Oh, Back to School

I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in truth. 3 John 1:4

Tomorrow is Maggie’s first day of kindergarten.  How can this be? Actually, she should have started school last year, but Tyler and I chose to hold her out an extra year in order to maximize her hours of intensive ABA therapy.  I have the normal  typical worries about sending my youngest to her first day of school, but because Maggie has been in a school-like setting for four and a half years it is not separation anxiety that overwhelms me.  Been there, done that.  My biggest concerns for her are 1) that she transitions smoothly into a new environment with new-ish faces and, 2) that her language impairment and SPD do not interfere with learning and socializing.  Overall I am excited for Maggie and what awaits her this school year.

The anxiousness that I feel for Maggie beginning school tomorrow is trumped by the considerable amount of uneasiness that I feel because Jacob is not.  Over the past couple of months I have been kept away by the stress and worry of making the best decision for Jacob and his needs.  We have been blessed with a phenomenal God-centered school, and the past two years Jacob has had teachers and classmates that have shown him what it truly means to live like Christ.  They are the BEST! All summer Jacob has asked to go to “his” school, which has made the decision making even harder for this momma.  In order to address some social issues that we have been concerned with we have decided with the blessing and support of our school that Jacob’s start date will simply be postponed while he continues with his intensive therapy regime.

I have prayed and prayed asking God to show me the best solution, and preferably make it very obvious.  The last thing I want to do is make the wrong decision for either Jacob or Maggie because my emotions.  I have prayed asking for God to take control of the situation, because His ways are not mine, they are greater.  Now I must pray for peace in our decision and that Jacob is not upset by it.

I am always on the look out for Christian-based special needs reading material, and was excited to snag a copy of this gem last week.  Using the format of a reference book, I am easily able to find inspirational scriptures related to the areas of focus that I feel are present in life.  I’ve been keeping this book in my car, reading in between therapy sessions, and Romans 5:3-5 jumped off the pages. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. 

Even though I would prefer that circumstance were different, and we weren’t having to decide between traditional school and a therapy-based program I know that we have multiple things to be thankful for in this situation.  I am thankful for an intensive therapy-based program in close proximity to where we currently live.  In early 2012 our family decided to temporarily live in separate parts of the state in order to meet Jacob and Maggie’s needs.  We are now able to live under one roof in a location that is central to more therapy options than we could ever fit into our schedules.  Second, I am thankful for a Christian school that accommodates my children and their individual needs while making them feel loved and welcome.  Lastly, I am thankful for a son that wants to go to school.

**I know the first verse is taken out of context, but I came across it last week during reading and it has stuck with me ever since.

The Halls Take Flight

I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Psalm 55:6

On the way to and from school each day we pass right by our local airport. Often the planes fly right overhead, and Jacob pretends that he can reach up and touch them.  He has been regularly asking to fly, so for our recent family vaca we decided to go for it.  Some may say that attempting to fly with two autistic children would be considered brave, however I tend to think that the whole idea was verging on the side of lunacy.  After weeks of social stories and carry-ons filled to the max with sensory-seeking/sensory-diffusing gadgets, Tyler and I loaded two very excited kids onto their first flight.  After reading about other’s experiences I boarded the airplane in defense mode, but in spite of all of my reservations Jacob and Maggie were perfect passengers.

 

Once we landed safely both kids were verbally requesting to go directly to the beach. Past experiences at the beach resulted in Jacob having meltdowns because of the extreme sunlight and heat.  We had prepared for our outdoor adventures to take place during the early morning/evening hours, while the middle of the day was going to be reserved for indoor activities.  To our surprise sun sensitivity was not an issue this trip. Jacob loved riding his surfboard, and Miss Maggie enjoyed looking for “baby sharks”.

Until next time, St. Petersburg!

Today I am thankful for this tiny triumphing over in our autism journey.