Thankful

Just recently, I realized how much my children have grown up. There are milestones that seem so big, and I think about them when they occur, but this was something different. I was listening to my son talking a few nights ago. His voice is still very young, and his speech disorder causes him to sound like he's gasping between words a lot of the time. But the content of the conversation really got me. I don't know what it is about that year of Kindergarten, but I swear they go into it like babies and come out of it like kids. Public school, private school, homeschool, it doesn't matter, they're going to grow up at warp speed during that little window between autumn and summer.

Similarly, my daughter has turned into this incredible person who has compassion, wisdom, intellectual and emotional maturity, and talent well beyond her years. I'm honored and humbled being her mom. She has the most beautiful spirit I have ever known in a person, and I am in awe of it. Part of me hopes she never changes, but the other part of me wonders what other precious gifts she has to offer this world as she grows.

This is one of the major reasons I wanted to homeschool my children; I felt as if strangers knew more about them than I did with traditional schooling. I enjoyed the amazing things my daughter brought home in Kindergarten and first grade, but I wanted to be there for the process, too. I wanted to nurture them and watch them grow. And, of course, I did not want their gentle spirits broken by bullies or their thirst for knowledge dampened by boredom.

Yes, this was just a sappy post with some of the thoughts in my mind today. It does a rather poor job of summing up everything I've been thinking about, but it's a general idea. I feel really fortunate to have this experience, and I am thankful for it every day. (Yes, even on the difficult days.)

I Must Be Crazy

Nearly 7 years ago, we made the decision to adopt Sticky the kitty.

Little G wasn't born yet, and Reezle was just a baby. Sticky chose Reezle, we didn't exactly choose Sticky. And Sticky has remained very true to her Reezle, which Little G, the resident cat lover, has taken notice of. He is now asking, quite frequently, if we can adopt another kitty. He even has a name picked out: Quinn Lillina. Don't ask me where he comes up with this stuff, but I actually love it!

I'm thinking about it. I really am. Call me crazy, since two cats in a household can present major issues, but I am genuinely considering this idea. I love cats, too, and I'd love to give a homeless kitten a good home. And so, we may be visiting the animal shelters soon. Because I am, apparently, insane.

Our Weekend

We have little room to complain about this year's winter weather here in the Midwest. We've barely had any snow to speak of, and as someone who loathes the white stuff, I couldn't be a bigger fan of the 2011-2012 winter season thus far. On days when we do get snow, it's actually nice to cuddle up with a warm drink and do a little reading while mother nature does what she will.

Our Saturday was spent studying. My history girl spent several hours learning about religions and cultures from around the world, including some interesting YouTube videos we found. Little G spent most of his time working on math, of course. Today we will be doing some hooping PE so Reezle can practice her halos, her favorite hoop trick.

Both of the kids are excitedly anticipating Groundhog Day, which is coming right up on February 2. Will Punxutawney Phil see his shadow this year? The kids are hoping he won't, since they both want an early spring. I guess we will find out on Thursday!

He Wins

I've been debating what to do about Little G and his obsession with math. Right now, he is a Kindergarten student, technically, but he is taking 1st grade math and language arts. He was taking 1st grade phonics as well, but he completed it. If I let him work at his own pace, he would have finished 1st grade math as well. Part of me thinks just letting him finish and move up to the next grade level in math would be better for him. Originally, I felt this would place undue burden on him and stress him out. But, as it turns out, he's a lot like his mama - if his mind doesn't have something to work on all the time, he gets moody and his mind finds things to work on.

The little dude has always loved numbers and math. He could add and subtract by preschool, and by the start of Kindergarten he was begging to do multiplication flashcards all the time. He loves chess and card games, can kick my butt at Sudoku, and is at his happiest when he is challenged. (But he hates to lose and has no tolerance for anything less than perfection from himself, which means meltdowns and tantrums...)

I'm at a point with him where I feel like pacing him with the rest of the 1st grade students in math is unfair to him. During math lessons, G is typically lying on the floor, answering questions I ask aloud, rolling his eyes and saying, "I know this already, mom. It's like preschool baby stuff." And I tell him, "Yes, G, but you have to demonstrate that you know this, so we have to at least do the assessments." His reward for getting through it is always something he enjoys that is also math-related (Sudoku puzzles, a website that has flashcard games, or workbooks, usually). I keep some grades 2 and 3 math workbooks on hand, hidden as a special treat; but he found and finished the remaining half of a 250-pager the other day when I thought he was coloring. It took him an hour. So, I think we'll start letting him do as much as he wants, and see where this leads.

