Retro Re-Intro

 Hello, everyone!

This is Danielle,creator of Loorducation.

It has been a very long time since I did an introduction post so I thought now is a time to do one.

 

I am Dany, founder of Loorducation. I started Loorducation as part of a project for my Master of Education degree. It all started out as a blog in which I had to write different posts on many diverse topics in education. From there, we have evolved into many directions. We look forward to our continued growth and expansion. We never stop learning.You can search the internet to see the many things we have been up to. Join our posts on the Loorducation Facebook page. Join our chats, polls and Q and As on our Instagram stories. Always looking for input and suggestions. Let us know what you would like to see.

This is me at our first trip back to Barnes and Noble. We took our son to get something for his birthday. It felt good to be there. We love books. We are growing our collection of books with our library at home but there is just something about going to the bookstore. We usually would go to the public libraries every week or so but around where we are, all libraries are still shut down.

I love to read. The book in the picture is the latest book I have read. I read it basically in one shot, it was that good. Getting back on track with my reading. Two books in a week thus far. 

I love to paint, do arts and crafts and be creative. I enjoy listening to motivational and positivity podcasts while I am cooking, doing other chores around our home or just before going to sleep at night.

Getting back into blogging is a goal of mine. So I am brainstorming some topics that I think would prove beneficial, positive and entertaining for you.

You are going to get glimpses as to what we do to stay active in learning and the things we do in our daily lives to keep the creativity spark blazing.

The following is ten random facts to get to know me a little more:

1. My favorite stores to visit are Target, Barnes and Noble, TJMaxx and Costco. Target- Hello Dollar Spot! Barnes and Noble - Books and Inspo just like TJ Maxx with the stationery stuff and Costco because they have high quality items.

2. My favorite drinks are coffee and green tea. Hot or Iced on Both.Depends on the weather and season. Speaking of..

3. Fall!!! Fall is my absolute favorite season. The crisp air, the cool nights, the scented candles, cinnamon and spice, candy corn, caramel apples, leaves changing colors,candy apples, farms, pumpkins, Halloween...I could go on. 

4. My favorite authors are Deepak Chopra, Paolo Coelho, Don Miguel Ruiz. Their books are meaningful and inspirational. 

5. I love to prepare food and cook but I do not measure anything.

6. I got married when I was 21 years old. The best decision for me.

7. I love to take pictures and to edit them. Photography is one of my hobbies. As is painting and doodling, reading, redesigning space..

8. I have an ETSY shop LOORDUCATION

9. I love to create and learn.

10. My favorite food is Mexican style. I love spice and cheese too.

  That is all for now. I hope you come back again soon. In the meantime, visit Loorducation on your favorite social media platform and get engaged in some fun stuff. I will be holding a giveaway soon. So, keep your eyes peeled for that!.

BONUS - I am an autism mommy and advocate. I am an educator. I am here to help you, so feel free to reach out.

PEACE, LOVE and Learning,

Dany

  

To Fill in the Blanks....

1. Autism is a super ability. It is something not fully understood. Yet, here, it is fully embraced. It is something to be celebrated and understood to the best ability we can. I can help you with that! New parents, newly diagnosed, curious parents...whoever wants to be educated. I am here for you to shed some light on autism. It is not enough with awareness, we need to end the stigma that is associated with autism.
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13. My son is just like your child, only different. I write that with a huge smile because it is an oxymoron but it is so true when you think about it. So, think about it. They play, sing, draw, color, dance, and go to school (or are home schooled). They test our patience, are messy sometimes, and just loved to be loved. Our kids are bundles of joy, inspiration and imagination. They are inquisitive and need their voices heard. They are one in the same, only different because mine has a label. That is all. But in reality, we do not pay attention to that label that is placed on him. We see the ABLE not the label. He is able to do everything that a typical, healthy child can do. It has to be all about attitude and perception.
    

10 Awesomely Amazing Things that Einstein Said (and What We Can Learn From Them)

Albert Einstein was a famous genius. As we look at and analyze what he has been quoted, we
will realize that we are all geniuses, too! 
Hey, we may even become famous one day. First, we
must believe then dare to dream.
Let’s Go!
 
