Ouch....Awwww

Spencer is literally painful to be around sometimes. My head is killing me from all of his talking and arguing. He must have puked up his ADHD med this morning, because he's been at it all day. Driving me crazy! And then he walks up to me and says "Mommy, you're my greatest comfort in the whole world." God, he makes my heart melt (but my head still hurts).

False Philosophy

Somehow over the years I've adopted the belief that if something was too hard I just didn't have to do it. No more. I'm pushing myself to my limits and expanding those limits. No more excuses!

Dear Joe Scarborough

You are an idiot. It is not an "autism scale," it's a spectrum. Autism is not a "mental illness," it is developmental disorder. I can't believe a person with a son on the spectrum can be so ignorant. You did your child a huge disservice, and your "clarifying statement" can't undo it. Before you commit to educating the American public about autism, educate yourself!

To Marry or Not to Marry

Wow! Next month it will be four years since Mike and I moved in together and blended our families. That's longer than either of my marriages lasted. While we're all working so hard to defend marital rights for those who want them, can we please take a moment to recognize the right NOT to get married? Why should I need a legal document to define my relationship? And why do people automatically assume I'm gay when I say "my partner"? Mike is more than my boyfriend (I hate that word at my age). He's my partner, FOR LIFE. I'd like to call him my husband, because for all intents and purposes that's what he is. I don't need a piece of paper to make me believe that!...(but I would like a diamond ring and a big party!)

Ok, professor

I'm starting to talk like seven year old Spencer. Instead of asking my boyfriend if he was "almost done" in the bathroom I asked him if he was "nearly finished." It's so funny to hear my little peanut say that. "Spencer, are you done with your homework?" "I'm nearly finished, Mommy." Ok, professor.

Patience Required

Alex has been so difficult lately: very defiant, screaming at the top of his lungs when he doesn't get his way, flopping to the floor and refusing to get up. It's been taxing, and I realized yesterday that I've been taking his behavior personally. I've been getting upset and angry, and not engaging the same patience I would with a child at school with the same behavior. "I'm his mother. He should listen to me. He should let me help him deescalate when he's upset." In my desire to fix his problems I get frustrated, and it shows. Realizing my lack of patience yesterday made a difference. I was able to stay calm, and because I didn't let my anger show he, in turn, didn't get even more upset. Sigh of relief. Hopefully over the next week of being off of school we can both work on this and get better.

Birds and Bees

Spencer just asked me "Mommy, why does the man insert his p---- into the woman's va...va...?" I almost had a heart attack. He's reading his children's encyclopedia. I didn't realize there was a section on reproduction. With a nicely labeled illustration of the process. Egad! I told him why (to make a baby) and that animals do it, too. "That's weird," he said.