It’s Tuesday and I am still recovering from the weekend. It seems that the weekends are more draining than the hustle of Mon-Fri. I think it is because on Monday mornings I can look at the calendar for the comming week and see what to expect.

The weekends are a different story. Sure, Boo has yoga and Allie has a couple of activities. But by the time you have the house cleaned, laundry done and keeping two girls entertained….enough is enough!

I cannot tell you how many laps Boo and I did around the fire pit this weekend (thankfully the shoes stayed on). Between playing with Allie, carting the girls to their different activities and simply just being a mom….I looked forward to going to work on Monday.

So, to the stay at home mom’s out there. You have my admiration. I really do not know how you can stay sane!

I lift my wine glass to all of you!

The Breakfast Club–“I’m being honest, asshole. I would expect you to know the difference”

(from google.com/images)

Dirty Dancing–“I carried a watermelon”

from google.com/images

The Princess Bride–“I’m not a witch, I’m your wife”

from google.com/images

Steel Magnolias–“This is it, I’ve found it. I’m in hell”

from google.com/images

Mr. Mom–“Kenny don’t paint your sister!”

from google.com/images

 Jon Stewart, tonight, is hosting The Night of Too Many Stars. He is hosting this fundraiser to raise money and awareness to benefit programs in support of those with autism that need quality services. In 2010,  “Night of Too Many Stars,” gave more than $3.1 million in grants to 41 programs in 13 states. 

I do not anything about this fundraiser, truth be told. And feel funny promoting it, knowing nothing. However, ANYTHING that brings awareness to autism should be a good thing.

So I will be watching and hope you do to!

 

Because all of us with special needs children should support other parents with a different path!

This morning while waiting for Allie at her Pony Club, Boo and I hit the bike trail for a long walk (we had a 2 hour wait). We hear an unexpected “HI” from a therapist Boo used to work with for OT. 

Rather than spending the two hours alone on the trial, Boo and I had unexpected company. Which turned into a lunch out with her and her fiancee after Allie was done.

What a great, unexpected way to spend a Saturday morning.

The pity party is over. Because it is Friday. And we are hosting our first autumn girls night in!

What is Girls Night In? Allie and I devised it last year. Husband/Daddy works a lot. Because it is so hard for me to go out and reconnect for some girl time, and because most of my friends have children and childcare issues, instead of going out they come to our house.

The rules? Simple:

• Bring whatever you want to drink
• Bring an appetizer or dessert to share
• PJ’s are optional
• Boys are NOT allowed (thankfully Allie is still in the Girls Rule/Boys Drool stage)

Last year we had so much fun, it became a monthly event. We realized as moms that it is important to reconnect, to just be laid back and to just have a drink! The under-21 crowd play, run around the house, watch movies, eat. The ages range from Boo (almost 4) to 15. The over-21 crowd ranges from 30-ish to 50-is. The friends that come do not always know any one but me, but at the end of the night new friendships are born.

At one Girls Night In two mutual friends showed up and I found out they went to high school together. That is how small the world is.

Girls Night is is a great, CHEAP, way to get together and just have a good time. Sure, it’s not fun in an Irish Pub. But hey I take my fun times where I can get them.

I hope you have a great Friday night!

Yesterday I took Boo on a field trip with her class. We went to a local farm and visited their pumpkin patch and apple orchard. There is a reason why I have never volunteered for one of Allie’s field trips. Yesterday’s torture solidified my stance.


Boo’s field trip was utter chaos. First of all, there were about 25 3-5 year-olds. Some (sane) parents just dropped their children off and ran as fast as the could to the nearest Dunkin Donuts. These children are all running around like the crazy preschoolers they are supposed to be. Except Boo, who cannot run and was overwhelmed by all the nature and noise of 24 children running around like crazy preschoolers.

I started getting stressed immediately. As we all started walking towards the pumpkin patch Boo was crying ‘all done’ and ‘no like’, wanting me to pick her up. I was making her walk because 1) I believe if I am being tortured she should be too 2) I was trying to give the impression that I was paying attention to all the ABA therapies they have been doing at school.