1. “A person who never made a mistake, never tried anything new.”
– A.E.

We learn from mistakes. After all, mistakes are proof that we are trying. If we do not try,
we will never have the chance to make mistakes. If we do not make these mistakes, how
can we ever learn? We all make mistakes. Mistakes give us the fuel to keep learning and
bettering ourselves. Mistakes give us the courage to try new things to see what can really
work for us. We are human. We make mistakes. Do not ever be afraid to make a mistake
because you will hinder yourself from learning valuable new things.

2. “The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has it
own reason for existing.” – A. E.

Kids ask hundreds of questions a day because they are curious. They want to know about
the world around them and how to navigate it successfully. Nothing is out of bounds for
kids. As you may know, they will question everything. We must be like kids again. We
must stay wondrous and curious about the world around us. We must keep those
questions rolling. Let’s be curious about math, science, art – whatever fuels your soul.
This is our reason we are here. We exist to learn. We were born to explore.

3. “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – A. E.

Sometimes when things get difficult for us, we let negativity get in our way. Doubts can
enter our mind. Feelings of defeat can pass over us. Although we have choices, during a
difficult situation it may be tough to realize that. But, in fact, we do have great choices.
We can choose to let the difficult things control us or we can rise and see the
opportunities. Instead of asking ourselves why it is happening to us, we must ask
ourselves, what we can learn from the situation. What is the difficult situation trying to
teach us? That question brings great opportunities to better us. So, the next time you are
facing a challenging situation, remember that is an opportunity to learn something new.

4. “A ship is always safe at shore but that is not what it’s built for.”
– A.E.

Nothing really can happen to a ship when it is docked at shore but then when you think
about it, what good are they? Yes, they are safe, but ships, like us, were made to move.
When we are home, we are in our comfort zone. We are safe because we are close to
what we know but we were made for so much more. We were built for exploring,
learning, traveling, sharing- to name a few things. When we step out of our comfort zone,
we give ourselves the chance to learn something new and to try things that may enhance
our lives. So, let’s remember to take chances. Let’s take risks. That is how we learn, and
we teach others.

5. “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though
nothing is a miracle. The other is though as everything is a
miracle.” – A.E.

We should live life to the fullest. Let’s make every moment count. Each day, we are
given a fresh start to learn, teach, experience and create. Everything we get to do is a
miracle. Every little thing. Of course, we must have the mind set to look at it that way.
When we are on the right track, even the smallest of things will appear as miracles. The
choice we make in how we want to live our lives is simple. The positive energy flows and
that cannot be denied. Abundance of positive opportunities appear in our day to day
happenings. If we choose not to see any miracles, we are surely missing out on all that
life has to offer us. For starters, we can choose to see our ability to learn as a miracle. So,
how do you want to live your life?

6. “Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole
strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason, mastery
demands all of a person.” – A.E.

Lots of people can claim to be masters but what consists of a true master? We can only
become masters when we fully engage ourselves. When we give our all, when we use our
energy, strength, power and do things beyond the greatness of self, then we can become
masters. If you are not devoted, how can you master the task at hand? Whether it is
learning a new subject, learning a language or sport, devotion must be present. True
masters give it all they got. If we want mastery in any field, we can do it. Of course, we
can but we have to remember that mastery requires all parts of us. We get out all that we
put in.

7. “Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with
big dreams is more powerful than the one with all the facts.” –
A.E.

If you really want to do something, do it! No matter how many times you must start
again, just do it. If you truly desire that certain something, go for it and never, ever give
up on it. Give everything but up. We may fail at first, but you must use those failures as
stepping stones and building blocks to success. Get up and try again, try harder and try
something new but never give up on something that you truly want to do for yourself.
Dream, and dream big. Dreams give us power. We can have a million and one facts
memorized about a certain topic but what does that accomplish if we do not have dreams
to make something out of our lives? Remember, dreams are energy for our soul. Dreams
bring power to our abilities. So, dare to dream!

Meet Juancho

8. “Education is not the learning of facts, it’s rather the training of
the mind to think.” – A.E.

