Wondering how we cope with the teenage years?

...the latest pose when asked if I can take a pic...
all dressed up to head out the tea at our local club

Sometimes questioning if we would actually make it through in one piece?

 never-the-less we push on through, hoping the outcome will be positive and not a total disaster.

No-one's perfect so we must remember not to be too hard on ourselves.

Our motto we follow is to clear the slate each evening before we go to bed, and start fresh the next day.

Choose your battles and focus on the important things, no regrets, no guilt, no what-if's. 

Watching A.J. progressing through his teenage years, it seems the more evident his quirky mannerisms are becoming, some of his ASD traits seemingly more severe, and yet I feel his age makes them more pronounced and obvious, exposing the cracks to things that were always there. 

Leaving the holiday mode behind -

Well here we go again,

Only one more week before facing yet another year of school mayhem.

Yes, although A.J. likes the familiarity that comes along with his regular routines and schedules, he still struggles with the hustle and bustle that portrays the overall high school environment.

in preparation for the new school year
everything is Black (where able) as requested 

While not exactly planned, here is where we are at.....

enjoying weeks of relaxed holiday mode, a combination of xmas season festivities, Computers, Games, etc, resulting in all but the essential routines flying out the window.

Unfortunately AJ has always struggled with any type of morning routine, add his typical teenage 'angst' into the mix, it was easy for him to tip the scales towards shutting down his regular routine all together.

Sewing Classes with Nanna's Touch - placemat -

Much of the work I do with my Nanna's Touch group and activities relates to supporting families and people with disabilities, including mental health issues and more.
My personal aim being to find ways to integrate and include our local people with disabilities, their family and carers, with all aspects of our local community.
The main way I can do this, in a pay-it-forward aspect, is sharing my love and knowledge of sewing.

Reflections

preparing for the new year ahead.....

Before you read the post below, I want to make it perfectly clear-

I am NOT complaining, I am NOT feeling sorry for myself, I love my family - warts and all.

I am just stating a fact the way it is - NO MORE-NO LESS

I've never shared our story to sugar-coat the big picture, I have always stated what we face straight up as we live it, as anyone in the same situation will agree with what we are dealing with.

Although we continually go through these experiences wondering when will it all end, we also have light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel moments to hopefully even it all out.

We may suddenly see the reality of how our life is playing a continual loop of repetitious mundane events all due to the situations we are facing.

Physical Health - self care Mind+Body+Soul

Reviewing 2017, although it has been great in so many aspects, it's also been the most draining time that I've faced in many years.

Trying to juggle and manage too many things, so much so that it has suddenly all come to a pounding momentous heap at my feet, leaving me no-where to turn, but come crashing down amongst it all.

being in the moment - a great view of our lovely valley

While organising our home-front and personal life, including the many different interventions, activities and other requirements we arrange for A.J. to access, we have seen many accomplishments and achievements as well.

a humbling honor........

Today I was invited to attend the Lithgow Ability Awards 2017.
this was organised and presented by
--Lithgow City Council with Uniting Ability Links--
I was very honored and surprised to receive the invitation stating I had been nominated in one of the categories.

Rosters, Routines, Schedules, Timetables, Programs, Plans.............

assorted planners are available on-line
 or you can make your own

Parenting can be hard. 

Especially when juggling the family household, work commitments, and anything else you want to do.
Some days we can feel so overwhelmed, they seem to blur into weeks or months.

At times we can be so consumed by everything, we may begin to doubt ourselves and our ability to cope with every part of being a parent and what that fully entails,

especially when considering the additional demands we need to cater to for a child with a disability.