1 Yesterday my kids and I went to my friend's house. I have been involved in a Thursday bible study for the past few years now and this was our summer meeting.
She lives in the same small part of Chicagoland that I do, but her husband works at the Board of Trade. That means that have some money. They have a beautiful inground, heated pool with a slide, a garage turned into an eating room and a small basketball court. It was unbelieveable and nice.
We had a great time.
2 It was not too long ago when the kids were little that I felt so cut off from the world. I was in a playgroup but none of us really remained good friends. We've talked of getting together but have never done it.
Maybe this will be the year.
3 Ronn went with the library to The Museum of Science and Industry. They are having an exhibit on Harry Potter and I thought he would enjoy it.
Some of you will remember that I begged my kids to be the Potter characters for Halloween one year. I'll see if I can dig out those pictures and post them.
He was afraid to go because he is shy, didn't know anyone, what-if-(fill in the blank). I packed a Gatorade (which he loves), a box of Cheezits (ditto on loves), his camera and a change of clothes.
To ease our minds, God also allowed my daughter's best friend to be there and his old soccer coach and daughter to be there as well. (Easing who's mind?)
4 As some of you know, Ronn has sensory integration disorder with some sounds. He's had a little issue with bathrooms; he's terrified of the noise.
I do not use the word terrified loosely. When he was very small I would take him to the bathroom and he would panic. I didn't understand it then; I wish I had.
He should be fine, but just in case, we have a change of clothes.
5 The parents of children with autism do not understand denial. They have so much information and support that it seems that they have a very short grieving process.
My grieving process took years. Because my son's autism is so extremely mild, we thought it was something that would correct itself.
I think of it as a line. On one side is sorta normal because I think that normal or typical is pretty broad.
The other side is off center or odd. Like yelling out numbers. Like repeating phrases over and over and over. Like running like the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz. Like being able to read the words "Drive Thru Pharmacy" at the age of 4.
For Ronn, he was just 1/2 inch off that typical line. It seemed something that would eventually correct itself. In some ways it did. In other ways, it never will.
I realize how far we both have come when I watched the bus pull away this morning.