Education is all around us. But, many people seem to associate education happening
inside of a classroom and that is not the case. In school, we learn lots of facts. We
memorize terms, equations, timelines etc. That is not real education. As children, we are
usually told what to think not how to think. When we realize this, we must use this as an
opportunity to train our minds. When we become aware and train our minds to think, we
become powerful. This is when we are inviting true education to occur. We will begin to
look at all situations with fresh eyes and see that education is all around us. It is
everywhere we go. Education is in all that we do and see. It rarely happens sitting at a
desk. Education is within us and all around us. Everywhere we go, everything we do;
there is always something to learn. Education comes with us. It is within us and within all
things. It is about perception but most importantly training our mind to think.

9.“Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to
climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.” – A.E.

It is true, it must be right? After all, Albert Einstein said it. But in fact, everybody is a
genius. We all are geniuses. So, pat yourself on the back because you rock! We are all
filled with great potential and capabilities. We are all good at something. (If we choose
to, we will see that we possess the power to be great at endless things.) we are limitless
beings. We can be better at something than the next person. In turn, that person can excel
at something we are not so good at. We all have different abilities. We can become more
powerful when we work as a community and combine our abilities but when a person is
judged by something they cannot do, they will believe they are not worthy or capable.
Thus, they will live their life, like the fish (who we know is a great swimmer but
obviously cannot climb a tree) only seeing what they are being judged by rather than
what they excel in. Let us not judge but understand.

10.“Once you stop learning, you start dying.” – A.E.

Learning is a lifelong process. Each and everyday we can learn something new no
matter how small this something may be. We must choose to be life long learners. We
must dwell in the possibilities. This is what life is all about. When we learn, we grow.
When we are not learning, how can we grow? And, if we do not grow, how can we live?
Remember. There is always something to learn. Everywhere we go and in everything we
do, there is always something to learn. We have the capability to learn endless
information. Let’s take advantage of that, life is about learning. After all, Albert Einstein
was right, an individual starts dying when they stop learning, don’t you think?

Go out and learn something today. Choose to see the inspiration in our everyday lives.
After all, you’re equipped with all you need to get on the right track. Remember, live life
to the fullest.

You’re a genius!

Would YOU Know?

Would you know?

Just by looking at some pictures, would you know?

 

 

It IS You!!!

You can be anything you want to be and more. In fact, you are already something; everything.
Be passionate. Stay creative. Keep your dreams alive. You can be great at all you do; just do it all with love. You can do it all you just have to give it your all. Do your best. Each day, do the best you can and learn something new. Teach someone something without them even knowing. If you have it in your mind, you can hold it in your hand. Life is filled with infinite possibilities. There should be no limit to what you can dream. Just go for it. Reach for what you desire and do not hold back. Do it for your own good and for the benefit of your mind, body, and soul. No one can tell you that you are not capable or you can't do something. Never. You prove them wrong, not by words but with your actions. Your work will be in silence but your success will make the noise. Some people will not be able to handle it: those aren't your people. Look within and you will not be without. There is a great gift inside of you that you are to share with the world. You are doing an excellent job sharing thus far. It is superb what you have created already in only 10 years of life. You are a great professor. I am so happy you are YOU! Together, our family is showing the world that autism is not bad word rather a conversation piece. Turning negatives into positives and breaking every single stereotype out there. You can and you will do it. Forget that, you can and you ARE doing it. Autism IS your super power.

Juanchodoing

You've read about him. You've heard about him. Now, you can see him in action .

The Instagram page dedicated to him is:
www.instagram.com/juanchodoing

#juanchodoing

Stop by. Say hello. Connect.

You'll see there's no difference, yet at the same time, all the difference in the world.

Questions?  Comments?

We are here.

To catch up on JJ's journey, look into the archives of the blog. The posts are entitled My Boy, beginning with Part 1.

Enjoy. Share. Spread the LOVE.
Raise Awareness.
Each One, Teach One

Love and Kindness,

Dany 

About That Boy

JJ loves to read and draw. He loves to play and swim. He loves to create and imagine.

JJ loves his family and all babies. He loves his friends and school. 

He's just like everyone else yet he is like no other. He's unique. He's the same but he's different too. JJ is on a whole other level.

He's predictable but spontaneous. He's shy yet he's talkative.  He's full of energy and positive vibes. Beginning and ending each day with gratitude, he got this!

