"what is"

It has been too long once again. I must find the time to update this more often because time slips by much to quickly.  Greyson has started his 5th grade year at CCS.  This is bittersweet for me since I know he isn't far from entering "middle school", a time which may prove to be overwhelming and is for most children with autism.  We shall see.  For now we are concentrating on what is.  What is is that he has made great strides since he was diagnosed in 2008.  He graduated form OT in August after about 3 years of it once a week working on fine motor, motor coordination, core body strength, sensory issues and social skills.  He is doing great and we are so proud of him.  He still has issues with avoiding work when it is something new or something he preserves as too much or too hard.  He will shut down or runaway from it but he is doing much better.  I think he will probably always do this to some degree but once he realizes he has something he is good to go.  He shows you what he knows in his own time and that's fine by me.  He has much better control of himself although he does still on occasion have a meltdown and it's never pretty.  I have come to realize through all of this that this tree is one that the apple fell very close to.  Now that I am back in school I see it even more.  What a challenge it is but I am very excited for the opportunity.  All the newness has actually turned out to be good for our family and especially for Greyson.  He needed to learn more independence and with me being gone from his school now he cannot run to me when things get really rough.  He has to find ways of dealing with it and thanks to his teacher he has been pretty good thus far. He seems to be proud that he and I are going to school at the same time.  I found that out thanks to our wonderful play therapist.  Greyson is a master at hiding how he feels and what he is thinking.  He is NOT the talker when it comes to those types of conversations.  But mention Star Wars or LEGOS and look out...better yet...buckle up for safety!  We hope to get him into Northwest School of the Arts next year. He has an eye for art and drawing and we hope to focus on these strengths so he can continue to feel successful at school.  We have some other schools that seem like they may be good fits as well but any new place will be a challenge at first.  It's just nature of the beast.  Open Houses here we come...that's where I start to have slight worry.  I know what new places and new environments will bring for him and for us.  For now I have to remain focused on "what is"...and "what is" is that we have an awesome boy who loves to draw, loves to build with LEGOS, loves Star Wars, loves Stop motion and wants to learn more about it. "What is" is that I am back in school hoping to bring myself into a place to make a difference for him, our family and the world. "What is" is a house full of love, laughs, hugs, tears, some unnecessary yelling at times, compassion, doubt, a touch of fear, understanding, sacrifice, some selfishness, and all that stuff families are made of.  "what is" is that I couldn't be happier, or in a better place other than where I am right now and I love that.  Thank you once again to you all who are a part of our lives in some way or another.  You help make everything alright. :)