Sunday, August 26, 2012

Back to school!

So my oldest is in bed all ready for the first day of school tomorrow. As a mom to a special needs kid, its a bittersweet day every year. I'm sure all parents feel this way no matter the abilities of their kids. But I am anxious.


 Anxious the teacher will understand his non-verbal communication, that everyone will treat him with the dignity and respect he deserves. That his neuro-typical peers see him as a peer and not just some kid who can't talk in a wheelchair. That the staff treat him as if he were their own. I have so many fears relating to him at school, especially considering all the stories you see in the news about teachers and school staff abusing non-verbal children. And my son has no way of telling me if something is wrong. It scares me to my core, to be honest.

But it is also amazing, it gives him the opportunity to be with his friends, to learn how to be a friend. He will get to experience new things, meet new people, learn new concepts. He is such a problem solver when its something that interests him, this I think will help him learn. It's hard to say what he actually absorbs from school since he cannot verbally express what he knows. But in my heart I feel he is learning along with his neuro-typical peers, just maybe not in the same way as them. This is a hard concept sometimes for the school to grasp that he is able to learn the same things as his general education peers. They have no way to test him and prove it because he cannot always control his fine and gross motor movements to show them.

But despite that I will continue to push for him to be fully included as much as he can handle due to his sensory overload. He loves school so much, his teacher, the routine, all the other kids. Last year his year ended so well and he has the same teacher and aides so I'm sure this year will just be a great continuation.

Time for me to sleep as its time for me to get back in to routine and hope for the best. <3

Monday, August 13, 2012

Making a change around here (blogwise)



So I have been really slacking on posting lately, this summer has gotten crazy! Our homeschooling summer has been up and down, one good part is the addition to the kid's cousin joining us a few days a week. Having that extra kid around has really pushed me to step up my game on planning and implementing things with the kids.

Dry Erase table with Dry Erase crayons
Homemade Cloud dough (8 parts flours 1 part Baby Oil) 



I've started using more communication methods with Chance although he still doesn't have much interest I'm at least making it available at every opportunity to model using it for him. We are now going to start trialing newer devices that may be more adaptable for him and grow with him. He starts school in a couple weeks and I'm looking forward to him to go back to be with his friends and teachers. He is not a fan of summers especially Texas summers which result in us staying at home almost the entire summer due to the extreme heat.

This is our PODD book I use in addition to our Conversa 
I've also stepped up on my painting. It is a passion of mine and I'm actually getting outside interests in it! Not just my lovely husband complimenting me! I've sold my first commissioned painting and have listed several new ones on Etsy and hope to get more interest soon! http://www.etsy.com/shop/shaunamoreno




I'm going to continue to blog as often as possible but not as many giveaway posts. I do have a couple reviews in the works and hope to have those out in the next week! I'm still new to the blogging stuff so I'm learning as I go and still figuring it all out.