He surprises us each day and he will surprise you too!

www.instgram.com/juanchodoing

He is kind.

This is what matters.

 

 

Time Has Wings

Time flies and that is for sure. We must savor each moment.

One minute he was a little itty bitty baby and now he is 10 years old. Where has the time gone?

Can someone clip its wings?

He started school at the age of 3 just after he was diagnosed with autism. He did not talk as of yet and he was still in pull ups. Now 7 years later he is in fifth grade and is a non stop yapper! I would not have it any other way. But boy was I worried about sending him to Pre K knowing he could not speak. Need I mention he hated shoes. So having to have shoes on for that time was something else. The very first day my husband and I stood outside the classroom door and two minutes later he was taking his shoes off. So what did we do? We left. They will help him. They got it. I had to let it go as hard as it was. What would they think of him?

We were so blessed. His teachers were so amazing and they loved him very much. They helped feed him and change him and although he was unable to speak I knew he was happy.

He started talking at almost 4 years of age. He started feeding himself a while after that. He was totally potty trained at 4 which was a huge success.

Lots of speech therapy in school and out side of school.Occupational therapy as well. Lots of trips to the ENT and neurologist too. Tubes in ears and let me tell you after they were out the speech was flowing. It was delayed because he was not hearing out of one ear and barely hearing out of the other. That surgery was well worth it. A blessing in disguise.

As I recall calling his name then yelling his name and getting absolutely no response what so ever. I was so frustrated that I shouted out "Are you deaf?" and still he did not look at me. He was fixated on the TV.

To have that time again when he was little oh how I would love it. AndI would not change a thing. Not one.

And time has flown over the years and those days are behind us but the memories still remain. And there are in place for all time. I love my boy and glad he is mine.

To JJ with LOVE

He is perfect in my eyes. He is my son.
He is pure and innocent. He is love and affection.
He's an old soul an indigo child; wise beyond his years.
He is sweet and he is kind. He is unique.
This makes him perfect.
I guess you can say he is perfectly imperfect. What is perfection anyhow? Perfect is subjective; with a special meaning or meanings according to whom you may ask. Does it exist? Yes it does but only when we believe.

JJ is not going to be something one day because he IS somebody today. He is an artist, scientist, musician, explorer..and so on. I do not ask him what he wants to be when he grows up. That is a limiting question. What else do you want to do when you get older? That is more like it. He is being taught that you do not just have to be one thing and pick one career and have just one passion and path in life.That limits his potential. His potential is infinite. He can and do whatever he chooses. Life is meant to be lived fully and enjoyed each day. In reality it is all of the little things that add up to make life amazing. It is all about a growth mindset and life long learning.

He is funny. He is a clown. He is kind to others. He loves children and babies. He respects himself and others. He loves science and art. He is an amazing swimmer. He is perfect in my eyes. He is my son.

The grades on his report card do not mean anything; what matters is that he knows it is OK not know but it is not OK to not try. Never give up and make mistakes because mistakes are proof that we are trying. What did you get on that test is not an imperative question but rather how did you feel taking the test? Did you try your best? Yes that is all that counts. In five years we will not remember that grade but we will remember how we felt.

I love you JJ. If you dream it you can do it!

Autism is your super power.

JUST DO IT!!!!

A Super Power

When you hear him say, "Autism is my superpower!", it is amazing. The word autism, in our home, is not a taboo word. It is one of empowerment. It is one to embrace.

He is not lucky; he is blessed. Blessed that he can speak, blessed that he can hear, blessed that he can walk, blessed that he can eat and live a healthy and happy daily life of a child.

Autism does not inhibit him. Rather it inspires him and pushes him beyond limits that society has placed before him.

He did not speak until the age of three and half. He was at doctor appointment after doctor appointment. He saw many specialists. He also went to speech therapy and occupational therapy outside of school. He started Pre Kindergarten, in pull ups and not yet able to verbally communicate. He was placed on the middle of the spectrum and was given a label.

I am thrilled to say that he is high functioning and thriving! With LOVE and dedication, with hard work and determination and with acceptance, his world is one of joy without limits.

