One essential element of parenting a kid with Down syndrome

THE BINDER

You all know what I'm talking about, no? Having a kid with DS is a piece of cake in most cases. But keeping all the records and information at hand's reach is a BIG job. Daunting is one word. It doesn't have to be. I am posting this here for you, because once again, today I realized how GREAT it feels to be organized!! I needed some information, and needed it quick. Out came the binder, and VOILA! Answers. If I could give new parents just starting this journey one unusual piece of advice, it would be this....KEEP A BINDER.



Nothing fancy, just preferably at least 3". (You're gonna need it!)



You'll wants tabbed dividers, to keep everything neatly filed by topic. Depending on what phase of the journey you are in, your tabs can be tweaked and adjusted. Ciarra is currently in third grade, and so her tabs relate to schooling issues, etc.

Ours is like this:

Current Issues
Current IEP
PET/IEP Minutes
Legal Correspondence
Notices
Medical
Anidrosis
Apnea
Hearing
Heart
Therapies
Speech
OT/APE
PT (she no longer gets this, need to file it)
Evals
Neuropsych
IQ testing
Other testing
Classroom Examples



There's a pocket for report cards, and another for things I will be discussing or needing at hand during PETs.



There is a page of current photographs, strategically placed so that when I am using the binder, whoever is meeeting with me will have no choice but to see exactly WHO they are making decisions for. It helps them remember that she is a very real little person with unique needs. It also helps keep me focused on what matters most. She does.

If you have a child with DS and you do not yet have a binder, it is never too late to start. Go through all the piles of stuff you have saved in drawers and bins and on your desk. Organize them into piles, as they pertain to different areas. Never mark your original! If you want to highlight something, make a copy. If you are missing important stuff, ask whoever has a copy to make you one. Then it is only a matter of adding things as they come in. You will wonder how you survived without one. And I promise you, you will be seen as a much more capable advocate for your child if you come in with this versus a shopping bag full of disorganized papers. Remember, it is never too late. Go!

Week one-Inclusion

we use a communication notebook for Ciarra. It is mandated in her IEP that it be written in. Most of the time until now, I have had a few short sentences, if I got lucky. Last year, there were stretches of LONG weeks with nothing. This year, the year that we are trying Inclusion, fighting for it with every breath...we have a new teacher. And she believes in Inclusion. I am even starting to dream a little. I think she believes in CIARRA, too. It has only been 3 days, but I am so heartened.

Wed:

ME: Ciarra will have hot lunch today, and usually every day. You may hafta remind her about the clothespin thingy, that is new for her. It is supposed to be hot and humid today, hope she is ok, she should be just fine. I hope all goes well, shes excited! Please let me know. Good Luck!!

(Not at all sure I would hear back so soon, it is the first day, its hectic, and well....theres a track record to uphold...)

Her: Mrs H, GREAT DAY!! Ciarra wrote a great story-she dictated and I wrote. She participated in all activities today. Got sleepy at 2, and curled up in the rocking chair with my daughter's quilt. :)


(oh BOY...did I dare to dream? I wasnt surprised she was tired, it is always this way when the year starts)

THURS:

Me: So glad it went well!! I expect she will be tired for awhile. Thanks for letting her "power nap". She said she liked it a lot. Thank you for the extra efforts on her behalf. Michelle

Her: Hi Michelle,
Sped Director checked in with me today about next week's PET. The best date and time is the 6th at 2:30. How's that for you?
Ciarra is doing very well. Today she filled out her "social goals for 3rd grade" hot air balloon and colored it in. She was very clear that she wants to learn to safely push her friends on the swings. 2 of her friends, Eva & Cierra B, agreed to help her with it. She did all she was asked, with encouragement and praise. She is at Music now, alert & excited, she says she LOVEs music! Deb

FRI:

ME: Breathing a sigh of relief here. So far, so good, huh?! She LOVES your class. I am now told the PET will be held Monday the 17th at 2:30. Hope that works for everyone.
PS could you please remind her to leave her crayon/marker pouch in her desk? She keeps forgetting to take it from her backpack. Thanks!

