Going Places

Hi!

Did I tell you we have a second grader?

Again!

Ha!

He started kindergarten a little early age-wise because he was ready. And he really was! He did great!

But now things are moving a bit faster in class, so everyone decided that this would be his repeat year. When a child with an IEP for a delay starts school early, it's pretty much a given that they will repeat a year. 

This is the one.

And it's perfect! All of the older kids from the past few years are going to Calumet school now, so B is one of the oldest in the school! Quite a different dynamic. Different, but good because change is part of life.

Miss Liz, his personal aide (and magician) said he is doing so well already this year. His output for actual work has really increased. We are so proud!

All the therapists that came to visit so far are thoroughly impressed. I tell ya. This kid isn't going to let anything slow him down.

Neither am I!

He's definitely changing and growing up, and I need to honor that. 

One way we did this was to get us new ride. A "motorcycle!!!"

We call it that because it's more exciting to say than an E-bike, which it is. But it kind of looks like one too!

On our way the first day of school!

We take it to school and to the shores and lakes and wherever we want to go. It gives us so much freedom, and I know he feels so cool on it. He sure is excited to ride it each time. He knows the rules about what to wait for before he can get on and off. And he can crawl up and down by himself!

What a little man. 

When he's on, he makes sure to hang on tight with both hands. That's another rule! He's doing really well. We are both not quite as scared as when we started. That bike is much heavier than I'm used to.

So far we really love our Rad Power Bike. Such a great find to keep us motivated to go places.

Where will you go next?

Waves of Adoration

And so this is Spring Break.

Woo hoo!

Spring Break this year does not mean Florida beaches for me (I did it one year when I was in my 20's!). It means little Brady P. got to see his dad and grandparents. He is still with them, and I am grateful.

Where does that leave me?

In beautiful, chilly Copper Harbor to do whatever I want.

Whatever!

Sure, I stayed up on my jobs and did some adult things, but I really felt free this week.

Last night I danced under the stars.  The stars! What a beautiful place to look under a crystal clear sky. So marvelous and freeing. I cannot leave the house once he goes to bed here, so that was a treat.

I got to listen to music for hours with my lover. Also a treat!

I got out for walks wherever and whenever I wanted. 

It was all so freeing!!!

Yesterday I walked to Hunter's Point and sat on the beach for a bit.  That felt unusual because I don't often go there alone, and I usually don't walk there because it seems so far away.

In my jovial aloneness, I thought about little Brady P. and how he loves to watch the waves roll in. I imagined his little body convulsing as his eyes popped out of his head.

Then I was suddenly taken over with a figurative wave of love and adoration for him.

Every time I think of him when he's away on a break, I get this feeling. My whole body feels saturated with love and devotion for this little person who has entered my life and pretty much taken it over.

We are together so much, that his absence really allows me to feel the impact he has on me. How he's changed my priorities. How he's taught me to love and accept everybody in such a big way.

He is truly a magical little person, and I am one of the luckiest people on the planet to get to spend so much time with him.

It is surreal, and the gratitude I feel is marrow deep.

I feel like you can see the adoration in my face in this picture from a few months ago. His naps on me are now a rarity... but so precious.

That little boy.

I can't wait to see him again so we can, you know, go throw rocks and listen to kid music all day long and he can boss me around a bit more.

Ha!

Thanks for your patience with me while I enjoyed a bit of freedom and doing things just for me.

Back to the grind soon! I hope you are great!

Contrast

Ummmm, wow!

Thanks so much for all the encouragement, support and praise for little Brady P. and his team!  I still shed a couple tears when I read that last post, but it surprised me that other people did too.  

You're feelin' me.  I dig it.

Well, so far, so good at school.  It definitely takes a lot out of him, but that means he is putting a lot in.  Now it's just my job to deal with a wreck of a boy at the end of the day, and I can do that.  That's nothing new!

Because he (usually) wakes up the next morning ready to do it again.

I have not had a chance to talk extensively to the teacher or his aids about all the details of his day, but things should be a little less hectic for everyone soon enough, and hopefully we can share it with you.  If anything, parent/teacher conferences are in November.  I know they will come to me with any issues prior to that.

Soooo, do you want to know how I am doing?

Even if you don't, too bad.  Because it's my turn.

I am doing absolutely amazing!

I wake up, get him ready for school, buckle him on the bus, wave goodbye, then turn around and bounce up my front steps.  From there I can do whatever I want.

I mean ANYTHING!!!

Well, as long as I'm back by 2:30!

I can go back to sleep, I can meditate, I can clean my kitchen, I can write, I can do my art, I can visit friends, I can go to the garden, I can dance to MY songs, I can go out for an adventure.  Anything.

Yesterday, I went to town by myself.  Let me tell you what that means in comparison to going with wee man.

I got my list ready (it was a full day), my purse, water, coffee and snacks.  I did NOT pack a diaper bag, double check its contents, make sure he was sufficiently fed first, change a poopy diaper last minute, wonder how he was going to do on the hour drive there and back and all our stops in between.

The drive went smooth for me.  I meditated and processed life.  I did NOT have to keep saying, "Braeden, what do you need?  Sweetie, we are almost there!  No, I'm not playing animal songs right now, it's the radio.  Would you like another fruit strip?  Did you just throw your water?  Now you can't have a drink until we get there."

I went to all my shopping places, appointment and errands with just a purse in my hand.  I did however, notice every single other mom who had her kids with her (even a dad or two) and I felt a compassion for them that I hadn't known bef0re.  Because now I am on the other side.  Now I can see it -- I'm not swimming in it.  I did NOT have to calmly struggle to get his stiff, unyielding legs into a shopping cart, wonder if he was going to make it through the next place, sing him songs to soothe him through a store, buckle his rigid body in and out of the car seat a dozen times, stop for food when he was hungry or wonder when or if he was going to fall asleep on the way home.

So it was a peaceful trip.  

I missed him in places, of course, because he always says hi to people, and it is so stinkin' sweet.  But the freedom is unreal.  And I will get to do that each time, unless he has his own appointment.

Thank you, school.  For giving my little man a worthwhile place to be during the day, and giving me the freedom to sort my life out and start moving forward again.

Ahhhh, forward.

I am grateful!

Thanks for reading all my mumbo jumbo!  Here's a video that shows how tough this little man is.  Have a great week!