I often forget that he has an autism diagnosis. He is like every other typical child yet at the same time, so very unique.

If a parent does not want to admit or accept that their child has autism and does not seek out help, they are doing a disservice to the health and well being of their child. There is nothing to be ashamed of.

To learn of JJ's journey please refer to the archives where I have his stories posted.

Any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.

There is still so much to share.

xoxo

Dany

Yes, He Can

I AM HAPPY THAT MY SON HAS AUTISM

He is healthy. He can see. He can hear. He can walk and he can talk.

No, you won’t!!! Do not worry, you won’t catch it. Do not back away. Do not put your guard up.Autism is not a disease. It is not even a disability in my eyes, on my end of the spectrum. I can only tell you my from my point of view but I can speak for all autism mommies when I say that autism is not a disability, but rather, a different ability.

He needs room, he needs space. He gets easily overwhelmed. His senses can get overloaded. The lights, sounds, textures sometimes can be a bit much. But he is capable, he can do it, sometimes it will take a little more time and patience but I will never give up on him.

Yes, autism is a different ability. My son is not disabled. He can walk, see, eat, play and do many other things. I know I am not missing anything but that does not constitute as being disabled. He learns in a unique way but he does have that super capability to learn and therefore will be a different abled boy because the world is obsessed with titles. That is my title for him.

He listens at the same time he is in his own world. I wonder what it is like, what goes on his mind. It must be so vivid and colorful, at times to much to handle and process.

Like many others on the spectrum, my son has super abilities. Ability to grow, to shine and to even lead the way. Stop staring at him, you will not cure him. You do not have to be afraid. He may be flapping like that because he is super excited. How great is that? To be a child and to be overcome by joy over something that may seem miniscule to you. That is an outlet, an escape when one is overly stimulated. That may be the body’s way of responding to the outside world. Why would I want your cure anyway and why would a proud mommy want to cure a child who is beyond special. A child who knows how to love. It does not matter what doctors say. No, repeat after me, it does not matter what doctors say. Have faith in your child. That, that unwavering faith and determination will help your child in so many ways. It does not matter what the onlookers say, I know my son and he will be somebody someday. No, wait, let me say that he is somebody today and he matters, his life matters.

Our autism is a blessing in disguise. He is not a brat, he gets over stimulated and hyper focused. He is very sensitive and if you dare to enter a minute in his world, would you be able to handle it? Handle the stares? Handle the talk? He got this, we got this and God got us. That is what matters. He matters and autism does not, it is just a word to call something that people do not yet understand. Cause  ya know, everything needs a label, right? So, don’t worry you won’t catch autism but if it were at all possible, you would see a world of infinite possibilities. And, that is not so bad after all, is it?

Yes, JJ is more than autism.

Autism is not just stim, stim, flap, flap..oh no, it is so much more than that. The joys it brings the doors it opens. Yes, I am happy that my son has autism. I am happy that on paper, at school, it states my son has autism. That is because he gets the one on one attention that he needs and deserves. His needs are being met through an IEP. That is what he needs, an educational plan that is individual to and for him as it should be. Many of his autism symptoms subsided. I have not seen flaps, stim- phew in a while but it may happen and I do not mind at all. He has one last appointment with his neurologist and then he will be dismissed  due to not showing signs of being on the spectrum. This is great news, but I want my son to be autistic forever, especially on paper, in school where his special needs are met through specific educational goals just for him.

Yes, I am happy that my son has autism. He has paras, therapists, teachers, social worker, all for him. All for growing his educational experience and making it valuable. For that, I am grateful. The label is there but for the better good. It gives him the opportunity to have his education catered. To have opportunities that other children do not have, although may need. I like that he gets extra positive attention from school personnel. It is what he deserves as well as all children. It is too bad that classrooms these days are stuffed to the door, with over 25 kids and one teacher. Kids’ needs not being met, simply no time for everyone. Then, they fall behind. They lose desire and feel neglected. That is why I am grateful my son has autism..he gets what is meant to happen for all children, but he gets it and I guess  you could say that is pretty special. He has special needs but all children are pretty special if you ask me. He is just lucky enough to have autism. It can be intense. It can be overwhelming at times – but most, if not all things that are worth it, are. So, yes, I am a proud autism mommy and no I would not change it for the world.

