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| sharing our love with A.J. the moment we were blessed to have him permanently in our lives. |
At the start
of every year we have the tedious task of gathering together the long list of
services and supports A.J. accesses throughout the year and begin organising
new referrals, updated reports, to then arrange new appointments and meetings
for the resources that are working and still required, or if we need new
direction and assistance to then begin researching for what is required and
available.
Once we have
correlated everything together and happy with what is needed, we then begin the
task of fitting everything in with the family schedule.
While I
personally see the benefits he gains from these sessions, and A.J. also happily
attends and at times will even request additional appointments for the benefits
these sessions provide him personally; the ideas and suggestions are also
shared with other areas he connects with to extend his supports. I too attend
sessions to gain information support and direction to better aid and assist
A.J. with his journey.
Unfortunately
we still struggle with skeptics that only see the negativity they've heard
regarding the word 'psychologist' and resort to stating comments such
as...
"why is
he seeing a shrink" and "why would you take a kid to
counselling"
After all the
banter I have learnt to shut off from their opinions and theories, and hope
that A.J. isn't effected by the small mindedness.
Seeing the
positive outcomes that has been the effects of bonding with the same person for
the past 5+ years, someone that totally gets all his little idiosyncrasies,
mannerisms, and individualised personality and behaviours, has supported
everything he has experienced, giving the right support he has needed, from
someone outside the limited network he calls "family". By allowing
him the chance to know what it feels like to receive unconditional friendship
and a safe place to express all his emotional being without judgement or
ridicule, showing their commitment to assisting him in the way he needs it
most.
That in
itself is a special thing.
Afterwards
posting on my personal page......
a little melancholy today... not sure why really....
but tomorrow A.J. begins year 8
he is so excited and can't get there quick enough,
I'm so proud of how he's going, the steps he's taken
and confidence he's showing,
I know we are over the biggest hurdles and stepping
into a new area,
with his supports and personal commitment he will
achieve anything
......I've had a light-globe epiphany, knowing he
'will' make it, knowing he 'will' be able to step into the unknown when needed
and 'make a go of it', and that is the best thing to know, 'trying' alone is a
feat in itself regardless of the outcome and it must be acknowledged for its
worth.
While understanding all the differences A.J. has to
deal with, I still try to maintain normality with his every day existence, the
expectations I have from and for him are to what any parent would expect from
their 13 almost 14 year old child, with a few allowances, but still requiring
the same outcome.
I don't ever want him to be defeated without ever
trying, I want him to feel he has the same chances that anyone may have.
With the past behind him from those that believed he
wasn't worth the effort, to then transitioning to high school with a team
willing to acknowledge, work with, and support his differences, he has become a
different child, wanting to step forward rather than retreating into his safety
zone, a habit that I thought would continually hold him back.
By having this outcome A.J. now has a positive outlook
to give him future direction when wanting to achieve better than he has. I know
the realism of his diagnosis may be an issue to others, but I will always
support his choices and help him find ways to gain something from his options.
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