Special Needs

One of my almost daily reads is Enjoying the Small Things.  Kelly (author) is super mom to four and photographer extraordinaire.  Her youngest, Nella, has Down Syndrome.  She writes about her family, enjoying the small things in life and DS.  She  has recently been nominated for The Bump's Best Special Needs blog.  Special Needs blogs?  Hmmmmm.  I never really thought about Enjoying the Small Things as a special needs blog, but sure.  Anyhow, I wanted to know more about those special needs blogs out there, so I followed the links to The Bump's best special needs blog list..  From there I found Elias. 

Look at that great picture. That's Elias.   Hiking.  I love it. 
I fell in love with Elias and his family.  I spent the night reading (and crying) as I read about Elias and his accomplishments.  Now, I spent yesterday afternoon at the kids' annual IEP reviews, so I feeling a bit full of emotions.  Spending a few hours talking about your special needs kids is sure to bring out some emotions.  So..... I devoured Elias.   Some of my favorite posts:

http://mountaintoparchives.typepad.com/from_the_mountaintop_arch/2006/10/the-post-i-didn.html

and

http://www.followingelias.com/2008/10/an-incomplete-definition.html

I also spent some time with The Redneck Mommy......yes, I found the title of the blog unappealing, but gosh, Tannis (author) rocks.  Excellent post about r word.  And.....live clip of Tannis speaking about the r-word




Another moving post: http://www.theredneckmommy.com/2010/04/29/the-difference-between-you-and-me-raising-disabled-children/

So.....after spending the afternoon in IEP meetings and my night reading special needs blogs, this is what I have learned:  I haven't fully accepted G's CP.  Usually, I have a really good attitude about it but sometimes I get really very angry about it.  Therapy?  I also learned that saying "I don't care if it is a boy or a girl, as long as it is healthy" is a really dumb thing to say.  As a mom to special needs kids, I have a whole new understanding of healthy compared to before children.   Oh..... and it sort of bothers me that people say things like "I couldn't do it.", yes you could.  Or....."god, gives you only what you can handle"  what?. 

"Parents to disabled children aren’t saints or any more special than the parent that has ever had to pick the snot out of a crusty nostril or spent the night awake worrying about their child’s safety. We are just regular parents who are lucky enough to love extraordinary children.  We are all heroes to our children, and if we aren’t then we need to try harder."  Tannis of Redneck Mommy. 

One more thing, while I'm sharing.  Children with physical disabilities belong in a "regular" classroom.  Hello! 2010!   I say this as a teacher and a mom of special kids......you wouldn't believe how many people think G will need to be in a "special" classroom.  And....our LD kids, DS kids and Autistic kids, all kids.......regular classroom people.  It can work.*

Oh, wait....I do have just one more thing.....this post is excellent:

http://www.theredneckmommy.com/2009/03/10/dear-internet-im-placing-you-on-notice/

"I can teach my children and the children around me that it is not cool to use the word ‘retard’ to make fun of someone or hammer a point home.  I can teach my children and the children around me that it is okay to touch a disabled person, they aren’t contagious or filled with cooties. (Unless they are homeless and living under a bridge and even then they just need a good de-lousing.)  But can I teach the world around me? The adults?"   again written by Tannis of Redneck Mommy.

Have I told you lately.....how lovely and perfect my children are.  They are.  They smell delicious.  They are funny.  They have a great vocabulary.  G's new favorite word:  oblivion.  And.....it was reported to my by A's speech teacher that when asked to name as many wild animals as she could, in one minute, she included the musk ox.  Love her. 


*Every child is different and each situation needs to be evaluated on a case by case basis.