HER: Hi Michelle, It is Lunch time and your daughter has had a wonderful morning. She did all her morning jobs independently, using the pictures on the activity schedule to guide her. She did morning work (modified) independently with everyone else. We read a story as a class, and drew a picture from it. She was the first to share, and re-told the story-including details-wonderful comprehension!! (more later...)
Hi Michelle, I'm back. :) It is 1:30. Ciarra participated in a Math group-I modified the expectations. She was able to fully participate. At 1:15, she went to the rug with the quilt and curled up. She told me she was "SO tired!" At 1:30, the class left for Computer Class, which I understand she loves. She said she was just too tired, and stayed in the classroom sleeping with me. :)
I just came back from Spec Ed teacher and Sped Dir. Ciarra has had a GREAT week, and is able to participate well in Language Arts activities. Math at this point, is very difficult for her. I think she recognizes that her work is very different, and she wants to do the work they do, but struggles with it terribly. I would like to suggest, as you mentioned initially, that we allow her to go to the Resource Room for Math from 12:30-1:30 daily. That is the time we do Math in the classroom. This will enable her to be a part of every bit of the rest of the day, which she handles easily and well. We will try this until the PET mtg the 17th, then talk about it further then. Please call if you have any questions. I think your daughter is a darling, smart, capable little girl. I am so glad to have the chance to work with her. Thank you. Deb

Included in her folder was the journal entry from earlier in the week, plus another note:
"I like to play with Shelby & Eva. I like to swing together. We can play tag. I love to climb on the monkey bars. I like to hide and seek."

the note:
During writing class, Ciarra dictated this story to me-VERY clearly. When I stopped after 3 sentences, she said "No, I have more!" Then SHE read it to the class. :)


I'm on cloud 9. Maybe this will work afterall? She sounds like she likes Ciarra, enjoys her, GETS her. I knew the Math was TOUGH. Not at all surprised, and think resource will be a good idea for math...ONLY Math. The rest I am thrilled about. Not to mention, that time will be less gogogogo, so she may be able to rest up a bit. I am so excited. I think this is going to be an AWESOME year!

Anyone who knows CJ will want to see this

http://bloggingforjustice.blogspot.com/

this woman lost custody of her son in large part because she adopted 2 babies with Down syndrome!!

says the judge:

"The evidence adduced at trial establishes that although the mother is a stay at home mother, she has more than a full plate with her two special needs toddlers which, without question, redirects an inordinate amount of time away from the child and his needs."

Our society already devalues kids with DS before birth, now they will make the claim that just living with them detracts from a sibling's life? Shameful. Please, make a small donation to help her get him back!!

Why this story hits SO close to home for me:

As one of the contributors to this blog, I would like to share why this story hits so close to home for me. Another little boy's life was destroyed by a legal system that thought they had all the answers. He was my son in my heart, but to "the system", he was "JUST a foster child." He lived with us from infancy to 3 yrs and 7 months, 2 weeks. At 3 yrs, 8 months exactly, (14 days from the day he left us) he was beaten and suffocated to death in the home where he was placed when he was taken from my own. The "system" that is supposed to help these children does not. It destroys any chance they have at a normal life, it takes their innocense away. It destroys families, it breaks hearts. This other little boy still has a chance to regain some normalcy, to have his family back. Thankfully, he is not in physical danger. But the emotional impact of what has been done to him will change him forever.

Like the mom in this case, I take some amount of responsibility for the events that led up to his placement, we had agreed to give him up, to see that his needs were met in a home where he was the only child. We were discouraged from adopting him, in large part because of his special needs and my giving birth to a little girl with Down syndrome. They decided that 4 young children was "too much for me" rather than putting into place services that could have helped. What we thought we were doing for him cost him his life. It is too late for my son. It is NOT too late for him. September 11 will be 7 years since Alex left us. Please don't let this little boy be away that long.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Wordless Thursday

My first ever nomination!

Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Miller from "The Divine Gift of Motherhood" has nominated me for a "Nice Matters" award. I am not sure I am doing this right, but here goes. :)

“This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you’ve been awarded please pass on to five others whom you feel are deserving of this award”.

I in turn would like to nominate the following bloggers who have both inspired and encouraged me:

Dream Mom who is single-handedly raising a beautiful young man to adulthood with love, honor, and integrity, despite his significant special needs. She doesn't just raise "Dear Son", she nurtures, respects, and adores him. I don't even know her real name, or his. But I read there every day and always go away knowing that this life is ALWAYS a blessing.

Janice at 5 Minutes for Mom, who always has some super cool prize giveaway and dispenses advice on motherhood, friendship, and "TACKLES" of the housecleaning kind. Like Flylady, just a whole lot less intense and a whole lot more fun.

Renee, an amazing mom of 4 beautiful kids, including sweet Kennedy, who is fighting Leukemia. Renee lives her life with optimism and grace, such as her joyous description of giving birth to a brand new baby boy in one room, then bringing him and all of his newborn gear to Kennedy's room, where they have all but lived since. It isn't really a blog, but she should blog. Check out Miss Kennedy, the girl's a doll baby.