At this point (only 10 minutes into the field trip) I am so thankful for sunglasses that hide the tears I am trying to hold back. Because it is slaps me in the face again that she is NOT like the other kids. In this class half the kids are supposed to be ‘special’. And they are, there is one with Down Syndrome, a host of varing degrees of children on the autistism spectrum, and whatever else. But none have her degree of delay. At least to my overwhelmed eyes. As the children ran to the pumpkins it took so much time for Boo to walk that far and then to finally get her to realize that the pumpkins were not “broken”. She was just starting to walk around the patch when she trips over a vine. OH NO her hands are dirty!!!!

I swear by the time we got thru the patch and finished with the apple orchard my hair was straight. And had a couple more grey hairs.

It wasn’t all bad. We did have some funny moments. Like when Boo thought she heard a bus and started to scream for Allie to “ome here”. I finally gave up trying to explain that Allie wasn’t here. I distracted her with a shiny apple.

But the trip was heartbreaking for me. When they all posed for a class picture and Boo was just standing there. Not looking at the camera, not realizing she was supposed to be standing up, just not realizing period. And then when they all sat on the grass for story time. Sidebar–who makes kids with sensory issues sit on wet grass? Boo had her back to the class the entire time. As the kids acted out 5 Little Pumpkins Boo just sat there.

One mom asked me how Boo was in this class. After all don’t you have to be almost 4-5 years old? She thought Boo was only 2. I briefly say that Boo is almost 4 but has a global delay.

I want to kick my own ass, quite frankly. Because I should be over it by now. It shouldn’t bother me when I see kids that are “typical” or non-typical but without the severity of delay that Boo has. I know there are children (and parents) who have it so much worse. I should be so utterly grateful that she is alive, healthy and growing.

But I am not. I am fine in our own little bubble. It is when we venture out that it slaps me again and again that she is not “typical”.

Exactly when does the hurt stop?

You cannot see the tears, but she was so upset and so was Mom

I’m wicked tired. Today I have been on a field trip, taken Boo to see her pulmonologist made it back to get Allie off the bus and to the family night Book Fair at her school. At this point I can only pour a glass of well deserved wine and show you a couple of pictures from Boo’s field trip. Preschool teachers should be paid a lot more money!

Holy crap there are pumpkins in this dirt!

You want me to touch what?

Look at me, I held a pumpkin!

Put it right THERE

How tired am I? I gave Allie ice cream for dinner and then sent her to bed. I think I remember having her brush her teeth. But it’s not something I would swear to!

Trying my best to participate in…..
 

Our crazy pup, Bailey, just turned a year old. I think he has puppy dementia! He is still awesome with Boo. But he is terrorizing Allie. This morning he broke into her room and well, Barbie-ville was demolished. Other than that, it has been a fabulous year. So happy birthday Bailey!

 We are so happy that you made us your forever family. Although I could do without all the dog hair….

My name is Kerri and I suffer from Superwoman Complex.

Do you or some mom you know suffer from this rarely talked about syndrome? It’s when you think you can and must do everything. For everyone. But yourself. So you are going along taking care of everything and everyone and BAM out of no where you are hit will a killer migraine. 

Your husband, of course, is not home. You are driving home with two girls who need lunch, like NOW. You crawl into the driveway, give them cheese & crackers & fruit for lunch. You throw the crazy puppy outside and pray he comes back. You try the over the counter medication because you are afraid to take the heavy duty stuff when you are responsible for the girls. And because you think you must be Superwoman you decide to make banana bread and start the laundry. An hour later, you crumble and take the prescribed medications. Lay on the couch only to have Boo think you are a trampoline and crazy puppy (he came back) wants to play catch. 

Thankfully husband walks in the door at the exact moment and proclaims:

You look like crap. You should go lay down somewhere.

Because he is telling the truth and is finally home so you can hide in a dark room you don’t say THANK YOU CAPTAIN OBVIOUS! But instead crawl upstairs to the peace and relative quiet.  

A couple hours later when the  medication has worked and the migraine has transitioned to a low-grade (manageable) headache you realize the hard truth: You are not superwoman. But you feel human so that’s okay. 

This is how I spent Saturday afternoon. When the migraine had lifted later in the night and I could function again, my husband innocently asked: What are you stressed out about?

Yes, he lives. Guess I am superwoman after all!