This weekend is my family reunion and I am really looking forward to going. There will be lots of laughter, hugs and the telling of stories. There will be a few tears shed during the stories of those we miss. We will be thankful for everyone who takes the time to come and spend the weekend with us. We will try to figure out ways to get those who do not attend to come.
Every time I am at a gathering there is always talk of getting together soon, or lets do something more often. We get so busy with our lives and what we need to do another year has slipped away from us. Thankfully at least once a year we can all make the time and see each other.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Not just beer and BBQ
Travel safe if you traveling, enjoy the time you spend with friends and family. Most importantly say thanks, prayers or hug a Service Person or Veteran.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Ways Maddy makes me crazy
When you have a higher functioning special needs child they are a blessing and a challenge. Maddy has such an interesting mix of what does and does not connect in her brain. We often have conversations regarding her speech, and also the words that she uses incorrectly. This past week she said a sentence that made me proud and drove me crazy at the same time.
We were discussing an issue with her Ipad and after a few moments of silence she looks at me and says
"I have a theory on what the problem is, when Dad gets home I will tell him and I bet he can fixeded it".
She knows what a theory is, she has more than likely solved the issue with the Ipad, but she says "fixeded".
We were discussing an issue with her Ipad and after a few moments of silence she looks at me and says
"I have a theory on what the problem is, when Dad gets home I will tell him and I bet he can fixeded it".
She knows what a theory is, she has more than likely solved the issue with the Ipad, but she says "fixeded".
Thursday, May 19, 2011
I have created a monster
It was an honest accident but I created a time monster. If I could go back in time (no pun intended) I would have never pointed out that Justin Bieber digital watch. However in my innocence I did point it out and Maddy bought it with her money.
We had to immediately get it up to date and on her arm. Then....she decided to check the watch against her phone and Ipad. Horror of horrors it did not match. I thought she was going to have a complete meltdown. In what seems like days and days, but in reality about 30 minutes I finally corrected the rip in the time warp.
Last night her watch magically set itself to 12:01. We decided I would fix it in the morning. This morning I specifically asked her what time I needed to set it to. Since we were by the microwave she chose that time. I carefully set everything up and then I waited for the minute to change so I could set hers exactly.
She had a dermatologist appointment today and before we left she checked her watch, her phone and her Ipad. They did NOT match!! I quickly informed her that I did exactly as she directed me this morning. In the car on the way to the Dr. office I see her checking her watch, looking at her Ipad and then re-checking her watch. She reset the time on her Ipad and her phone to match her watch. Then and only then was all right in the world again.
Boy and I am thankful I did not show her the second hand function!
We had to immediately get it up to date and on her arm. Then....she decided to check the watch against her phone and Ipad. Horror of horrors it did not match. I thought she was going to have a complete meltdown. In what seems like days and days, but in reality about 30 minutes I finally corrected the rip in the time warp.
Last night her watch magically set itself to 12:01. We decided I would fix it in the morning. This morning I specifically asked her what time I needed to set it to. Since we were by the microwave she chose that time. I carefully set everything up and then I waited for the minute to change so I could set hers exactly.
She had a dermatologist appointment today and before we left she checked her watch, her phone and her Ipad. They did NOT match!! I quickly informed her that I did exactly as she directed me this morning. In the car on the way to the Dr. office I see her checking her watch, looking at her Ipad and then re-checking her watch. She reset the time on her Ipad and her phone to match her watch. Then and only then was all right in the world again.
Boy and I am thankful I did not show her the second hand function!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Worst Calendar Ever
My Mother and I get on silly little Christmas traditions. Some only last as long as the product is available. Try finding fun, silly wind up toys any more. Others happen by accident and may come and go through the years.
Two years ago on a whim I bought my Mom a desk calendar. It was something along the lines of Sayings of Wild Women. It was collection of sassy sayings from sassy women. During the year the calendar provided a good bit of fun as Mom would share some of her favorite sayings with me.
This Christmas Mom got me a desk calendar for Women Who Do Too Much. We both had high hopes for this calendar since we had so much fun with the previous one.
The calendar has become amusing, but sadly in all the wrong ways. This calendar has some of the worst sayings I have ever read. At this point I can only think that some man, tucked in front of a 1980's computer was told to search for quotes and messages about working women and place them on the calendar dates. Who ever was supposed to "check" the work was either busy that day or drunk.
Here are a few of the inspirational messages provided to me by my calendar for Women Who Do Too Much.
*"An envious heart makes a treacherous ear." - Zora Neale Hurston
It is good that we are all too busy to be envious, isn't it?
*Women Who Do Too Much tend to be very controlling. Who knows which came first-our buysness or our need to control? It doesn't matter. Both will push others away and make our lives more difficult in the process-not a pretty picture.
*Our bodies,our clothes. Our clothes, our bodies. It seems women are always under a microscope. Even if others placed us there, have we stayed there longer than we needed to?
* Often we ask those we love to make tremendous sacrifices for our work. We become unfeeling and uncaring in the process. Only work matters. Women who are addicted to homemaking are just as consumed as those addicted to their businesses. And this attachment can be an escape from intimacy.
*Is pouting on of our inalienable rights? It should be. Sometimes we just need to hold on to our negative feelings for a while. It's best to warn others when we have that need.
*We Women Who Do Too Much are not "bad" people. We are usually good people-sometimes we just do some pretty bad things to ourselves and others.
Two years ago on a whim I bought my Mom a desk calendar. It was something along the lines of Sayings of Wild Women. It was collection of sassy sayings from sassy women. During the year the calendar provided a good bit of fun as Mom would share some of her favorite sayings with me.
This Christmas Mom got me a desk calendar for Women Who Do Too Much. We both had high hopes for this calendar since we had so much fun with the previous one.