Tom at Random Thinking, who juggles a job, two kids, an extra awesome wife, and one of the best Down syndrome sites on the net (downsyn.com).

And my dear friend Cindy, who goes way out of her way...often...to help however she can. And who has been a wonderful friend to me.

No Greater Love Than to Lay Down Your Life

The Lord commanded
"No greater love.."
2 sisters, one mother
and God above

One baby "defective"
the other less so
decreed the mother
"the defective one goes."

One baby was stronger
but she was a twin
she knew it was coming
and turned to Him

"I'm scared, Lord,"
she whispered
"What is happening here?
If mommy won't spare her
my choice must be clear."

"I'm her sister, her keeper
she has done no wrong.
Dear God, please help us,
let me be strong."

Tenderly, gently,
she squeezed into the space
protecting her sister
by taking her place.

"I love you," she said
to her sister so dear
"Tell Mommy I loved her
when she sees I'm not here."

"Be safe, and be strong,
live your life with pride
I'll be watching from Heaven",
the stronger twin cried.

Then selflessly giving
her life for her twin,
she cowered in fear
as the Doctor moved in.

She was in God's arms
when she felt a tear
when she looked at Him
it all became clear.

"Greater love," said He
"No one has shown.
Your sacrifice spared her
but not for long."

"The Doctor's think they erred
and now they are going back in
dear girl, today
they will kill your twin."

So they sat in silence,
looking down on the world,so small.
Lost in insanity,
disbelieving it all.

God lifted her up,
said "For her we will wait.
But after she comes,
we are locking the Gate."

and they're OFF!

Third grade and Seventh grade. My babies...

Inclusion-an update

well, tomorrow is the big day. My little girl will be a big old third grader. Time is rushing by, I think I barely blinked, last I knew she was needing a brotherly boost up the first step of the bus. This is the year that we decided to pursue her full legal rights...Inclusion.

If you have been reading, you will know that this isnt happening without a bit of a fight, or at the very least a mommy temper tantrum. I asked for her to be more included, got the pitying looks of "oh, MOM, surely you jest? she cant HANDLE it." Yes she can. She can if YOU can. She can if you make it work the way Inclusion is meant to work. It can fail, to be sure, if YOU fail. Ciarra cannot fail, she will never give you anything less than 110% of herself. make it work. Please?

Some things encourage me, and scare me to death at the same time. This year will be a new wing, a new playground, a later lunch period, new teacher, new friends....third grade is moving up in the world. Ciarra had 2 years of K with Mrs Rogers, then a 1/2 classroom with Mrs. Swett for 2 years. The rooms were comfortingly right across the hall, the transition was smooth and easy. Both teachers loved her, but I never got the impression that they were EXCITED to have her. More like...willing. Not unhappy about it, but no real "Im looking so forward to this" either. Both were wonderful teachers, and by the end of it, both seemed to be quite smitten with this darling little girl.

But this year is different. THIS teacher is Mrs. Colson. She is a former Special Education teacher now teaching 3rd grade. She lives on a farm with her husband (who is Jesse's homeroom teacher and a dear sweet man.) They host a summer camp on their farm all summer, surrounded by kids and loving the teaching. THIS teacher is EXCITED.

Mrs. C has been in regular contact over the summer. She took several hours to learn Ciarra's writing program, and was excited about it. She asked my ideas, implemented my suggestions. Today she told me that the first week will be all about getting to know one another in small groups and learn to be a COMMUNITY. :) She sees Ciarra's strengths and intends to highlight them. Perhaps giving her jobs with a digital camera, she is GOOD with a camera. Or letting her create presentations on her computer, she is good at that too, and it all but removes the barriers speech delays cause. This teacher wants Ciarra to be HER student, and her goal is even more lofty than mine, she wants Ciarra in her room ALL the time. She doesnt even want to cede the math I agreed to have her pulled for. She thinks she can do this. I am starting to think she can, too. She thinks French is a "ridiculous" class for Ciarra (oh BOY do I agree!!) and thinks that would be the perfect time for Speech. YAY! She intends to set up learning stations in her room, and in concert with the Special Ed teacher, who will push in services, teach collaboratively to ALL of the kids. I couldnt have dreamed it this good.
The big question mark now is, will this all really happen? will it somehow magically fall into place and be ok? No aide, my girl is on her own. But not completely. She has a teacher who is willing her to make it. And I think she can. I have faith again, tonight. I just hope tomorrow and the days coming dont prove me wrong.

