Braden's Autism Service Dog - All About Lucy
By Shane on Feb 22, 2012 | In Announcements | Send feedback »
Her name is Lucy and she's our son's autism service dog. She was trained by us, not obtained from any organization. What does she do? She helps Braden be more independent, among other things.
Most 9-year-olds have a certain amount of independence. In stores they can go down a different isle or look at different things like toys. Typical kids don't have to stick right by their parent's side. That's what Lucy does for our son. With her at his side, Braden can walk throughout a store and we don't have to worry about either of them. Lucy brings Braden independence.
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No?
By Sherri on Feb 18, 2012 | In Announcements | Send feedback »
Sir Dantes has been in rare form this week. Or, maybe he's been about the same and we are just worn out. Defiant! That is the word of the week. Well, we will show him who is boss...maybe. Sometimes I forget who is suppose to be the boss around here. But, when I say "no" I mean "NO!". I mean no until I mean "whatever..." Am I wrong about this?
This past week Sir Dantes has had a head cold. Snot everywhere! There has been so much snot that he has a little pink area under his nose from the irritation. Poor thing. Well, come here and let us clean your nose out. Come here and let us put some lotion under your nose. "Don't wipe it off! Leave your nose alone!!!" When I came home from work Friday night my husband said to me, "It is as if he is just defying me on purpose. I swear he looked right at me and wiped the lotion off."
Tears of Joy
By Shane on Feb 17, 2012 | In Announcements | Send feedback »
My son's mainstreaming this year has gone exceptionally well, mostly because he has a fabulous teacher that takes an interest in him and genuinely cares about him. She has been great, and very instrumental in the success of his education this year. Past years haven't been like this. The right teacher makes ALL the difference!
She called our house this morning. I was eating breakfast, Braden was still in bed, and Mom picked up the phone. Long story short, his teacher has requested that she move up to teach Fifth grade next year and she wants to have him in her class next year again! What?!?! Wow.
I didn't know what was going on until my wife hung up the phone and told me, with tears in her eyes. We both began to tear-up and get emotional. We've always felt like our son was an extra burden to teachers.
"All kids do that," she says.
By Shane on Feb 14, 2012 | In Announcements | 2 feedbacks »
After telling of some episode about our son, who is 9 and has autism, we often get the response, "Yeah, but all kids do that." Family, especially, loves to throw that one at us. And those words irritate us like few others. I must admit, we hate hearing that! Why? Because we feel like our situation is being minimized by someone who doesn't understand.
Even though they don't have a child with autism, it's like they're telling us that raising their kid is pretty much the same as raising an ASD kid. It's like they think they can really relate. It's like they're saying that it's not all that hard and that we're just dramatizing the situation. It hurts.
Their statement is usually true. Yes, all kids do that. BUT NOT AT THIS AGE AND NOT TO THIS DEGREE AND NOT OVER SOMETHING SO PIDDLY!
