It has been a while since my last link up to #R2BC. You know how it goes.... life gets busy and then before you know it, the months have flown by and phew we are facing the end of May.
For this post I thought it would be prudent to focus on my son. He turns 14 on Saturday and the month of May has always been a topsy turvy time for me. Why so? Well, my boy is severely autistic and he is WAY behind his typical peers. Each Birthday has been a milestone missed and a sad reminder that he is very challenged.
Anyway, enough of the blues!
This year I choose to celebrate Nick's Birthday and here are my reasons why...........
I am overwhelmed that my boy is beginning to talk. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that he would be able to say a word. At this stage he is still sounding out the letters to make a word. For example; tonight he said "f...i...sh". As of the last two weeks he has been saying "car" and "cut". Believe me ~ my heart is singing big time!
Nick has become incredibly flexible with any change in his life/routine. If you know autism, you will be aware that many kids on the spectrum (not all) rely on rigid routines because of their need for sameness. My boy used to be like that, however, I have been working on this issue for many years and it is now paying off. Each time we go out into the community and I observe my Mr Flexible, I just grin from ear to ear.
I spend a lot of time with Nick and of course there are days that he drives me crazy, however, I find him to be a very easy kid. I love that over the last two years our relationship has really blossomed and he is now happy to hang out with his old mum (this wasn't always the case!).
This year, I choose to celebrate Nick's birthday.
Thank you, Michelle, from Mummy from the Heart, for providing me with the platform to focus on the positive aspects of raising a child/teen with autism.
Nick's first Birthday cake in ten years!
We all know that April is big in the autism community. For us in South Africa, April also means school holidays and long weekends, which makes for a very topsy turvy month! My birthday is in April, although it is a bit of a non event in my house! For my husband, April brings the extra challenge of running the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon in Cape Town.
Funnily enough, my birthday, the marathon and the expiry of my RDI subscription all fall on the same day!
Anyway, for the month of April, I have decided to give myself a birthday present!
I am going to take a break!
Obviously I am not giving myself a break from autism, so to speak! That would be rather silly considering that my child has autism and I certainly can't ignore him! :)
Why am I taking a break? I am tired, so tired of trying my best, so tired of trying to be Super Mum. I am tired of wearing my sensible big girl undies. I am tired of trying hard to maintain a balance. I admit it, more time and energy is put into my child with special needs than into me or the rest of the family. So, for the month of April I am going to tilt that balance in the opposite direction.........
I am also going to give myself permission to NOT FEEL GUILTY if I don't give my child 100%..... Oops, that sounds a bit far fetched, but I am sure that you catch my drift!
I am not going to think about assignments, interactions and engagement. I am not going to think about following through on the O.T, Physio and SLT homework. In fact, I am going to try really hard not to think about any type of intervention.
If my child wants to eat Spaghetti Bolognaise (loaded with lentils and carrots!) every night during April, well then, so be it! If my boy wants to hop into my bed to watch a bit of TV in the early hours of the morning (not before 6am though!) I think I may join him.
I am giving myself permission to take a break and not feel guilty about it!
In fact, I am going to be a very chilled mum woman from the first day of April right up until the very last day of April!
I also think that Nick is going to love having a relaxed mum! I may have a little battle on my hands when May comes around and we commence with the whole routine again! :)
Oh yeah, I am also going to Cape Town for a long weekend with the Hubs and Teenager. Can't let the man run a marathon and not be there to catch him at the finish line. I wish we could take Nick with us; however, there are going to be too many people, too many social functions and too many changes ~ I know that he will be much happier staying at home!
I am giving myself permission to take a break and not feel guilty about it!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY *ME*
~*~