In other G-related news, my little boy is growing up and developing a mind (and attitude!) of his own. I'm sad, nostalgic, and somewhat uncomfortable with his growing independence, and yet I am also proud of his developments. The fact that he has been so dependent on me for so long makes the transition difficult for me, I'll be honest. Heh, I know, I know, that's the selfish, but-he's-my-baby! part of me talking. He still has many needs (basics, like dressing, brushing his teeth, washing his hands) where he needs much more assistance than his age-matched peers, but intellectually he is light years ahead of the game. He gets so frustrated, knowing what he wants or needs to do, and having the hypotonia and motor issues that make his body a bit slow to catch up. We're doing a lot of sensory diet and OT activities, which change frequently to meet his ever-changing needs, and the results are coming quicker these days.

People always say that kids grow up so fast. It's amazing, though, as a parent. It all seems to happen in fast-forward, and I've come to a point where I try to savor the little moments because I know, before I know it, I will be thinking about how ages 8 and 6 were really so little.

Potentials

My son taught me how to quickly calculate larger numbers in my head.

He was 5 when he taught me this trick.

It was 38 + 42 that brought us to this epiphany. He spat the answer out in seconds. I asked, G, how did you do that so fast? The answer was 80. He said, "Moooom, it's easy. You break apart the numbers. Give the 2 to the 38 and make it 40, so then it's just 40 + 40, and that is super easy...80!."

Uh, woah.

And he was right. When he put it in those terms, it was super easy. That's now his mind works naturally. He's a problem solver by nature. I'm not built that way. I can learn, but it isn't built into my make-up like it is for Little G.

When Little G was just 23 months old, we learned that he is autistic. Just a short time later, we were told that he has hypotonia (low muscle tone) and a speech disorder (not just delay). And at the same time, we were also told that he might have a genetic condition (Beckwith-Wiedemann) that sometimes causes childhood cancer. Yes, I kinda freaked out. After leaving the geneticist's office that day, I smiled at my baby son, walked him in his stroller over to the gift shop where they had toy kitties (his fave), and hugged him to me as I choked back tears that I believe to this day could have flooded the building. But I never let on.

There was no speech therapist available through Early Intervention, so I just learned ASL (American Sign Language) and taught it to the kids and my husband. Because that's what had to be done. He started to communicate. I had great hopes for him, and yet, he still managed to surpass my wildest expectations.

I didn't expect my son to be skipping grade levels in school. I didn't expect him to be speaking so clearly and meaningfully at age 6 like he is, much less using that speech to teach me things about math. The kid is brilliant. And I want to tell all of you, with children who are diagnosed with autism and global developmental delays like my son was, that this IS NOT the end of the road. It is not a prediction. It is not a set-in-stone Way Things Will Be. Trust. Hope. Keep your minds open. And you will be surprised at what your child can do. Do not let anyone place limitations on your child. He or she holds more potential than anyone can see, think, feel, or predict. It will rock your world, if you let it.

7 Lies About Homeschoolers

This is so great, I had to blog it.

100th Day of Homeschool

As of today, Reezle has 567 hours and 20 minutes of attendance hours logged, and 100 days of school. Little G, officially a Kindergarten student, but taking three first grade courses, has 378 hours and 45 minutes of attendance hours logged, and 100 days of school. This means we're more than half way through the school year...and we still love it, and it's still going great! Whew.

In preschool and public school, there was always a special celebration for the 100th day of school. I didn't realize it had come up so quickly, or I would have planned something. It might be a bit tricky, since ice cream sundaes are out due to the blood sugar issue, but I'm sure we can find a way to celebrate all of their hard work. They both deserve a celebration, both of them have been the best students.

Little G had a special milestone of his very own today: he completed first grade phonics! He's little more than half way through his Kindergarten year and he is all done with first grade phonics. I am so proud of him! His spelling, as well as his mastery of grammar concepts and language in general is impressive. He was an early reader, but I didn't expect him to be tutoring his older sister with spelling homework when he was in preschool (he did, for real). His progression seems steady, rather than just an early starter who settles into average. I don't expect him to keep this pace (then again, maybe he can tutor me when I take that logic and philosophy college course I need...ha!), but he has my full support to move at his own pace.

Oh, uh...and he's teaching himself cursive.