The Beauty in the Ashes - Pandemic Post #12

Trying to see the positives throughout this situation. I am finalizing up my last week of my Leadership and Ethics class. It's actually been one of my favorite classes. Love the topics and right up my alley. The exact kind of stuff I was hoping to learn about in this grad program. There have been some stressful situations, mostly involving the group project. But other than that not too bad at all. I spent this weekend dying my hair blue (even though it looks purple in the pics), hand knitting my first chunky knit blanket, and having online church outside. It's been a good weekend. I have a busy week of clients, and just over half are telehealth. I am still seeing them in my office though, so I am glad that I have it. Steven has also got to use my office a few times to record some of his lectures and stuff. 

Easter - Pandemic Post #11

Of course it's super rainy like usual. The kids got to do some egg hunting yesterday. There were no public hunts this year due to social distancing. 

I hate all of this. This is Ridlee's Kindergarten year and now that they have officially called school to be digital for the rest of the school year, I am mourning all the things she isn't getting to do because of this. No Kindergarten graduation, no field trips, no field day, etc. Makes me so angry and hurt for them. She may not even realize it. And she is my last so that just adds to it. I feel bad for all the other Seniors and graduations being canceled. 

The Struggle is Real - Pandemic Post #10

Trying to adjust to the new normal is hard at times. Ridlee struggled with not seeing her teachers and friends. She is coping by playing and she is getting to do a lot of that now, both inside and out. The others are adjusting with new games. They are all handling it better than I would of at their age. It's still hard though. I hate this for them.

My new mask a client made me. These are becoming the norm right now. 

My Subconscious - Pandemic Post #9

My subconscious is struggling. Had a dream last night I was putting together this huge event I had planned. Lots of people. I was sunscreening up for the big softball game and preparing to deliver things to the food area for the lunch after. Doing all these different things getting it going. I had so much to do but was excited about all of it. No talk of virus. It wasn't even in my thoughts. I even had these cool homemade tarts I was putting out that looked awesome. And then I wake up. Dang it, I wanted those tarts and to play softball. #therealnightmareiswhenimawake #whoamikiddingaintnobodygottimeforthat

World Autism Day - Pandemic Post #8

No I didn't forget what day it is. Life has not slowed down here. And while I had prepared to have all this stuff planned for this month, they unfortunately had to take a back seat due to the global situation that we are in. Autism has been a very integral part of my life for a few years now. There has been many conversations between myself and God about thanking him for choosing me to be Ridlee's mom. I get a little teary just typing that.
This situation has brought about so many more challenges for our family. Ridlee has taken the hardest transition out of all of us. She doesn't understand the concept of this virus, no social story can help with that. She doesn't understand why she can't go to school and see her friends and teachers. She doesn't understand why she can't go to church. Her teachers have given tremendous efforts to buffer this situation with video's and such. I appreciate every bit of it. Some think autism isn't social but let me tell you this girl loves her people. She asks about them when they are absent at school or Sunday school. And in general many of my clients in this population are struggling a lot with this social distancing. It's very hard on many of them. The whole change of routine, not knowing when this will be over, not seeing their people, and all the disruption in everything, including many of their therapies.
So while I wanted so badly to use this month for what I had planned, I am now having to adjust my efforts for Ridlee and all my clients. And for how long, we don't know, but we are making the best of it. We talk about general awareness with autism and that is awesome. But this month, please be especially aware that these individuals are at their most vulnerable during this season of unknown. So be extra kind. If you have a friend on the spectrum, reach out to them. Have a video chat. Send cards to them. Acknowledge them. They need to know others haven't forgotten them.