Rain and thunder for the last two morning. My brave girl, terrified of thunder, puts ear plugs into her ears, wears her sister’s red rain jacket and grits her teeth against the challenges of the day.
Breathe, honey. She runs into the rain towards the little bus that drives her to school. I am grateful for her bravery, for loving bus ladies and for her teacher who thanks me for a heads up email. Continue reading
After watching the debates and talking about the election in school, Julia is very much into it. She fished out an old Obama button from some treasure trove and is wearing it along with two new Hillary buttons. Her assignment for Tuesday is to color a map as results come in. She told me that she is going to color the whole thing blue before any results come in. Magical thinking to be sure, but she’s got the right idea. Continue reading
At some point, push coming to shove, we all, well, at least, I revert to my core. I take action is a way I recognize as my essential self. So far, the work on next year’s travels has taken the form of writing to experts, explaining what I think I want, looking at websites and talking. Last night, I followed a recommendation to CESSA, The Center on Secondary Education for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Obviously, this is a promising site, the research page listed articles with alluring titles that held the promise of needed information and ideas. Continue reading
Clear, accurate and concise. I have been trying to write a summary of Julia, strengths and weaknesses, gifts and challenges. I am both up to the task and completely overwhelmed. And no where near objective. But can I be informative?
I’ve begun my search for educational alternatives for Julia for next year in earnest. Two weeks ago, I began contacting educators, researchers and anyone who I thought might have ideas or know people with ideas about educating kids on the autism spectrum, specifically about educating Julia. The big question is . . . better to just copy the email here: Continue reading
I notice rain. Just after dawn, coming down in buckets, like cats and dogs, teaming. Or is it teeming? It thundered and lightened and made an awful fuss before coming down. This rain has been in the offing for 24 hours, announcing itself over and over again with two brief showers yesterday, neither long enough to be “rain” and mounting humidity until I turned on the air in the late afternoon. We’ve slept in the cool, manufactured air for which I am grateful. Continue reading
Cue background music: Mamas and Papas “California Dreaming.”
Cue soap box speaker: I am chewing over two big travel dreams/plans that I need to share.
First, Summer 2016: A week in NYC to visit family and see Hamilton (Yay!) and then 5 weeks in Italy. Or 4 weeks in Italy and a week in and around London. Just the tiniest bit anxious about this because I want to buy the airline tickets, not cheap but decent. Which will change soon. The week in and around London would be to spend time with Cheshire who will be in Cambridge for a wedding.
Second, Summer 2017-2018: A year abroad. Julia will be finished with middle school. I have been pondering taking her out of school for a year to travel. Using it like a gap year (yes, early, I know) and returning to put her into ninth grade. Lots of logistics to work out education wise. Continue reading
Chasing Joy 