Summer, when you realize how underpaid teachers are

The last day of school for my son, while he will officially be a first grader and I honestly have no idea how we got here. I remember him being my little baby like it was yesterday and Last night when he crawled up on my lap to fall asleep (something I don't think he has ever done mind you) I realized how huge he has gotten in the blink of an eye. He's grown so much, not just physically but in his speech  (he's singing, and talking they said he's about a 2 and half year old verbally!!!! He was 9 months last year.) I just can't believe how fast time flies by.

With summer starting the boys will be starting summer home schooling which I still am a million miles behind in planning. But expect to see a lot more post related to it.

an update to that IEP meeting

An update to this post.

Most of the meeting went pretty well, they all agreed he's very smart, and were focusing on him becoming more independent. Instead of focusing on him using pecs, were moving towards him initiating conversation. Yes the little boy one of his speech therapist gave up on, is becoming so verbal that were hoping he will initiating conversations.

Here he's singing Jingle Bells

The only big problem I had in any of this, was that in order to comfort me, they told me about another kid that reminds them of Caiden. He's now in the 11th grade and only needs a para to walk him to two of his classes. There was exactly no part of me that ever imagined him needing a para to walk him to class when he was 16. I guess it was just a hard reality check, I always figured that hopefully with the right medication, and as he grew older that the elopement would be a rare thing. How to do you even begin to realize that your child will still be walked to class, at the same age I was getting in my first Car accident, dating, i'd been working for 2 years by 16. I know that his future is a different one that I had planned, or dreamed, but its still a rough realization every time that he is different.

Hopefully this is another one of those things, he proves them wrong at.

Nerd Block jr - April 2015

Today was a fun day for my kids, we did unboxing videos. The little one loves the camera, and both love to enjoy the prizes in the boxes, at least the prizes mommy doesn't keep for herself. This will very likely become a big part of this blog, unboxing reviews. Were going to start with Nerd Block jr for April, the purple box is supposed to be for girls, but my kids enjoy it anyways.

Jake's unboxing video!

Sonic the Hedgehog bouncy ball

According to amazon cost - 11.99

Monster factory Doyle

Cost - 12.95

Adventure time mad libs

Amazon- 3.99

Hello Kitty Monster Blind Bags

Cant find online guess 3.99

Frozen Reusable Sandwich + Snack Bag

Amazon 6.99

So in total the box Cost $19.99 with shipping from Canda

Worth of the box - 39.91

I will probably be single forever, and that's okay.

When I was growing up, all I wanted in life was to be a mother, and a wife. In school they would always give you those "where do you see yourself in 10 years" assignments. I sometimes wonder as an adult why that wasn't more alarming to the teachers, but maybe the world was not as feminist friendly back then. I did get pregnant pretty young ( I timed it perfectly to be 8 months pregnant with Caiden when I turned 21, it was a real party) but defiantly did not get married. My ex and I officially broke up for the last time (although I didn't know if until years later) during my pregnancy with Jake. Here I was a single mother of 2 kids, which limited my dating pool majorly, and then having a child with special needs, it is impossible for me to give time to someone to properly for a relationship.

For a long period of time this was depressing to me, it wasnt part of the plan. I was supposed to be married, I was supposed to have someone that I could depend on and not face all of this alone. The thing i've realized in life is that nothing goes as I plan. My child having Autism was not in the plans either, and I realize that I was given different plans all together. I don't need a partner, or a house with a white picket fence, I will take my house with rainbow colored puzzle pieces any day! Besides I already found the loves of my life, Wine and Netflix. Obviously my children are the loves of my lives, no guy will ever treat me better than them. My 3 year old will just come up and tell me I'm pretty, or ask me to dance, also he tells me 30 times a day I'm his best friend and like in the movies, he even asks if he can kiss me. His future girlfriend (or boyfriend, I'm a judge free mommy) can thank me for it later. Caiden not to be outdone is the strong, silent type. He never talks back, never tries to fight me because we both know I'm right anyways, plus he's got the most beautiful eyes you have ever seen. There is no way a man could come close to topping them, so why even bother.