"Defective" thinking.

Italian Hospital Aborts Healthy Twin and Leaves Handicapped Sibling
Mother returns and has Down syndrome child aborted
LifeSiteNews.com
By Elizabeth O'Brien

MILAN, Italy, August 27, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A fierce abortion debate has erupted in Italy after a mother pregnant with twins reported doctors to the authorities for aborting her healthy unborn baby while leaving the handicapped one alive.

Italian news agencies recently discovered that a hospital killed the "wrong" child in a pair of unborn twins in June. According to media reports, after the 38-year old woman discovered the so-called "mistake", she returned and had the second one, who was suffering from Down syndrome, aborted. She then reported medical staff, who are currently under investigation by the police.

The hospital termed the child's death a "misfortune," saying that the twins had switched places in between a previous ultrasound and the actual abortion. The woman was eighteen weeks pregnant when the children were aborted.

Calling on the Italian Health Minister to investigate the affair, leading Christian Democrat Luca Volonte decried the abortion as "infanticide arising from a contempt for human life," the Guardian Unlimited reports.

Senator Paolo Binetti, who is close to the Vatican says Inquirer.net, wrote in Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper, "The time has come to re-examine the abortion law." He said, "What happened in this hospital was not a medical abortion but an abortion done for the purposes of eugenics."

"They wanted to kill the sick fetus and save the healthy one and what didn't work properly in this business was the selection," wrote Binetti.

Ever since 1978 abortion has been legal on demand in Italy up to the third month of pregnancy. Pro-lifers are using this present case to fiercely argue against Italy's abortion laws, pointing out the contradictions and dangers within the present policy.

In March doctors in Florence's Careggi teaching hospital attempted to abort a perfectly healthy baby after two pre-natal diagnosis tests indicated that the child had a defective esophagus. The doctors botched the abortion, performed on the 22-week child, and subsequently discovered that the still-living baby was perfectly healthy. They managed to resuscitate the child temporarily (See http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/mar/07030804.html).

doctors from the Careggi teaching hospital in Florence told the baby’s mother that two ultrasound scans had yielded a high risk of a defective esophagus. After they had aborted the child, doctors discovered that not only was the baby’s heart still beating, but that he had been perfectly healthy before the abortion and so rushed to resuscitate him.

However, the baby aborted 22 weeks into the pregnancy and weighing a half kilogram, suffers from a brain hemorrhage incurred during the abortion and doctors doubt that he will survive.

Another abuse occurred this February when an Italian judge ordered that a thirteen-year old girl abort her unborn baby, despite her desperate pleas to save its life. Under Italian law, the parents or guardians of a minor can force her to abort her child, as happened in this case (See http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/feb/07021904.html).




Defective babies. Like mine? Like many of you reading here. Shall we just accept that in this world, the tragedy isn't the killing of the babies, but only the killing of the "normal ones"? Would this uproar have occurred if the killed baby was the one with Down syndrome? Nope. It happens all over the world, several dozen times a day. And no one notices. What will it take for us to force the world to realize that it ALWAYS matters, that EVERY baby, genetically typical or not...deserves life? It is a long and grinding fight, and I am tired.

Inclusion-an update

well, tomorrow is the big day. My little girl will be a big old third grader. Time is rushing by, I think I barely blinked, last I knew she was needing a brotherly boost up the first step of the bus. This is the year that we decided to pursue her full legal rights...Inclusion.

If you have been reading, you will know that this isnt happening without a bit of a fight, or at the very least a mommy temper tantrum. I asked for her to be more included, got the pitying looks of "oh, MOM, surely you jest? she cant HANDLE it." Yes she can. She can if YOU can. She can if you make it work the way Inclusion is meant to work. It can fail, to be sure, if YOU fail. Ciarra cannot fail, she will never give you anything less than 110% of herself. make it work. Please?

Some things encourage me, and scare me to death at the same time. This year will be a new wing, a new playground, a later lunch period, new teacher, new friends....third grade is moving up in the world. Ciarra had 2 years of K with Mrs Rogers, then a 1/2 classroom with Mrs. Swett for 2 years. The rooms were comfortingly right across the hall, the transition was smooth and easy. Both teachers loved her, but I never got the impression that they were EXCITED to have her. More like...willing. Not unhappy about it, but no real "Im looking so forward to this" either. Both were wonderful teachers, and by the end of it, both seemed to be quite smitten with this darling little girl.

