Human Nature

There is a night for every day, a dark for every light, and moment of unbridled kindness for every moment of callous disregard. Human nature being what it is we are likely to see one, the other, or any various combination of the two. We are all people, and in our interactions with one another, we are given the choice most every day to either lift one another up or bring each other down. Last night, I found myself drowning in the dark, struggling to bring both myself and Quirky up for air. My heart filled to the brim with pain and my eyes failing to find the good in human nature. In fact, that was what this post was intended to be, a way to pour out those thoughts and emotions like water, to release them so they do not begin to erode my faith in human kind, but instead I find the need to comment on both sides of our human nature to remind myself that there truly is light in what seems like an increasingly dark world.

Cheaper Than A Therapist

School has started at full speed ahead for us, and I find myself trying to do multitude of things at one time. Mornings are the absolute worst it seems. Quirky made it through the first week getting up on time, having her breakfast, and so on...just like clockwork. I had time to make breakfast for myself, because despite school starting back I am still trying to stick to getting healthier. It was a dream, a honey moon, or maybe a grace period, but after that first week...forget it.

Teenagers

I have a theory. Those babies that we so lovingly bring into the world, and hold and cherish with the upmost care, are so adoringly cute for a reason. Why you ask? So we can think back on those wonderful times when they turn into those tall, walking and talking creatures full of hormones and attitude, and in the case of girls tears. The loss of sleep and the dirty bottoms of babyhood seems nothing to me anymore, a vacation before the real stuff began. The scrapes, bruises, and messes of childhood seemed to be a warm up period before the action. Oh the trials and tribulations of parenting a teenage girl...

The Ghost of Christmas Past

     Stay tuned for 5 minutes of programming after these 15 commercials...don't worry it will only take you 2 hours to watch this 20 minute show. BUY! BUY! BUY! It moves, it talks, and it'll even make your bed! You have to have these...you are so lame if you don't. What do you mean you don't have your own phone...every 6 year old should have one...go insist on one today! Open all night....prices just increased for the holidays!!! BUY! BUY! BUY! Go tell your parents now...time is wasting!!! OK so maybe I am exaggerating just a bit...but have you noticed the increase of commercials geared toward children? I have...but this year I am not getting fooled. Why not? Well I have the ghost of Christmas Past to...

The world is a stage

and your parents are the captive audience. Our house has a cat walk or balcony if you will...a glorified hallway that connects two bedrooms and a bath. More importantly though it has for many years served as Quirky's stage. Here she has performed for a sometimes willing audience

I have had very few words or pictures coming my way...most of the time my head is so overflowing with words, ideas, and plans that I sometimes feel like I am drowning in my own head. Things just can't come out fast enough before there space is filled with something else.
       Lately though, things have been different...

Hover Mom

Have you ever had the hairs on the back of your neck stand up...had your gut tell you something was not right? I had that feeling today. It is so not a good feeling...

"Mom...I am NOT going to marry a prince."

 HUH? That's what my mind thought when Quirky announced this to me last week. Doesn't every little girl dream of marrying a prince? We watch Disney movies, dress up and daydream about princes. (admit it...you did at least once) When I asked why her explanation was well....

Would you care to join me?

I'm having a pity party. Recently I celebrated...no that's the wrong word....recently my birthday came and went. Was I expecting a big elaborate party? No. What I expecting a big YEE-HAW at the local restaurant? Definitely not. Was I expecting a birthday cake? No. Was I expecting a gift? No not really...although it would have been nice. Was I expecting the phone to ring off the hook with well-wishers? No. Was I expecting a card? No...but a girl can be hopeful.

I guess people were bound to find out

The cat's out of the bag, the beans are spilled...the truth is out. In simpler terms...Quirky told. So for inquiring minds...(insert dramatic pause here)
We have decided to homeschool next year. Homeschooling is not new to us...it is where we started and looking back now quite possibly where we should have stayed. Why are we choosing to homeschool again? A multitude of reasons but the most important one come to mind...

What the...

Sometimes things just coming rolling out of Quirky's mouth. Things that we are amazed, confused and sometimes appalled to hear. Sometimes they are good things (as in WOW! How did you learn that?) and sometimes not so good (as in where did you hear THAT!)  Recently Dork and I were faced with one of those moments...

Say what?

OK. So this post has nothing to do with Quirky or Dork or even myself...but I just had to post this. It is just to ridiculous not to. A conversation overheard....

Inclusion...is it always a good thing?

The statistics now say that 1 out of every 110 kids has autism. Its shows...what do I mean? Let me explain. Quirky is in a regular class room...she is very high functioning and in theory this should go well. Notice I said in theory. Anyway that is another story. A few years ago Quirky might have been the only child with autism in her class...

Sam I am...

the movie starring Sean Penn that is. Dork and tried to watch it. I tried. Really I did. I pushed my thoughts down...but they kept coming back. In the end my thoughts won and I cried like a big baby. The whole movie was much too close to home for me to watch.
I try to stay positive about Quirky...she is very high-functioning...and I know that the she has so much potential. But sometimes...it sneaks up on me...this doubt...this fear...this utter panic and I am filled with the What Ifs?

Lost...one half of finger

OK so its not really lost. Its just stuck half way up Quirky's nose. I think she might be scratching her brain. OK by now most of you have caught on to what I am talking about but for those of you who may be lagging behind....insert drum roll here...I'm talking about nose picking. Its disgusting...its vile...its gross....its...its...OK you get the point. Most kids do it...I've even seen some adults do it. But Quirky...well she...

Did You Know....

Did you know that this past Saturday was World Autism Awareness Day? or that this month is National Autism Month? How did our family spend World Autism Awareness Day?

A message to the people in the booth behind us...

First I have to say that both Dork and I strive very hard to teach Quirky how to behave respectful toward other people in a public space. Some people may call us strict...I think most people are too lenient.
We went out to eat today for lunch. Did Quirky do something embarrassing you might ask? Well no. Did Dork do something embarrassing? No. Did I do something embarrassing? No...well at least that I know of. What I'm here to complain...huh I mean to talk about is other people's kids.

Ice Cream Anyone?

So after leaving Dork's office this afternoon and completing our errands Quirky asks...Can we go get some ice cream? It was a simple request and I was feeling generous. Ok let's be honest I was feeling hot and sweaty and ice cream sounded good to me too. What ensued was a ridicilous amount of stop and go events

Its just a finger...

I had to find out from another parent. I'm glad she told me and I'm glad that her child was honest and caring enough to tell her. I also have to mention that this child was not part of all this nonsense. Apparently some kids at school have been getting Quirky to make rude gestures (imagine the worse) and then laughing.

I've been suckered...

That's right I've been suckered...into letting Quirky sleep with me while Dork is away. Bad idea...bad idea...BAD IDEA. I know this yet I fall for this every time. Why? I really don't know. I wish I did. Maybe it's her cute little face...maybe its because a kid who doesn't really like to be touched wants to be close to mom. I really just don't know. What I do know is that I've been down this road before and I know where it leads yet I keeping taking this route. I must be crazy...

Does Quirky snuggle? No.