Milestones, new jobs and celebrations

Oh, the developmental stages children reach ~ there is much to be celebrated with such milestones and for good reason.  The child is proud, the parents are proud.  This is especially true if you have a delayed child or one with some kind of disorder that causes them to lag behind their peer mates.  First, it’s always good to find out what is going on, not just self-screen or diagnose the child on your own. I think we owe it to our children to seek professionals on such serious matters as development, after all they will have to deal with the consequences of our current decisions the remainder of their lives.  And next, it’s essential to work on those areas whether that means one-on-one at home base with consistency, or outside therapies once a diagnosis is made and recommendations come forth.

We have been a busy little family this last month in many areas: Graduations, finishing school, family birthdays, house repairs – lots of reorganizing, de-cluttering, painting, carpeting, and sorting the three enormous book shelves in this house!!…you name it, and lots of social occasions with family & friends – throw in a wedding, always a challenge to my special needs children, but something they enjoy until they meltdown!!  Now we continue with house re-doing, prepare for VBS for our parishes’ children, and mom with catechetical issues (new parish textbooks, scheduling for the year ahead),  and newsflash: mom got a job!!  that she is now training for!  Yes!  More on that later….

Front of college literary publication, my son’s art work; inside more artwork as he placed second in the art competition, and my daughter won with her poetry in this publication, and two of her photographs were published as well.

This last month has brought a few milestones through our children with disorders.  Those stars out on the horizon, those goals that we hoped to reach “some day”, …well, a couple came true and oh how they sparkle!  Yes, sometimes it takes months, and sometimes, years, many years, in the making.  If there is one thing I’ve learned by helping my children with these difficulties, it’s patience; patience, and not to assume anything!  That what seemed impossible at one time, will likely be surmountable given time and patience.   Take heart in that if you are the parent of a struggling young child.

And so, while a very ordinary day to another may seem just that: ordinary - to we, the parents of challenged children, it can be extraordinary.  Things that parents take for granted in their children, become those bright shining stars of success in the anxiety ridden child, or child on the autism spectrum. 

This week I pray with gratefulness and in awe at how amazing God has worked in our lives just even this last month, particularly my own life. The few milestones that have become precious jewels to us now; and my being hired into an educational organization as a consultant to help guide and mentor other home educating families, all while working at home, is an enormous blessing to myself and own family.  I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I accept it graciously and enthusiastically as a gift from God.

Make it a great Tuesday!!