But this year is different. THIS teacher is Mrs. Colson. She is a former Special Education teacher now teaching 3rd grade. She lives on a farm with her husband (who is Jesse's homeroom teacher and a dear sweet man.) They host a summer camp on their farm all summer, surrounded by kids and loving the teaching. THIS teacher is EXCITED.

Mrs. C has been in regular contact over the summer. She took several hours to learn Ciarra's writing program, and was excited about it. She asked my ideas, implemented my suggestions. Today she told me that the first week will be all about getting to know one another in small groups and learn to be a COMMUNITY. :) She sees Ciarra's strengths and intends to highlight them. Perhaps giving her jobs with a digital camera, she is GOOD with a camera. Or letting her create presentations on her computer, she is good at that too, and it all but removes the barriers speech delays cause. This teacher wants Ciarra to be HER student, and her goal is even more lofty than mine, she wants Ciarra in her room ALL the time. She doesnt even want to cede the math I agreed to have her pulled for. She thinks she can do this. I am starting to think she can, too. She thinks French is a "ridiculous" class for Ciarra (oh BOY do I agree!!) and thinks that would be the perfect time for Speech. YAY! She intends to set up learning stations in her room, and in concert with the Special Ed teacher, who will push in services, teach collaboratively to ALL of the kids. I couldnt have dreamed it this good.
The big question mark now is, will this all really happen? will it somehow magically fall into place and be ok? No aide, my girl is on her own. But not completely. She has a teacher who is willing her to make it. And I think she can. I have faith again, tonight. I just hope tomorrow and the days coming dont prove me wrong.

my thoughts on Speech therapy

Speech should be a natural consequence of a relationship between two people, it isnt like some production, it is an act of love, a relationship give and take kinda thing. "Speech" isnt even really necessarily the goal. Communication is. Communication wont happen if there is no trust built. Communication is a hundred different things that have nothing to do with words. It is a look, it is a grunt, a sound, shared between two people who are interacting on whatever level the least capable one is at. Communication is playing on the floor being silly, laughing back and forth, imitating one anothers movements or sounds. Speech is an offshoot of communication, it is like another step in the action. Your ST MUST enjoy the relationship, go back and forth and see your child's successes at every opportunity, so she will feel successful. I probably sound like some new age weirdo, but I believe with everything in me that speech begins with PLAY.

I don't want to go to jail!!

Last night was hectic in our house. Still knee deep in putting in a new bathroom for the kids, plus getting everyone ready for school. That includes one going to college (first in our family ever!), one going into 7th grade, and one going into third grade. Busy busy.

Kristin had stopped by to see dad at work, and he gave her some money to go buy a few things she needed for Monday. She stopped by Subway, then Cool Rayz tanning salon, then the car wash, and was headed to the bank to make a loan payment. On the way into the bank, she realized in a panic that her wallet was missing...along with her paycheck, the 90 bucks Dad just gave her, her license, etc etc. Crap. She calls us to ask what to do, after checking everywhere she had been twice. Needless to say, she came home completely bummed. She has a habit of losing/breaking stuff, and so Mom and Dad arent rushing to replace it all. But Im sure tomorrow we will be shopping. Sigh...life with children, at ANY age.

While Kristin was gone, Ciarra thought maybe her sister's new turtle was hungry, and decided to pour a good bit of FISH food into the tank. Oops. Not only has she already been scolded for this before, but she knows better. She did it anyway. Of course, I didnt know, I was making supper. All I could see was this cute little thing sitting on her pink bench in the hallway reading books. Innocent, sweet....ummm hmmm.

In comes Kristin, dejected. Shopping plans are curtailed, she is broke. And bummed. And about to be MORE bummed. She walks into her room, past innocent little Ciarra, who looks down quickly although she does mutter a short Hi. Hmm...
Out comes Kristin, in a tizzy, angry at Ciarra, angry at the world. She scolds Ciarra roundly, but within the bounds of sisterly love. Ciarra denies everything, in true 9 yr old style.

Kristin is now more peeved. She stomps into the kitchen, and asks me what to do about her missing wallet. I tell her to call the police. She tells me there's nothing they can do and starts to walk off, sadly. She is headed down the hall past Ciarra when I holler "Grownups call the police, Kristin, it is just what you DO!" She tells me "grownups are rational and know no one is going to hand it in if they STOLE it." (She has a point, but I still tell her to call the police.) she reverses direction to the office, sits down and dials the police. As she passes, in a tiny little voice, Ciarra says "Im a GOOD girl."

