Even though everything around us is actually dying, September always feels like new beginnings to me. I definitely think the Jews are onto something, celebrating their New Year at this time. After all, I'm actually making an entry in this blog. Back from the the blog grave I am! School starts, which is definitely all things new...new teachers, maybe some new friends, definitely new experiences. There is the feeling of change in the air--for me it's definitely a time of nesting. Wanting to cook yummy comfort food and do projects around the house. Yesterday I roasted my first chicken of the season (never mind it was a balmy 80 degrees out...I couldn't wait any longer!) and it tasted delicious. I baked muffins for the kids' breakfast, something I did a lot during the school year but somehow became yet another thing to be forgotten once summer hit--like my regular work-outs. We'll soon be painting/re-doing the kids' rooms and eventually painting the family room downstairs. It's only taken two years to really start doing some of these things we've been wanting to do...!
Sullivan is definitely undertaking something new--Tae Kwon Do at American Karate Studio. Sound familiar? It should--that's where I took karate up until my back rallied against me and made it impossible to continue. Now I get to live vicariously through my 8 year old, trying desperately not to become the over-bearing 'Karate Mom'. After the first week of unsuccessfully trying to get him to actually practice his form outside of class I knew he was going to have to do this at his own pace, not mine. Although he wasn't exactly begging me to join, when I brought up the idea of doing this for about the 5th time over the course of a year or two he finally said, "yeah, that might be fun..." so I jumped on it! For Sullivan, I look at this sport as therapy. TKD is all about discipline, focus, balance, memorization, feeling strong. All of these things are hard for my little Asperger's boy, which is why it's so good for him. It's the only place I've seen him be encouraged to try something over and over and he'll actually tolerate it. Ms. Obermiller is amazing--the perfect mix of sweet and loving but the kids also know what she expects and they don't want to let her down. Not only does she teach them the moves but she takes the time to talk to each of them, and her classes often involve lining the kids up and talking about everyday life lessons. And can I just say that Sullivan looks darn cute in that uniform?? sigh. Watching him start to get a few of the moves down for his form makes me all teary-eyed--not only because my baby is doing Tae Kwon Do, but I know how tough it is for him and how HUGE it will be when he gets it all down. Having a child on the spectrum sure makes you appreciate the things we so often take for granted in our 'typical' kids. Sullivan's first form--Kyum Son, which means humble beginnings. Indeed! So happy fall to you! Maybe you can start something new...I have a few things up my sleeve myself. :-)
*one thing that is definitely new, my friends, is the fact that this blog will now be in yet another different place....my new web site! The site is still in the works, but if you want to keep up with the diary of this Metal Mommy the new updates will now be there. (sorry to keep moving you around!) I'm also hoping to post a bit more often there!!!!! The address is: www.metalmommy.com ....but of course. :-)
