It was one of those days when nothing seemed to be going right. I was late picking Patrick up from MDO, they hadn't fed him lunch before I got him so he had to eat in the car, the check engine light came on as we left the church, and I was stressed.
Even after Patrick got off on the school bus successfully, with a full belly, all his clothes, and on time, I was still cranky. I was already at the end of my patience when Nathan decided to play around with lunch.
He started throwing his food over the side, a new habit he's picked up that Amber loves as much as I hate. I warned him in the mommy voice, gave him the mommy look, and watched as he smiled his impish grin and did it again.
I was debating whether he would understand a time-out and what the next best punishment would be when he did it one more time. One more puff hit the floor, and Amber dove for it.
I put on my best, most stern face and was ready to launch into punishment mode (which I hadn't quite decided on yet) when he got that glint in his eyes and said it: "Uh-oh, spaeeo!"
I fought the smile back and pulled the finger out (you know which one I'm talking about--the lecturing pointer finger) to try yet again to discipline him.
"Uh-oh! Spaeeo!"
This time I gave up and dissolved into laughter. He had me beat, and I knew it. Instead of turning the misbehavior into a teaching lesson for him to learn obedience, I let him turn the moment into a lesson on living in the moment for me. So Amber got one more puff--at least I don't have to clean the floor of the mess.
It was much more important to take the moment to enjoy my crazy boy and congratulate him for not only saying for the first time the phrase I'd been working on teaching him, but to have chosen the absolute best moment to spring it on me.
But now I know just how far advanced his manipulative skills are. I think it's going to be interesting staying a step ahead of him in the coming years.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Growing and Changing
I've been so bad about updating lately. I have lots of pictures to post, but those will have to wait for when I have more time (whenever that will be).
Patrick is thriving at school. He literally runs to the school bus when it gets here and comes home content and tired. He asks--begs--every single day to go to school. In the week or so since he started, his language has started to take off. Almost every single day I notice a new word or some new grammatical change (like calling things "mine"--"my bed"). He will sometimes sing songs now and shows off with how much of the alphabet he knows. We didn't even know he could recite the alphabet, and he basically knows the whole thing!
We are still going to MDO on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and he seems to be benefitting from the extra socialization. I love that he's staying in that familiar environment as he's adding the new preschool.
Nathan is still growing like crazy too. He has started bravely standing unassisted for a few seconds at a time. I think he could do longer, but he gets scared and grabs something just to be sure he doesn't fall.
He, too, is becoming more social. He says many words and phrases that he hears often and sometimes uses them to communicate his wants to us (like "Dada, see you in a little while" to tell me he wants to see his daddy). He has found all sorts of fun games he likes to play at dinner or in his bed and loves it when we play along.
The two boys are growing more fond of each other each week. They will play together, even if it takes a lot of moderation to keep fussing over toys to a minimum. My favorite sight, though, is watching Patrick give Nathan a hug before bed, something he now insists on. That gentle kiss on the top of Nathan's head proves to me that Patrick is sweet and compassionate underneath all that energy we see all day long.
Patrick is thriving at school. He literally runs to the school bus when it gets here and comes home content and tired. He asks--begs--every single day to go to school. In the week or so since he started, his language has started to take off. Almost every single day I notice a new word or some new grammatical change (like calling things "mine"--"my bed"). He will sometimes sing songs now and shows off with how much of the alphabet he knows. We didn't even know he could recite the alphabet, and he basically knows the whole thing!
We are still going to MDO on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and he seems to be benefitting from the extra socialization. I love that he's staying in that familiar environment as he's adding the new preschool.
Nathan is still growing like crazy too. He has started bravely standing unassisted for a few seconds at a time. I think he could do longer, but he gets scared and grabs something just to be sure he doesn't fall.
He, too, is becoming more social. He says many words and phrases that he hears often and sometimes uses them to communicate his wants to us (like "Dada, see you in a little while" to tell me he wants to see his daddy). He has found all sorts of fun games he likes to play at dinner or in his bed and loves it when we play along.