I think she is just being lippy about the turtle issue. But as I turn back to the rice I am stirring, her Daddy and I hear deep gasping breaths coming from the hallway. We rush to see what is breaking our baby girl's HEART, and she looks at us between sobs and says "I dont WANT to go to jail!!" Tears are now streaming down her cute little cheeks, sobs wrenching her body. "Im sorry. I wont feed the turtle!"

And it hits us all at once, in a great big powerful wallop of humor and bittersweet understanding. Ciarra thought we were talking about her feeding the turtle! She thought I told her big sister to call the police on her. Poor little thing is wracked with sobs, flung herself into Dads arms, begging not to go to jail, pleading with us that she really really is, a GOOD GIRL.

Life is never boring at our house, thats for sure. A bowl of ice-cream, some big apologies and some truth telling later, Ciarra is reassured. She understands that it wasnt about her at all. Still no wallet, but we are keeping our fingers crossed.

Emoticons in the new world order

There are currently FOUR computers in my home, of the desktop/laptop variety. Each is wireless and online. In addition, there is a wireless receiver on the big-ass plasma tv in the living room, an xbox360 that is online and constantly communicating with xbox live. Jesse has a PSP which is also wireless. That, my friends, is a LOT of technology for one small 4 bedroom, 2 bath house. Sometimes it is awesome, we can all be doing "our thing" and not standing in line. It is great for homework, for instance. But it does tend to keep us all occupied seperately, which can be a little weird. Even when company comes over, we sometimes find ourselves sitting at the idiot boxes, typing away, even messaging one another from 30 feet away. The lure of the internet and the speed and capability of computers is a tough habit to break.
Certainly, we do find time to be a family, and when friends come over, we still do "old-fashioned" stuff, too. We BBQ, bake cookies, play outside, all that. But without a doubt, this wired house beckons us to sit down and get lost in the online world, sometimes to the detriment of the real world.

But there is hope. This morning, Dad has gone to Home Depot (building project, oh my, kids bathroom sprung a leak, rotted the floor, and generally needs updating...BADLY!) Kristin is at work, Ciarra is reading in her room, and Jesse and I are home and awake. Laundry's all done, and well, while Daddy's away the mice like to play...online. ;) But it struck me that here was the son I adore, in the next room, tapping away. No doubt, he is building his next Halo 3 website, or learning about HTML coding. The kids a whiz, I tell ya. But there it was, his yahoo messenger name popped up, notifying me he was online. And it sat there at the bottom of my screen, and called to me. "Hey Mom, here I am." Just a little smiley face icon, no words typed. Comforting and disturbing all at once. And so I opened the messenger box and began typing away. No words, at first. Just emoticons. A series of emoticons, meant to say "hello, son, I love you."

michelle harmon (8/19/2007 10:09:57 AM)




Jesse (8/19/2007 10:10:09 AM): ...




michelle harmon (8/19/2007 10:10:14 AM)




Jesse (8/19/2007 10:10:19 AM)




Why sad? I wondered. Of course, being a preteen, I figured he was mostly sad his mom was harrassing him on a quiet Sunday morning. And so, like all moms, I teased him more...




michelle harmon (8/19/2007 10:10:25 AM)




No reply. Hmmm, he isnt used to Yahoo, is he just wondering wth Im doing? Lets ask him. Wordlessly, of course.



michelle harmon (8/19/2007 10:10:52 AM))




Finally, a response!



Jesse (8/19/2007 10:11:04 AM): what are you doing?



Let's start this over again, and see if he gets it...



michelle harmon (8/19/2007 10:11:08 AM) )



michelle harmon (8/19/2007 10:11:12 AM)



And he does. He gets up, walks into my office with a big grin on his face, hands outstretched, questioning but understanding all at once. "What are you doing?" he asks, as he leans in low and plants a kiss on my waiting cheek. "Waiting for this." I reply.

So few words necessary, so much love shown. Maybe emoticons are the wave of the future for conversationally-imapired parent-child relationships? He is back at his computer now, and I am headed to the shower. But he knows that in this technological word, his mom sure does

him.

my son says:

Jesse is contemplating his chores, which include mowing the grass. He says quietly, to no one in particular:

"I wish my grass was EMO, so it would cut itself."


He is so funny and irreverent and so stinking SMART. Where does he get this stuff? LOL.


For those not "up" on the current teen lingo, being emo means being emotional, dramatic, and over wrought.http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=emo Being Emo also means you might be a cutter.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cutter