Waiting For Superman....

Matt and I went to see a startling documentary on the state of public education in America last night.

Waiting For Superman is a must see.

www.waitingforsuperman.com

I love Autumn!

I love Autumn! 

Waking up to a slight chill, crisp local apples, pumpkins, cornstalks, garden harvest, flaming trees and mountainsides, shorter days, yummy squash....a few of the thinks which make Autumn my most favorite season of all!

What's not my favorite?  Changing out the Summer clothes for the Fall clothes for my children. 

Actually, sweaters, jackets, jeans, boots, mittens.....are my personal favorite wardrobe.  Growing up in Texas I would look at illustrations in picture books of children in sweaters and boots raking leaves and feel frustrated that I was still wearing shorts!

BUT....when you are the mother of a child (or two) with Sensory Integetration Disorder (SID), the change of wardrobe from summer to fall, or fall to winter, or winter to spring.... (see the pattern!) it is hard.  Feeling sensitive in your skin is not only true for SID kids, but SID kids feel everything much more instensly. 

The seems and "squeeze" of the socks, the tightness of the shoes which have replaced crocs or sandals, the "bunchy" way the long sleeve of your shirt inch up when you put on a sweater or jacket, the feel of the jeans or long pants on your legs can leave a child in a heap on the floor in the morning before school.

This is why my son shared with me today that he doesn't mind if rain or snow get into the little holes in his crocs.  He plans to wear them all Fall and Winter.  This is why my daughter and son leave the house in 40 degree weather with no jacket as they tell me that they really like to be cold.  This is why my husband and I have been cutting out the tags of all new clothing because it itches their skin too much.  This is why I have not put away the shorts or short sleeves yet....we are gradually weening them off.  Perhaps I will not have time to do the laundry for the next few weeks....and the summer clothes will just disappear. 

This is why I have researched the softest, most comfortable clothing lines.  This is why I can't buy my children's shoes at Target or Pay Less.  This is why occasionally there are articles of clothing or shoes which never get worn more than once. (Fortunately I have two other kids without SID, who get the hand-me-downs!)

So, I still do LOVE Fall, but I know that it comes with a price!

Who is the barometer of our home.....today?

Sometimes I know within the first 3 minutes of a morning what type of a day it will be.  The body language, the tone of voice, the words spoken to a sibling, to my husband, to me all help me assess in moments how the day will go.

Children act as barometers.

A barometer is a scientific instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure. It can measure the pressure exerted by the atmosphere by using water, air, or mercury. Pressure tendency can forecast short term changes in the weather.  (Wikipedia)

As a barometer children can measure the pressure which a family is experiencing.  That pressure can come from mulitple sources in a family.  The unique point of a child acting as a barometer is that often it is the family's response to that very child's temperment or needs which is placing the most pressure on the family which in turn forecasts the tone of the home.

I heard it said recently that you are only as happy as your saddest child.  Well, if that is true most days I may not be very happy.

Children--especially sensitive, spirited, high need children-- are the barometers of our families.  They tend to be highly perseptive and sensitive to their physical and emotional surroundings, and this sensitivity often manifests through their behaviors and attitudes.  We may be quick to repremand, roll our eyes and match our child's mood; or, when we take a moment to think, we may realize that their initial approach to the day may be directly linked to something happening in our family, our home or at school.