Please, keep picking my son up right at our door each school morning. No, I do not care that it is a small bus. They cater to my son, door to door service. Blessed he does not have to walk or wait at a cold bus stop or that we do not have to drive him all the way to school, on the other side of town –  He has a bus attendant and also people that wait for him at school to help him off the bus. So now tell me how my son has a disability. It really is a super ability if you ask me. He has OT and ST services. So, please do not feel sorry for my son but rather let me as not only a mommy but a differentiated educator, tell you that I feel sorry for the kids who do not get the attention they so need in school, then fall behind and end up disliking school. I am beyond blessed that my son loves school. Beyond blessed that he has autism. So what, you won’t catch it. I am sure he could teach you a thing or three. So, what is this PDD-NOS you speak of? Maybe, if you really think about it, it is not specified anywhere else because it is not a pervasive developmental disorder. I do not care that my son did not speak until he was almost 4 years old. The important thing is that he does speak and he can and for that we are blessed. So what if he grasped things and hit milestones later that what the world expects him to. What matters is that he CAN and he WILL.

JJ, You are Wanted

A healthy child is a happy child and a happy child feels well and a child who feels well will always learn well.

I am so blessed that my son is happy and healthy. He has a lot of energy and is very creative. He loves to learn. He loves to write and read and definitely loves to try new things. I am very proud of him. He amazes me all the time.

He is cherished. He is wanted.

He motivates me to do more and to be more. He is our rock. He teaches us so much. This boy really has a wonderful soul and a heart of gold. I look forward to spending time with him. I often think of activities that we can do together and places that we can explore together. There is no other way I would rather spend my weekends and everyday than with my family. My rock, my inspiration and everything!!!

I want him to have the best childhood he can ever experience. I wish for him to have the fondest memories and to feel the love that both my husband and i have for him. That is so very important. I want him to know and understand that he is our gift. He is wanted. He means so much to us.

He is wanted.

It is awesome now how he is into Loorducation. He knows when I am taking a picture of him and asks questions about what I ma going to say  about the picture and where am I going to put it up. He gives feedback and shares his ideas. that is important. It is vital that his voice is heard and I am so thrilled that he enjoys sharing and expressing himself. We are forever grateful. FOREVER.

He is wanted.

He asks thousands of questions. Repeats hundreds of things. Obsesses over "little" things.

He is wanted.

All Hands On Deck

I like to keep little hands busy. Little hands are capable of big these. These sensory items we created rather quickly and it was a great experience. The touch, the colors, the coolness - he enjoyed it all. We made them out of everyday, safe materials from home. This is something that keeps them engaged and soothed.We love to create sensory around here and use it all the time as part of an integrated learning system.

Paint Me a Picture

One day after school, I had a table set up for JJ. It was covered in newspapers. There were all types of papers to paint on set up. I put out all colors of paint and different styles of paint brushes. It was quite the invitation to paint. As soon as he got off of the bus, he flew to the table. He was very eager to start creating. He expressed how happy and excited he was. He really enjoyed it. This was something that he needed. It was very beneficial. That night he was calm and did a great job with homework.

Take time to paint.

My Boy: Part 90

AUTISM- What is it?  No, really..what IS it? Why does is vary so? Where did it come from?  Why is it here?  When will it leave? Will it ever leave?  Who does it affect?  How does it affect and/or interfere with everyday life?  Is it a life sentence?  Do you know someone who has autism? Can autism be "cured" or treated? Is autistic a term you use? What are the autism terms and labels?

