Thursday, April 25, 2024

PhD update!

 I haven't posted much this semester because I've been fully immersed in completing my assignments. While I've finished most of them, I still have two left to submit before the semester officially concludes next Friday. It's been a demanding nine-hour stretch, but it's also been incredibly enriching in terms of learning experiences.

Throughout the semester, I've tackled numerous papers and journals. Notably, I've completed a "mini" literature review spanning 17 pages, titled "Shifting Paradigms: Indigenous Perspectives on Autism and the Path to Inclusive Societal Understanding." Additionally, I've penned a 15-page autoethnography titled "An Autoethnography of an Autistic Inclusive Leader and Therapist Advocating for Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapeutic Practice in Mental Health Care." In one of my classes, I've wrapped up with a final assignment titled "Aligning Personal Philosophical Principles with Decolonial and Inclusive Leadership for Transformative Change and Community Empowerment." These endeavors have been both demanding and rewarding, contributing significantly to my academic journey. My dissertation is shaping up to be a culmination of the themes explored in all three of these topics.

This list covers most of my reading materials, though not all. I also left out some digital articles that I didn't print out. Additionally, I didn't read every page of the assigned textbooks; rather, I focused on the sections discussed in class. Some textbooks were mostly read, while others, I only managed to cover a few chapters.

Regarding "Decolonizing Methodologies," I've only made it halfway through so far. It wasn't mandatory for any specific assignment, but it's on my personal research list. I anticipate it will greatly benefit my upcoming summer course on Research Methods, although I must admit it's been quite the "gut punch." 

As for "Inclusive Leadership," it's a recent release comprised of various articles rather than a conventional chapter book. While it wasn't required reading, I've utilized it in several assignments due to its relevance.

For the next few semesters, I anticipate a lighter workload, with each semester comprising only 6 hours of coursework. However, I do have another 9-hour semester planned for Fall 2025. This scheduling allows me to reserve my final semester for my dissertation defense, which is projected to take place in the Fall of 2026.

So, my apologies for being MIA. I am trying to fit in some much-needed rest in the next 5 weeks before my summer classes begin. Thank you to all who have been super supportive throughout this. 

Before you start feeling sorry for Steven for managing my demanding schedule, it's worth noting that he's been incredibly busy himself. Alongside his classes and final projects/portfolios, he's also completed a whopping 180 hours of internship on top of his regular teaching job. Remarkably, he's on track to graduate with his second Master's degree next month. Furthermore, he'll be joining me in pursuing his PhD starting in the Fall, albeit in the same program but with a K-12 Education Leadership emphasis. His dedication and hard work is as impressive as ever!








Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Ridlee's Equine Show!

 Super proud of this girl. She's not a fan of many animals, but she loves horses. She got to put on a show for me today. #ridleeevangeline #magnumhorse #honeypony🦄






Monday, April 08, 2024

Solar Eclipse!

 Backyard eclipse party with all the kiddos.


















Friday, April 05, 2024

Bentonville's first Friday!

 Bentonville's first "First Friday" of the season seems to be a success. There were so many people. Steven is still there handing out moon pies and eclipse glasses for his school.









Tuesday, April 02, 2024

World Autism Day!

 The irony that it is World Autism Acceptance day and I'm finding it so hard to see past the demand of it to make a post. I'm also trying to regulate so maybe I'll use my dysregulated self to make a vulnerable and real post to maybe get some of this out. 

Warning it might be all over the place because that's where my brain is at. And this is just the iceberg of it.

This was me and my daughter's fun day this morning. It's her fun play therapy and equine therapy followed by funfetti pancakes... her favorite. It's always early for us and today being dreary and cold made it harder physically. We had to walk a quarter mile to the restaurant, because of all the construction downtown has taken the majority of parking away. I also had the wrong shoes for that. Waitress was great. Food was great. They know us enough and even checked in to make sure it wasn't too loud.

Got home, after 5 hours. Rested. Even got a nap in. Only to wake up to tons of emails needing addressed. Business stuff. School stuff. Find out due to some school changes I'll have to take another 9-hour semester at some point to graduate when I want to. Fine. Still trying to figure what that looks like so I won't have to change things again. 

Then conversations with my husband about our journey away from organized religion, the anger I feel towards so much of it, but still feeling spiritual and connected to Jesus and the love he preached. 

Followed up with some research coding for some co-research I'm doing with a PhD candidate from another university that is amazing, BTW. This quieted my mind a bit, until I was finished. 

Reminded of other assignments I need to work on and even though I'm ahead my mind fools me into thinking that I'm falling behind not working on them. But I can't tonight. I wouldn't do it justice. 

And then a good friend (thank you, Kim) sends me this, not even realizing I'm struggling, and I'm finally breaking enough to let it out in tears versus frustration. 

https://youtu.be/Ljjzf0Dx2pY?si=ELYL3wnrBTTV5gOq

Happy World Autism Acceptance day! Especially to two of my kiddos, Ridlee and Ryker (and probably Heston), the latter of which got his official diagnosis just a few weeks ago.