getting into our routine of playgroups three times a week, before we get stuck into therapy in december, Jovie and I arrived at playgroup #2 earlier this morning.
our first visit last week went as expected, got there early and left only after a short while. with any kid, any new place can be hard to adjust to. with Jo, any new place is new territory to explore and then get terribly fed up with. there was screaming, hair pulling, pinching and a tantrum only to be described as epic.
but today was different, we stayed the whole 2 hours and I was able to have a really good conversations with the other parents there. it’s a small group, but having other people there who know exactly what you’re going through is an amazing thing to have. being able to share and be understood is worth it’s weight in gold. but talking to another parent with a child with the same disability (and abilities!) really makes the difference.
Jovie likes to stand on the trampoline at playgroup!
it’s the same with other blogs or articles that I read that are about the reality of living with Autism. conversations and just someone to look at you and say ‘yep, that’s exactly it’ – it really helps you feel a little more sane.
this week, Jovie and I have been exploring new supported playgroups for kids on the spectrum (that’s Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD). we have one more to go next Tuesday but so far, i loved them all but will wittle it down to 2 a week until therapy starts in December.
today at playgroup, Jovie was BUSY in the 2 hours we were there:
ran out of the room – at least 30 times
stared at the bookcase – at least 15 times
swiped at her own morning tea – at least 10 times
swiped at the other kids morning tea – at least 3 times
managed to steal other kids’ morning tea – 1 time
stared at the bathroom – at least 8 times
scratched at my face – at least 5 times
swiped the glasses off my face – at least 5 times
screamed out of happiness – at least 3 times
screamed out of sadness – stopped counting..
swiped at the glitter glue – at least 4 times
ate the glitter glue – 1 time
i love that in these supported playgroups, i don’t have to explain that Jovie doesn’t talk, that she doesn’t play with toys, can’t pick up toys, can’t feed herself, gets upset and throws tantrums. we were still different to the other kids there, but you learn all kids are different anyway.
oh to be a parent/carer of a kid with Autism… it takes alot out of you but i wouldn’t trade it for anything. i’m due back at work at the start of November but am again considering either taking more unpaid leave OR resigning completely (to stop jerking my boss around) and finding a nightfill and/or job so I can spend the day taking Jovie to therapy and playgroups.
who would of thought i’d long to be a stay at home mum? i friggin love that i get to drop Jasper off at school each Friday and then scoot over to playgroup with Jovie…. it’s where my heart is but we have to think of the future, where education for Jovie isn’t paid in sunshine and smiles.. (but how COOL if it was??)
In the mirror this morning, I spotted three grey hairs. Well, actually they are white and as my sister puts it ‘can be seen across the room’. I can’t deny that the last 6 months have been stressful, though the last 2 and a bit have been better since I’ve been on leave from ‘work’. We still have our whole lives to be stressed – I think I’ll be a silver fox before we know it.
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We had our first appointment with our neurologist and a follow up appointment with our paediatrician today. Waiting times aside (hello, 4 hourssss), they both reminded us to look into Rett Syndrome because it’s still not off the table. We won’t know the test results for months yet, so excuse me if there is more emo posts here on the blog.
The dr also threw in the term ‘severe’ to describe Jovie’s Autism and I didn’t flinch. I don’t know whether that’s good or bad, but I guess when you live it, any term you use to describe a situation doesn’t matter.
Jovie’s doing this new thing where screaming, out of happiness in the highest pitch known to man, is her release. It started before bed times, and then progressed to wherever we took her – my favourite was the toy store where she did her usual ‘clearing off all counters’ (bye bye slinkies) and then screamed while I paid for some halloween lanterns. I’m learning really quick to find all exits and to clear a good 3 feet buffer zone around Jovie.
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Trying to remind Jasper to use his manners, Uncle Allan asks him ‘What’s the magic word?’.
My sweet Jasper replies ….
‘Abracadabra!’
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I’ve been getting back into painting and screenprinting lately. It’s been a welcome distraction for both Jasper and I and the smell of the paint brings me back to my high school art rooms.
I never was good at painting, but some prints & things that I made the other day make me happy 🙂
