Serenity Now!

Spelling Bee champion has Asperger’s. So funny.

Puts things in perspective for me. Yeah, we’ve had some rough patches dealing with autism over the years plus extra family challenges such as a husband in Iraq and now a cop (Serenity Now!), but this? Having all 6 kids on the spectrum? What a woman.

Autism x 6: Family’s kids all have the disorder

We’ve had a pretty OK week. Things (I hope) are winding down for the end of the school year. Only a week and a half left! Lots of visits from new families to my school plus last minute meetings with out-going families. I officially let them know that I cannot keep a full-time position next year because I really want to build my private practice. They seemed “eager” to have me stay in some capacity, so I am looking at another position still in the district that is part-time.

I’m really enjoying my private consulting. I guess that’s where my heart is. I enjoy designing and running programs. I like working with families who are involved and are “choosing” to do this. Mostly, I love working with the wee-little ones because they make such tremendous progress, and it’s so fun to be a part of that.

Audra (Jr.) had a rough week. She’s an interesting little girl, I have to say. She is about as unique as they come. She has this incredible energy level, she’s boisterous, animated, and not a girly-girl. She’s not into fashion or the newest trends as some of the girls are beginning to be. She still loves Pokemon and Webkinz and wears sweats whenever she can and gets grass stains on her knees. Her best friend lives two doors down and they spend almost every waking minute together. If it weren’t for her, I’d be really worried about Audra. She does not fit in with the girls at church. She is never invited to hang out. Once every other week she goes to an activity with the girls at church her age, and she’s been feeling unsure of herself. I guess it all came out this last week. I think because she’s feeling a bit like a misfit, she tries to do things to get attention or find a way into the “group”, but it just ended up with her being dumb and getting her feelings hurt. I feel bad for her, but she’s a lot like I was and it brings back many memories. I didn’t have a “place” through junior high school. I wasn’t trendy. I liked strange, alternative music (following after older brothers for that). I didn’t fit in with the “Mormon” girls, but I’d moved to the area recently enough that I didn’t have any non-church friends. Those years were tough! It wasn’t until high school where I found others mistfits that we fit together that I felt I had a place, but those weren’t necessarily people with the best influence on me. I struggled for many years to find who I was, to be who I wanted to be but while being surrounded by good people. It took me serving a mission to really grasp the fact that I didn’t have to fit into a “group”. I could be just who I was and still hold on to my morals and ideals, and I could be perfectly happy without any group whatsoever if I needed to. I suppose that’s just maturity.

I just feel for my girl. I can see her struggling with the same issues I did. What she has that I never had was one good friend with strong morals who let me be who I wanted to be. Audra has that. I am so grateful for her friendship with Kyndall.

Have a good week!

It’s been a couple of weeks. Let’s see. At school, it seems that all the classes wait to take their field trips until the last month and a half, and since I have to go on each field trip that one of my students goes on (with few exceptions), that means I’ve been on lots of field trips! Combine that with final meetings, visits from new students and visits for my outgoing students, it’s been really busy. But, I can see it winding down soon and I’m really looking forward to the end of the year in two weeks.

I went to our 5th graders “Resident Outdoor School” or 3-day camp. That was pretty fun. I found a new tutor while we were there! The counselors there are high school students, and there was this one counselor who just outshone all the others in her ability to be full of energy and spontaneous as well as keep kids under control. You’d see all the students getting all lively and out of control, and she’d start doing something and they’d just stop and give their full attention to her. Found out she lives right by me and offered her a part-time summer job. She will be great! Also have two staff assistants from school who are joining the team (one is already rocking!) and two clients, so we’re off and running. I still don’t know about next year’s school schedule–whether I’ll be full or part-time–but I am really enjoying my private consulting so far.

This summer, I’ll be seeing my private clients and running regular social groups for 10-11 year old boys three times a week. That and keeping the two kids of my own engaged will keep me busy!

So, site is getting up and getting “constructed.” Check back soon for completion!

Autism Behavioral Consulting

Dave has completed his first rotation of officer training and is now on swing shifts with a new training officer. He’s learning and seems to enjoy the challenge (more and more as the weeks pass and he becomes more comfortable). We won’t see him much while on swing shift until school’s out for he leaves when we’re at school and comes home when we’re asleep, but school will be out soon and we’ll be happy campers all, then!

Hope to hear from you loved ones soon!