As we careen towards the end of the year I have found myself comparing where we are now to where we were at the same time last year.
This time last year we were finding our way after Matilda’s Aspergers diagnosis and trying to work out the best way to help her.
At the same time we were worrying about Gilbert’s imminent transition to mainstream, desperately hoping we had made the right decision.
I must say, the change that a year has made is amazing and I have a LOT to be thankful for.
Then…I was still having to set my son’s clothes out every morning and often having to physically aid him to get dressed after lots of begging and pleading and drama.
Now…he often gets dressed before I’m even ready for the day and there’s no fights and no drama – he just knows that’s what he needs to do.
Then…Matilda dreaded going to school and more often than not had to be comforted by an aide, sobbing, as I said goodbye and proceeded to cry myself all the way to work.
Now…Gilbert and Matilda happily wave goodbye to me at the school gate and I drive away knowing they will be okay and that I will be okay too.
Then…we could not find a way to motivate Gilbert to go to school and he would be disruptive and uninterested at times in class.
Now…he is getting glowing reports in his communication book and he even asked me the other day not to tell his teacher that he had been naughty at home!
Then…Matilda would resist going to bed as she suffered nightmares and night-terrors nearly every evening as she struggled to cope with her anxieties.
Now…she is able to calm and settle herself at night by reading and she rarely suffers from nightmares or from restless sleep.
There are so many other areas that have improved in the last year for both my school-aged kids. And I am so thankful that they have been able to make such progress, when we were so very worried for both of them this time last year.
Let’s hope even more positive progress can be made in the next year as well…
What a wonderful amount of progress. This week I’m thankful for my beautiful boy and partner. As I am most weeks. Mostly!
I’m always thankful for my little family too Roxanne – I should acknowledge that more, I don’t think I say that anywhere near enough!
Such a beautiful post to read. They have come a long way this year and it must make your heart swell with pride and you sigh with relief xox
It does make me feel better Trish. There are still areas we need to work on and things don’t always progress in a straight line with my kids but I’m so proud of where they are now – I honestly didn’t think we would be here at the start of the year. Let’s hope the progress can continue in the new year too!
Wow – that is a fabulous list Kirsty – you all have much to be proud of xx
Thanks Renee. As always, there are other areas that haven’t progressed or improved but we have really tried to encourage their self-help skills in the last year and it’s great to finally see our hard work pay off. We’ll have to wait and see whether it all continues next year after the summer school holidays….but fingers crossed it will!
That is great to read.
Taking time to reflect can really help you appreciate the progress you’ve made.
We found an old video of the kids last week and loved having a chance to look back on tougher times.
Sometimes, particularly when times are hard, it does help to look back and really acknowledge the progress that has already been made. This is one of the reasons I keep the blog, it gives me a view into an earlier time and allows me to really see how far we have come.
So great. The more we can reflect the more we might see we don’t need to worry so much. I hope 🙂
So do I Rachel, so do I!
What an amazing transformation for you. It is lovely to hear such a positive story.
It’s nice for me to be able to see the positives amongst the day-to-day challenges – that is not always easy to do!
Wow, what a change!
Danya, it’s been a huge year and I am so proud of the progress both my school kids have made!