explain, it is when he get a sensory overload from things going on around him. As he has gotten older the melt down are fewer, but when they happen everthing around him makes him upset and nothing can really help. We just have to wait until it passes which can be anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours. What hurts the most is the fact that our youngest son pays the price on activities he wants to do or go.
Can't believe that the first week of January and the new year is almost complete. So much has been done this week in getting ready Jordan becoming an adult. The next step is for him to register with the selective service, as much as I don't want him too. I also know the law how it is important to do this. Sometimes it sucks when you have to tell your child that they can not do something. But as a mom I have gotten good at saying NO to my children.
I think that NO is the first words we learn as parents and it the first word we teach our kids. It's funny because we talk about how we want to give our kids everything. Yet when it comes right down to it we end up teaching our children boundaries. The worst is the first time as a parent you hear "I HATE YOU" our of the mouth of the cute little face that you thought would never hurt you. Yet those words hurt so much. I can say it does not get better as they get older.
When I heard the words out my almost 18 year old it cut, he was mad and having a melt down. For those of you who don't know what a melt down is. Let me explain, it is when he get a sensory overload from things going on around him. As he has gotten older the melt down are fewer, but when they happen everthing around him makes him upset and nothing can really help. We just have to wait until it passes which can be anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours. What hurts the most is the fact that our youngest son pays the price on activities he wants to do or go.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
January 4
Just got down with the phone interview for Jordan's social security. Will get one letter saying he not eligible because he has not paid in due to not working. The rest of the application has to go to Madison for the disability part that can take 3-4 months from what I understand. Then if approved first payment would be in March. This is such a long drawn out process. I hope all my friends let to learn from me.
I have to love the fact that no matter what Jordan will get his disability income based on his disability. It is just hard to believe that we have to wait 3 to 4 months to see how it all works out. I know that the government is slow, but that is sort a scary.
I can say that I am glad the boys are back in school and on a regular schedule. On their first day back to school, I spent the day at the social security office just to turn in paper work so they could request Jordan bank, medical, and school records. That way they can check to make sure I did not prejury myself when answering questions about my son. I know it is sad to say that but so many people do lie. My husband and I have worked to long to lie, we just want Jordan to get the help he needs to continue to live a productive life.
Austin had his first pep band last night after the Christmas break. He so loves band and playing his trumpet. Plus the fact that he is now applying himself to get good grades. This is something that I never worried about with Jordan. I am grateful that both of my boys do will in school.
I have to love the fact that no matter what Jordan will get his disability income based on his disability. It is just hard to believe that we have to wait 3 to 4 months to see how it all works out. I know that the government is slow, but that is sort a scary.
I can say that I am glad the boys are back in school and on a regular schedule. On their first day back to school, I spent the day at the social security office just to turn in paper work so they could request Jordan bank, medical, and school records. That way they can check to make sure I did not prejury myself when answering questions about my son. I know it is sad to say that but so many people do lie. My husband and I have worked to long to lie, we just want Jordan to get the help he needs to continue to live a productive life.
Austin had his first pep band last night after the Christmas break. He so loves band and playing his trumpet. Plus the fact that he is now applying himself to get good grades. This is something that I never worried about with Jordan. I am grateful that both of my boys do will in school.
Monday, January 2, 2012
January 2, 2012
The second day of 2012. I spent the day reading and watching TV. I loved watching the Rose Bowl Parade this morning with J. He was giddy and talking about how great the floats were. This was a day comes few and far between with J. After the parade we watched a lot of HGTV and the new dream house they have built in Utah. I think J would like our family to win that dream house, so we will enter to see what happens.
Now as I sit here on my sofa at 9pm my boys are in bed. They get to go back to school after Christmas break. It will be nice to have the boys back in school. One reason this is good is because J will be back in a routine. A will be able to see his friends. I am looking forward to them getting back into the routine of studing again and getting ready for their finals that are coming up to signal the end of the first semester.
Now as I sit here on my sofa at 9pm my boys are in bed. They get to go back to school after Christmas break. It will be nice to have the boys back in school. One reason this is good is because J will be back in a routine. A will be able to see his friends. I am looking forward to them getting back into the routine of studing again and getting ready for their finals that are coming up to signal the end of the first semester.
- I don't make resolutions, but I have some things that I want to accomplish and see done in 2012.
- J graduation in May from high school
- My graduation in Dec from college. Yes at the age of 41 (1/2010) I went back to school to finish my Bachelors degree and then I hope to complete my Masters degree
- Find a job, since I have been out of a job for over a year.
- Maybe start my own business. I am thinking of a character letter business where I would send out letters to children from Tom Turkey, Santa, the Tooth Fairy, or any number holiday characters I can think up.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Welcome 2012
It's hard to believe that we are starting 2012. My son JT will be 18 in just a few days. It's so interesting when you have a child with special needs. When they are children you fight to get their services, yet if your income is to high you don't qualify for state or federal medical assistance. So then you keep waiting for them to turn 18 so your income as a parent does not matter, because they are now considers an adult. Yet then you worry about them being taken advantage of. So you start consulting with the lawyers to draw up the power of attorney papers, the guardianship or conservatorship papers.
My husband and I have done the power of attorney papers and the medical power of attorney. I have completed his social security paperwork. Now I have to call the Social Security office to set up his appointment to discuss his benefits. I also need to call our lawyer to set up an appointment to draw up the conservatorship. You see I don't want the state to end up with anything from his estate. Doesn't doing all this paperwork sound like so much fun. I want to proctect my child, yet I want my child to have a life and reach for the stars that are obtainable to him.
Some days I wish I had the worries other parents had about what college is my son going too, but that is not to be with J. I get to worry about what type of job is he going to have, will he take any college classes, who will be there to protect him when I am not around. I will get the college worries when A gets ready to go off the college in three short years.
I also need to remember A needs to have as much of a normal childhood teenage years as he can have. Sometimes it is so hard to see the hurt in A when we have to do something that centers on J. As a parent that is the worst feeling in the world. After we found out J had Autism our world turned upside down, yet we have alway made sure that know matter what A has a childhood, which includes doing sports that he loves. We spent 11 years watching him play baseball during the summer. One of my favorite things to do was taking A out on a date night, just him and me for dinner as some place he wanted to go.
I hope my boys remember the special little times we spent together. Sometimes it is just sitting on the sofa watching a movie or sporting event that they want to watch.
My husband and I have done the power of attorney papers and the medical power of attorney. I have completed his social security paperwork. Now I have to call the Social Security office to set up his appointment to discuss his benefits. I also need to call our lawyer to set up an appointment to draw up the conservatorship. You see I don't want the state to end up with anything from his estate. Doesn't doing all this paperwork sound like so much fun. I want to proctect my child, yet I want my child to have a life and reach for the stars that are obtainable to him.
Some days I wish I had the worries other parents had about what college is my son going too, but that is not to be with J. I get to worry about what type of job is he going to have, will he take any college classes, who will be there to protect him when I am not around. I will get the college worries when A gets ready to go off the college in three short years.
I also need to remember A needs to have as much of a normal childhood teenage years as he can have. Sometimes it is so hard to see the hurt in A when we have to do something that centers on J. As a parent that is the worst feeling in the world. After we found out J had Autism our world turned upside down, yet we have alway made sure that know matter what A has a childhood, which includes doing sports that he loves. We spent 11 years watching him play baseball during the summer. One of my favorite things to do was taking A out on a date night, just him and me for dinner as some place he wanted to go.
I hope my boys remember the special little times we spent together. Sometimes it is just sitting on the sofa watching a movie or sporting event that they want to watch.
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