The two boys are growing more fond of each other each week. They will play together, even if it takes a lot of moderation to keep fussing over toys to a minimum. My favorite sight, though, is watching Patrick give Nathan a hug before bed, something he now insists on. That gentle kiss on the top of Nathan's head proves to me that Patrick is sweet and compassionate underneath all that energy we see all day long.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Second First Day of School
Patrick just left to go to school. On the bus.
Confused? How about I back up to Monday to clarify what happened...
On Monday Patrick had his first ARD with the school district. You might remember that he had graduated out of the ECI program when he turned three. At that point, he is tested by the school district to see if he qualifies for special ed. The ARD is the official meeting that inducts him into the special ed program. (It will also be a yearly meeting we have to make sure his needs are still being met and will hopefully one day dismiss him from the program.)
At Patrick's ARD on Monday, we learned that he does indeed qualify for special ed services under what they call a speech impairment. Really, they didn't find anything other than what we already knew. His only problems have to do with understanding speech, expressing himself, and talking socially.
The special ed teachers recommended that Patrick start their pre-school program there. It runs every afternoon from 12:45-3:45. He also rides the bus to get there. (Don't worry, it's a special bus for special ed students--yes, it's a short bus--and it has a carseat in it for him.)
This will be a good thing for him. Patrick will get more specific help for his problems from professionals who know how to help him. He will also get a chance to socialize with many different kids from different backgrounds with different problems. It's my hope that after a year or so of this pre-school, he will have caught up to the point that he no longer qualifies for special ed. Unlike many other students in their program, Patrick's problem is not (should not) be a lifelong problem and will likely resolve itself after some time of specifically addressing it.
After much thought and consideration, Patrick will try to stay in his MDO program at the moment. He won't be able to stay the whole time so that he can be home in time to catch the bus for pre-school, but we would like for him to continue in the school environment he already knows and loves. The teachers there are wonderful and so nurturing, and I would hate for Patrick to miss out on the church education he gets there as well. I also like that he gets a chance to socialize with "normal" kids, kids that don't require the extra help that his pre-school friends will. MDO will help create a more well-rounded kid, I hope.
Of course, having that busy a schedule twice a week may turn out to be too much for him. The next few weeks will be a trial period to see how he does before we make any final decisions about staying in MDO. Please be praying for us as we are forced to make some final decision.
It was really kind of weird to send my oldest son off to school on the bus for the first time today. He took it like a man--okay, really like Patrick--and didn't shed a tear. He was smiling from the excitement of it all. Me? Not so much. I'm a little scared about how he is doing all by himself in a new place and a new situation. I'm sure my resilient little boy is loving the adventure of it all, though. I just hope he doesn't mind the huge bear hug he's going to get from me when he gets home.
Confused? How about I back up to Monday to clarify what happened...
On Monday Patrick had his first ARD with the school district. You might remember that he had graduated out of the ECI program when he turned three. At that point, he is tested by the school district to see if he qualifies for special ed. The ARD is the official meeting that inducts him into the special ed program. (It will also be a yearly meeting we have to make sure his needs are still being met and will hopefully one day dismiss him from the program.)
At Patrick's ARD on Monday, we learned that he does indeed qualify for special ed services under what they call a speech impairment. Really, they didn't find anything other than what we already knew. His only problems have to do with understanding speech, expressing himself, and talking socially.
The special ed teachers recommended that Patrick start their pre-school program there. It runs every afternoon from 12:45-3:45. He also rides the bus to get there. (Don't worry, it's a special bus for special ed students--yes, it's a short bus--and it has a carseat in it for him.)
This will be a good thing for him. Patrick will get more specific help for his problems from professionals who know how to help him. He will also get a chance to socialize with many different kids from different backgrounds with different problems. It's my hope that after a year or so of this pre-school, he will have caught up to the point that he no longer qualifies for special ed. Unlike many other students in their program, Patrick's problem is not (should not) be a lifelong problem and will likely resolve itself after some time of specifically addressing it.