I can only answer a few of those questions and from my point of view only. As you know, my son JJ, has autism. Yes, he is an ASD child. He is on the autism spectrum. He was first diagnosed with PDD at the age of 3. He is now 6. I do not tend to labels so there is no need for me to always state that my son is high functioning autistic. I just say, when necessary, that my son is on the autism spectrum and just plainly that he is autistic. I mean, does it matter? Really? I have a son. I do not introduce him as my autistic son. Questions? I welcome them. Comments, yes, those too. Productive ones I keep and destructive ones get thrown out. autism has been a part of our lives for a little over three years now, well more than that but we did not know. And, does that matter? Before my son and studying for my undergraduate degree, I did not know what autism was? Yes, was..It is always changing, right? Yes..I remember seeing billboards about autism 1 in 125..then 1 in 88 and son on. What is this autism> One thing I can tell you is that autism is not the end of the world but the beginning of a whole new one. Yes, my son has autism. Autism does not have him. It is his super power. We are focusing on him using it to his advantage. It will not hinder him but we will make sure it does better him. It is not a disease. My son is NOT disabled, he is different abled. His brain is wired differently. He is unique. He is in his own world and I love entering i with love, compassion and patience. I learn from him everyday. It may not be easy at times but it sure is worth it.

JJ is AUSOME. He is a child. He loves to play, watch TV, read and all that good stuff. He loves school. He loves snacks. He can be crabby. He can be stubborn. But he is worth it. He matters. Social skills are an everyday learning experience for all of us. He just needs a little extra help in the right direction.



Now, would you know if you saw him?

My Boy: Part 87

JJ is still at school. He should be getting home in about an hour. I got some things done today but I miss him. I missed his presence when I went to the store and ran my errands. When he got on the bus this morning, I already wanted him back home. I know that I am fortunate and blessed when he gets off the school bus in the afternoon. I am blessed that he is home with me and Daddy. It the days, sometimes when you start thinking, many children never make it home to their parents. There are many stories where you hear that children never made it home. It is heart breaking, it is sad. You put them on the bus in the morning....... (I cannot continue with that) FAITH, that is what we have to keep. The unwavering faith. I thank God every day for my husband and son. Each day, we let each other know we are loved, by words and by manners. It is such a blessing. He is a super kid. He is a great boy to mommy and daddy. He is super special. He has something in him that is awesome, too awesome for words. I am happy that he is my son. Let's see what he has to say about school today..Sometimes he says it is a secret..Hey, but at least he is happy and can vocalize his emotions. He is a talker. Sometimes at a million miles per hour. In the end, I thank god for that. What a huge difference/improvement from when my husband and I first sent him to school. He could not even talk. He was still in diapers. He was just diagnosed with ASD. But it is OK. Here we are 3 years later and what a turn around it has been. Like I always say, he may have autism but autism doe snot have him.

My Boy: Part 84

It is JJ's second day of first grade and he loves it. Actually, he could not wait to go back to school. I do not blame him. He really missed it - the bus, his friends and his teachers. He has been thrilled. Waking up very happy. He brought a few little things to school today in a brown paper bag. It is called a "Me Bag". It was a cute homework assignment that he teacher sent home for the kids to put 4 things in the bag that the kids can show and talk about. I think that is a fabulous idea and I am going to have to do something similar.

I am proud of him. He is such a sweet boy. He is my heart. I thank God for him every single day. Even though he can speak, I will always be his voice and advocate. Always and all ways. Yes, the boy can talk. Sometimes I even forget that he was non verbal until the age of 4. Lots and Lots of questions. He wants to know specific details, numbers etc. He needs to know what we are doing, when, where, what time and exactly what we are going to do after that. He needs to know what and how many things we need to get on our shopping lists and from which stores. And, that IS OK. I love him.

Au-some Things...

One day there are going to be some people saying they are autistic or that their child is or may be on the spectrum because it is "cool". No one knows where autism comes from yet the rates of autism are increasing drastically over time. As of today, the numbers seem to be 1 in 68 children. Autism is not a disability. To me, it is a different ability. An ability so intense that it has yet to be understood. An ability so complex, the origin has yet to be found. My son has autism. Yes, he is autistic. I would not trade it for the world. I would much have my son be a kind hearted gentle soul than a rude and selfish neuro typical child. My son is an indigo child as many children on the spectrum. Autism is not a bad word. It is something we live with everyday. I am an advocate for my son and other children on the spectrum. I am my son's voice although he is now able to speak. I will push for what is right and just for him. I will make sure he is respected and cared for.I will educate people on his world and likenesses.

 

I will always stand up for his rights. I will always speak up for him and be his voice. He is meant to shine and I will never hide him from the world.
Yes, he is more than autism, so much more.