Overheard in the Wolfe House #63
Peggy: So what are you doing there, on Sibelius?
Sam: I tend not to tell you about stuff that is complicated.
Overheard in the Wolfe House #62
Peggy: I thought I’d go ahead and play a little piano. (pause) You can go to the back of the house and close the door.
Sam: Oh, sometimes it’s not so bad.
Overheard in the Wolfe House #61
Peggy: (wondering whether the Day-Quil and the country cough syrup should have been an either/or choice)
Sam: You’re starting to repeat yourself, Mom.
Peggy: Uh-huh. Yeah.
Conscious parenting
When the boys were still babies, Mark and I watched other parents with their trials and tribulations.
After watching enough toddlers and preschoolers run to their mother’s arms when they were hurt — sometimes running right past father on the way — Mark decided it was important to him that our children be comforted as readily by him as by me.
He felt that he was at a disadvantage because I was the one with the breasts. Frankly, though, it wasn’t hard to to convince the boys that daddy’s hugs and kisses made the boo-boos go away, too. If something happened when Mark was around, he swept in and gave the lovin’ required. Sometimes I’d bring the band-aid and give it to Mark to apply.
Age plays with the memory, to be sure, but I cannot remember ever seeing any of our children, hurt and crying, and in Mark’s arms but reaching for me, instead.
I’m not exactly sure what it got us, but now that Mark is gone, I’m grateful for it.
Conscious parenting was all that was required.
Angels in Switzerland
I’m so grateful for the angels God puts on Earth. I never know when I’ll meet one, or get to spend time with a whole flock of them, like today.
(We’re setting up Sam’s internship … last step before graduation.)
I will share more details in the weeks to come, but all you parents of kids with autism, remember this: accept the angels for who they are and what they do. Let them be the angels God sent them to be. Your life will be better, richer, lovelier, happier …
Those things you worry about? Don’t try to bend the angels to your will. I practiced that lesson today. I’m trusting that things will work out. Because they always do.
Really.
They do.
Overheard in the Wolfe House #60
After helping Sam draw a hot bath to ease the discomfort of a sinus infection …
Sam: (blowing bubbles in the bathtub)
Overheard in the Wolfe House #59
Peggy: How was dinner last night with Michael? Your burger at Dutch’s?
Sam: It was good. I had a barbecue burger.
Peggy: A burger with barbecue sauce?
Sam: Yes, with sauce and bacon.
Peggy: Cheese?
Sam (in a most serious tone): Cheese doesn’t go with barbecue.
Overheard in the Wolfe House #58
(After Peggy tries to encourage him to wear a handsome, new, powder blue shirt during the day, rather than at night.)
Sam: I have a mind of my own.
Peggy: Yes, you do. And you can ignore my advice as you see fit.
Cutting, and pasting, and passing it on
The Arc of Northeast Tarrant County presents…
ASPIRE – Parent Information Meeting
Applied Behavioral Analysis – ABA
Presenter: Billy Edwards, M.S., BCBA
Saturday, January 15, 2011
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
The Arc of Northeast Tarrant County
1806 Haltom Road
Haltom City, Texas 76117
RISE – Families Helping Families Meeting
The Admission Review and Dismissal (ARD) Process
Presenter: Jill Stover, PATH Project
Saturday, January 22, 2011
2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
The Arc of Northeast Tarrant County
1806 Haltom Road
Haltom City, Texas 76117
Learning Together Workshop Series
Transition Transcends All, Creating Meaningful Lives for Individuals who have a Disability
Presenter: Debbie Wilkes, Statewide Consultant
Saturday, January 29, 2011
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
TCU – Dee Kelly Alumni and Visitors Center
2820 Stadium Dr.
Ft. Worth, Texas 76109
For more information, please visit www.arcnetc.org
Overheard in the Wolfe House #57
Sam: I have a feeling I might be called into work today.
Peggy: Oh really?
Sam: Yes, I have a sixth sense about these things.
Peggy: A sixth sense, huh.
Sam. Oh, yes. It keeps me going in the right direction.