The calendar has become amusing, but sadly in all the wrong ways. This calendar has some of the worst sayings I have ever read. At this point I can only think that some man, tucked in front of a 1980's computer was told to search for quotes and messages about working women and place them on the calendar dates. Who ever was supposed to "check" the work was either busy that day or drunk.
Here are a few of the inspirational messages provided to me by my calendar for Women Who Do Too Much.
*"An envious heart makes a treacherous ear." - Zora Neale Hurston
It is good that we are all too busy to be envious, isn't it?
*Women Who Do Too Much tend to be very controlling. Who knows which came first-our buysness or our need to control? It doesn't matter. Both will push others away and make our lives more difficult in the process-not a pretty picture.
*Our bodies,our clothes. Our clothes, our bodies. It seems women are always under a microscope. Even if others placed us there, have we stayed there longer than we needed to?
* Often we ask those we love to make tremendous sacrifices for our work. We become unfeeling and uncaring in the process. Only work matters. Women who are addicted to homemaking are just as consumed as those addicted to their businesses. And this attachment can be an escape from intimacy.
*Is pouting on of our inalienable rights? It should be. Sometimes we just need to hold on to our negative feelings for a while. It's best to warn others when we have that need.
*We Women Who Do Too Much are not "bad" people. We are usually good people-sometimes we just do some pretty bad things to ourselves and others.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Confirmation
For 8 weeks Maddy attended a bible study each Tuesday evening at our Church. The class was designed specially for special needs kiddos and was a nice basic look at the tenants of faith and the sacraments. The last class saw 4 students receive the sacrament of Baptism. Maddy was one of those four students.
This past Sunday during a special service for the Special Needs population the bible study class was Confirmed. It was such a blessing to see these young men and women be able to complete the bible study and receive Confirmation.
Since my Mom was so kind and generous to buy Maddy's prom dress this year, I was able to spend money on getting her a new dress for Confirmation.
This past Sunday during a special service for the Special Needs population the bible study class was Confirmed. It was such a blessing to see these young men and women be able to complete the bible study and receive Confirmation.
Since my Mom was so kind and generous to buy Maddy's prom dress this year, I was able to spend money on getting her a new dress for Confirmation.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Mothers Day Note
When I got out of bed yesterday Maddy gave me a big hug to say Happy Mothers Day and handed me a card/note she had written for me. I am going to share the note with you exactly how it is written and spaced so you can enjoy it as well.
I am so proud That you are my mom and I would never trade you for anyother mom Because I Think you are The #1 mom in The whole world and I thank you for everything you do for me and I Love You just the way you are and I Don't care what People say about you Because I know That it is not true at all Love MADDY
I am so proud That you are my mom and I would never trade you for anyother mom Because I Think you are The #1 mom in The whole world and I thank you for everything you do for me and I Love You just the way you are and I Don't care what People say about you Because I know That it is not true at all Love MADDY
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Standardized Testing
I do not agree with the way the Texas school system chooses to test special needs children. They are trying to force squares into round holes. They have lost the flexibility or desire to adapt testing to get the best results and knowledge assessment from these kids.
Since Maddy is home schooled we are not bound to the Texas school system requirements. Most children in our state have been taking the TAKS exam this week. In some cases this will determine if a Diploma is awarded. We know 100% that if Maddy had stayed in the public school system she would not have received a Diploma. She would have received a Certificate of Completion. Since she would not be able to pass the TAKS exam and could not take certain classes she would not qualify for a Diploma. She will not need a Diploma and I can easily print up a Home School Diploma that will mean more to her than a school issued piece of paper.
Having said all of that, there is a need to know where she is academically and what areas I can improve on. I know that with the business and shifting the focus to life skills, the academics have take a back seat. I am going to work on getting academics back into our daily routine. We don't know how much more academically she can advance, but the need is still there to review and reinforce the concepts she has.
This week I have printed out the 3rd grade Math and the 5th grade reading released TAKS exam for Maddy. I am being a bit ambitious with the 5th grade reading, but I think she can handle it.
I am not really looking for the "correct" answer in all cases. With the Math exam I am looking at her thought process. Why did she choose the answer and does it make sense. She got 18/38 correct but many that she missed had logical answers. Some of the questions were on concepts we have never covered and she made good guesses that showed she attempted to reason out the answer.
Before we review the results I will go back and give her partial credit for these attempts. I feel this will be a better representation of her skill set.
Since Maddy is home schooled we are not bound to the Texas school system requirements. Most children in our state have been taking the TAKS exam this week. In some cases this will determine if a Diploma is awarded. We know 100% that if Maddy had stayed in the public school system she would not have received a Diploma. She would have received a Certificate of Completion. Since she would not be able to pass the TAKS exam and could not take certain classes she would not qualify for a Diploma. She will not need a Diploma and I can easily print up a Home School Diploma that will mean more to her than a school issued piece of paper.
Having said all of that, there is a need to know where she is academically and what areas I can improve on. I know that with the business and shifting the focus to life skills, the academics have take a back seat. I am going to work on getting academics back into our daily routine. We don't know how much more academically she can advance, but the need is still there to review and reinforce the concepts she has.
This week I have printed out the 3rd grade Math and the 5th grade reading released TAKS exam for Maddy. I am being a bit ambitious with the 5th grade reading, but I think she can handle it.
I am not really looking for the "correct" answer in all cases. With the Math exam I am looking at her thought process. Why did she choose the answer and does it make sense. She got 18/38 correct but many that she missed had logical answers. Some of the questions were on concepts we have never covered and she made good guesses that showed she attempted to reason out the answer.
Before we review the results I will go back and give her partial credit for these attempts. I feel this will be a better representation of her skill set.
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