When you think you know your kinda a little....insane

Most people list out the signs that you are a stay at home mom...or signs you have been home with your kids too long. Here are some of the other signs that may show you that you are the parent who stays home with kids with special needs.

1. Your friends think you have Tourette Syndrome because your either constantly repeating yourself or you have to model speech like saying "I want milk" all the time.

2. You find yourself moving to help everyone get dressed. Your 16 year old nephew does NOT need help with his shoes, thank you very much.

3. You find yourself giving instructions to other adults in a sing song voice.

4. Wait...Adults? What are those? Oh..those people you see from afar in the grocery store avoiding you and your screaming child....who happens to be screaming, but happy.

5. People you talk with online wonder if your trying to be mysterious with those long afks or are you really that absent minded.

6. People who don't have kids come to visit and leave never wanting kids...at all.

7. Your list of babysitters shortens instead of growing as your children get older.

8. You have the "bag of every need". Anyone who knows you knows that you carry anything you could possibly need in it...you know, just in case?

9. You know all the words to almost every children's song there is. These shows weren't meant to be played for THIS long.

10. You laugh....a lot. Maybe even to the point that people think you are insane. Sometimes it's better to laugh than to cry.

It has been a long 6 years, let me tell you. I am looking forward to all day camp, 3 days a week for 2 months this summer and for all day school 5 days a week in the fall. Adult world, you may not be ready for me...but here I come!

Rewarding, challenging, rough, and long are but small words to describe my job. Will be nice to have some extra hands helping me along my way. Those morning cuddles and afternoon hugs make it all worthwhile though.

Happy Mother's Day

I cannot say it any better so I won't even try:

http://www.parentingthespecialneedschild.com/parenting_special_needs_c/2007/05/happy_mothers_d.html

Happy mothers day to all the parents of "normal" kids too. You also have your trials!

Over a Month

Yes, I know...it HAS been over a month since I blogged. Yes, I KNOW Maven blogs like every other day. Even procrastinator Piglet blogs more than I do. I have found that I don't like blogging about the negatives. Its depressing, and doesn't help, and I don't think its productive. So :P

We have started down the potty training road with Trouble. He sits on the potty for 3 min at a time at scheduled times 8 times a day. (most days) He is fine with this...mostly. We have only had one small success. I'm hoping the fact that I let him wash his hands (aka play in the water) when he does go will start to click more. They say have patience...I sure am trying. Second week this week, so we'll see.

Confirmed that we are accepted by camp to go to camp when I realized, yesterday, that we have only 3 weeks of school left. *gasp* Camp is waiting on approval of the level one waiver. Contacted my facilitator to see what the hold up is. Between school and camp is 2 weeks. 2 whole weeks of kids home 24 hours a day. Can you say HELP?!?

In comes the call for respite help. We are currently pouring through the list of providers in our area and starting that process. Hoping to have found someone that can lend a had those 2 weeks. If not, we yell for Captain Huggyface and hope he answers and isn't busy with his girlfriend that whole time.

Me? Um...I'm trying to slug through and chip away at all the organizational stuff I really need to do around here. I'm trying to decide what I'm going to look for as a part time job come the late summer/early fall. I'm enjoying the very close friends I have made, or re found in the past year and the joy that they bring to my life daily. I'm trying to come together with The Master and instead of pushing our stress off on each other, trying to have some effort to relieve some of it instead. all in all....I'd say I'm keeping my head above water. thats good, no?

I'm looking forward to 9pm-330pm camp where they take a bus from tricounty...so I'm betting it will be more like 830-4 camp 3 days a week. Drama Queen says shes taking them swimming every week on one of the other days. I say that will probably turn into maybe every other week. Regardless...its a few more hours. I'm hoping to have some straight time to look for work, get some of this house stuff done, be able to exercise and to recharge. Them being in school full time next year is an extreme light for us. School seems to be able to teach them things they just won't let us.

all in all, I'd say I'll be happier after June 15th ;) but I'm not doing too bad. They giggle lots and ask for kisses and tickles with their cards. We are treading water nicely, I'd say...for now.