I'm not saying if a Marvel Chris (Hemsworth, Evans, Pratt) type came to my door to sweep me off my feet, and they were wonderful with my kids, that I wouldn't be open to giving it a shot. I'm just saying that if I end up alone in love, I'm okay with it.

Call me :)

I.E.P. Day, and boy is his face red.

The night before IEP day and this mommy is a mess. I hate these meetings more than anything, where a group of people sit you down, tell you your child is not capable of things you know they are, how far behind everyone else they are at basic skills, ect. I hate hearing what my son "cant" do, it sets the mommy bear off in me. I go on the defense, then the offence. Even though you say that he's so far behind in everything but he doesnt need different services. I swear IEP meetings are the worst. 

Now to add the extra stress to my life, I do not have a babysitter for the IEP meeting. I will have to bring my preschooler, who will not be sitting well during it, but I don't have another option. I was already worried about all this, before my youngest managed to dye his face red! The school who seems to always be finding flaws with me, will meet my 3 year old with red all over his face. I don't let my son play with food coloring on his own, but lately we've been learning about mixing colors using the food dye, and he managed to get into my gel food coloring, and got it all over his hands and face. Of course, because it wouldn't be my luck this didn't happen. I obviously threw him in a bath, and we scrubbed his hands, face until he was done. He's still red. 

Magic leprechaun rocks

After hours of scouring Facebook for the best st. Patrick's day ideas,  that I would hopefully find the time to incorporate in our day, I cam across "magic leprechaun rocks". My kids are both obsessed with watching people open kinder eggs on YouTube, so of course they called my rocks eggs, and found this to be kind of the same thing.

In order to make your own batch you really only need baking soda,  dollar store plastic coins, and green food dye. You add about a cup of baking soda, a little over 1/4th cup of water dyed green. Mix it up with your hands until the dough is just soft enough to mold. You may need to add a bit more baking soda or water.

Jake was so excited that he couldn't look when we started. 

Here are some videos of Jake using the Leprechaun Rocks.

Lets not judge

Why do we as women/mothers always seem to cut each other down? No matter what decision we make, someone has an opinion telling us we're wrong, and how were destroying our child. Being a parent is hard, and making decisions for another person is not easy, we already have enough stress about it without others telling us were wrong. 

Breastfeeding, obviously everyone in the world know that's breastfeeding is the best option for a baby, if it works out. My oldest I tried, until I had mastitis twice the first month, and he was unable to keep my milk down. Both his and my doctor said it was probably the best to try another route. My 2nd I did everything wrote in the how to breastfeed books wrong, and at 3 months he refused a bottle and decided we were extended breastfeeding.
And yes no one needs to judge anyone on how long they breastfeed be it 1 day or 3 years! It's none of your business. 

Stay at home mom's vs working mothers. Sometimes a mom has to stay at home, or she has to go to work. It is in no way more or less important. I hate the "oh what do you do with all your spare time?" Questions, just because you stay at home doesn't mean you have a spare second. 

This one is big in the autism world,  medication!  This is so child specific, if your child responded to essential oils, diet changes, ect that is great! But that does not give you room to judge a mother for using medication to help her child. Some children essential oils don't work on, or diet changes are impossible when your kid eats 4 foods. No one wants to jump into the world of medication, it's a juggling act trying to find the right combination, but sometimes it's the best. So stop judging.

One of the most ridiculous of them all, LEASHES! Everyone has an option on these. If your child is not a flight risk, then lucky you. For us with children that if they get out of hands for a split second they will be gone, it's a necessity. Why in the world do we judge people for trying to keep their kids safe the best way the can? Would you judge them for  putting locks on their cupboards? Don't make comments about them until you understand why a parents using them.

There's a million other things we judge on, Circumcision or not, Vaccination or not (and I don't wan to start a debate on this, my kids are vaccinated, but I hate when people say "I'd rather my kids have autism then a deadly disease" they are completely disregarding the fact that Autism can be deadly. I'm in no way saying "autism is caused by vaccines" or that it's not, just saying stop using that line.) 

We are all trying to do the best we can, and you are doing a great job! next time you see a mom, and shes having a hard time, or even if she's not, let her know that she's doing great! There is no need to cut down another mother because she may make a different choice than you would.