After much thought and consideration, Patrick will try to stay in his MDO program at the moment. He won't be able to stay the whole time so that he can be home in time to catch the bus for pre-school, but we would like for him to continue in the school environment he already knows and loves. The teachers there are wonderful and so nurturing, and I would hate for Patrick to miss out on the church education he gets there as well. I also like that he gets a chance to socialize with "normal" kids, kids that don't require the extra help that his pre-school friends will. MDO will help create a more well-rounded kid, I hope.
Of course, having that busy a schedule twice a week may turn out to be too much for him. The next few weeks will be a trial period to see how he does before we make any final decisions about staying in MDO. Please be praying for us as we are forced to make some final decision.
It was really kind of weird to send my oldest son off to school on the bus for the first time today. He took it like a man--okay, really like Patrick--and didn't shed a tear. He was smiling from the excitement of it all. Me? Not so much. I'm a little scared about how he is doing all by himself in a new place and a new situation. I'm sure my resilient little boy is loving the adventure of it all, though. I just hope he doesn't mind the huge bear hug he's going to get from me when he gets home.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Halloween '08
This year we didn't do much for Halloween. We're still fighting snotty noses, coughs, and incoming molars, so we've been pretty low-key lately. The big excitement was Patrick's Circus Day at school on Thursday. It's their replacement for Halloween, where the kids could wear non-scary costumes to school. Nathan and I went for the festivities, both boys complete with circus-themed costumes. Unfortunately I have no pictures of the peanut (Nathan, wearing Patrick's costume from last year) or the tiger at school. I'm hoping I'll get some pictures from the other parents who were there or the teachers. It was just too difficult to wrangle Nathan, Patrick, and that huge camera.
For Halloween yesterday, the boys did wear their costumes for a little while so I could get pictures. We went a different route with the theme this year. Patrick is wearing a tiger costume, similar to the one I and my three siblings each wore when we were about Patrick's age. Nathan is wearing a pumpkin costume, reminiscent of one of Matt's favorite costumes from his childhood.
I think he enjoyed chewing on the tie for the hat more than being a pumpkin, but it kept him happy anyway.
Oops, maybe not. We'll call this his mean jack-o-lantern face.
But generally he really was happy in the costume. He's the cutest pumpkin I've ever seen.
Patrick absolutely loves his tiger costume. He asks to wear it all the time. I particularly like his fashion sense, pairing it with his camouflage boots.
I had to get a back view. The tail is adorable.
It seems that Amber likes playing with cats as well as children. Really, she was good with the boys in costumes. She wanted to sniff them endlessly, of course, and was kind of excited, but I expected both reactions. At least she wasn't scared of the boys looking different.
It was difficult to get a picture of that cute face underneath the tiger face, so I'm glad I have this one.
And the one picture of the boys together in their costumes, both looking at the camera. It's harder than it looks. Maybe next year they'll pose together voluntarily.
For Halloween yesterday, the boys did wear their costumes for a little while so I could get pictures. We went a different route with the theme this year. Patrick is wearing a tiger costume, similar to the one I and my three siblings each wore when we were about Patrick's age. Nathan is wearing a pumpkin costume, reminiscent of one of Matt's favorite costumes from his childhood.
I think he enjoyed chewing on the tie for the hat more than being a pumpkin, but it kept him happy anyway.
Oops, maybe not. We'll call this his mean jack-o-lantern face.
But generally he really was happy in the costume. He's the cutest pumpkin I've ever seen.
Patrick absolutely loves his tiger costume. He asks to wear it all the time. I particularly like his fashion sense, pairing it with his camouflage boots.
I had to get a back view. The tail is adorable.
It seems that Amber likes playing with cats as well as children. Really, she was good with the boys in costumes. She wanted to sniff them endlessly, of course, and was kind of excited, but I expected both reactions. At least she wasn't scared of the boys looking different.It was difficult to get a picture of that cute face underneath the tiger face, so I'm glad I have this one.
And the one picture of the boys together in their costumes, both looking at the camera. It's harder than it looks. Maybe next year they'll pose together voluntarily.
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