"Three Cheers!" :)

This is too great not to share. This is worded perfectly and every parent of a child with special or different needs should read!! It may even end up on my fridge! :) It was posted by The Autism Society of Acadiana. It was written by an unknown source.


To those of you that just don't "get it" and to those of you that do:
Special needs parents wear so many hats! We also provide services to our children that many people cannot fathom. And, we do it with remarkable skills we did not know we possessed, until we needed to stand and deliver for our child. Three cheers for those of us that completely comprehend this list!
Sometimes I feel like a :
Night Watchman-Late nights because our child does not sleep.
Gourmet Chef- Preparing special diets which may include several different meals for different family members.
Service Coordinator- Planning for a wide variety of therapists.
Chauffer- How else would my child get to all those therapy appointments?
Researcher Extraordinaire!
Fearless Advocate- Because our child deserves it!
Cheer leader - We celebrate EVERY victory large or small. Believe us NOTHING is small.
We possess the following abilities or qualities:
Grace under fire(or not) when encountering annoying stares from others when out in public.
Gratitude for those that do "get it."
Above and beyond nursing skills.
The patience of a Saint.
The bravery of a Warrior.
The heroics of an Army General.
The ability to persevere under excruciatingly difficult circumstances.
Last but not least, here are a few other things you should know. We gave up countless vacations, parties, social engagements and dinners because our child would be uncomfortable or we could not find adequate care. We love being social but not at the risk of our child's safety or emotional well-being. We get tired of constantly advocating for our child, but we cannot rest until our voices are heard! Sometimes our faith is shaken, buried, hibernating but it always returns because every special needs parent is resilient!
So here's to us, the Special Needs Parent! Hip Hip Horray! Hip Hip Horray! Hip Hip Horray!
(unknown. via Autism Spectrum Disorder, through my eyes.)

silence is golden!

From the day that Seth was born, he has had extreme sensitivity to noise. While he slept as a baby, we learned that any sound would wake him up. Even walking in jeans or setting a cup on the counter would send him into screams. To this day we keep the house very quiet at nap and bedtime, otherwise...panic can errupt.
We are very limited to where we can go with Seth. We bring headphones along sometimes to help him. Some cases, nothing can help.
When I first began this blog I wanted everyone to be able to share, laugh, cry and offer advice. Now, I am asking for advice! ;)
Ever since the New Year rang in with fireworks, Seth can barely go outside. He has so much fear over hearing a firework. When I do get him outside, he is full of anxiety and any noise causes a panic attack. For example, yesterday after much coaxing...we made it outdoors. Well, there was a boy down the street playing basketball. The second that ball hit the pavement, Seth lost it. Shaking, screaming, beyond himself. I explained what it was, reassured him that it was not scary and attempted to move on. The noise continued, so did the stress. Poor little man, he needs help so he can have fun and play...like kids should!
Any advice on how to help Seth deal with noise would be greatly appreciated! It is a mixture of sensitivity and major anxiety. Don't know if anyone else is dealing with sound issues or anxiety issues...or both. Any tips?
Take care everyone!!

Support system

There were so many days in the past, when Seth was still very young, that I felt so alone. Alone because Seth was overwhelming and I felt like I was unable to care for my own son. Alone because my life seemed so difficult when compared to others. When Seth began therapy before he was a year old...that began to change. I began to chat with other mothers while waiting for Seth to finish his therapy sessions. Over time, it became so
therapeutic to vent, chat, laugh and socialize with other mommies going through the same thing! I can not stress enough the importance of finding support. Support through website, blogs,emails, groups or even social media. For example, The Autism Society offers groups that meet monthly.
I often had more "seasoned" mothers tell me to call them or email then for anything. For me, I never wanted to be an extra burden on them or call when they were busy. I chose to email instead. Email and facebook are amazing for chatting and sharing advice! It has been a true blessing to know that I am not alone. That others are right there with Seth and my family. That other moms really do "get it!"
Please moms or dads out there, find some support! I hope that one day my blog will be a place where people gather to vent or seek advice from one another. It is so important to not be isolated. Reach out, seek support and enjoy the fellowship of others...others who are in the same "boat." :)