Lets do an uplift: Tell us one or two things about your Special Needs child that makes you smile and say, "Yeah, that's my kid. I'm proud." For me, it's how compassionate he is to others who are at a disadvantage. He sticks up for an old kindergarten friend who is very high need and always tries to make others feel better if they're sad. He earned a toy for good behavior at school and gave it to a kid who hurt himself on the playground and was crying.

The other thing is about his obsessions. It's amazing how much he knows about his chosen subject, which is now Bionicles! Where does he get this info! AND, he's always right! Now he makes up stories, writes and draws books and has daddy help him make videos. When he was really little, it was dinosaurs. People commented how he was a little young to be so into them, but into them he was. One day we were in Zany Brainy - He was about 2. He came up to me holding this long-necked dinosaur that was about 3/4 as tall as he was. The look on his face was so hopeful as he asked for it I couldn't resist, although it was $25 . He still likes that thing, but doesn't remember that he named it "neck". I love my kids.

Good morning! An uplift sounds like a great idea!

For me, I'm amazed at how unafraid Lily is about possibly being laughed at. She wears some pretty zany clothes (and I don't mean a good zany), but she wears them fearlessly and proudly.

One of my favorite things has always been listening to her sing. She can memorize songs very quickly, but she also makes up her own songs. I think it's been a way for her to communicate her feelings. It's easier for her to sing about being sad or happy than to actually talk about it!

And one more thing, Lily can do the Macarena jumping on a trampoline! How cool is that?!

My dd's name is Lily too! Seeing this thread, I just got all teary remembering and thinking about how far she's come. I see so many new names that some of you may not even remember me. My dd was born with a lot of medical issues, including heart conditions, and an esophagus that wasn't connected to her stomach (more too, but it's a long story, and not for this thread). Anyway, some of my favorite things about her (she's not quite 3 yet) are her smile. She just melts people with her smile. And, I love it when she says please, thank you, and I love you. I also love it that I'm still her favorite person (along with her twin sister)! People tell me all the time how strong she is, and how sweet she is. Somehow, despite her difficult beginning to life, I know she's going to overcome this, and live an amazing life.

Wow in my house this could get kinda long, there are so many of us.

Kayla is especially gifted in acting and drama. She has been in several plays and will know by heart all the different characters' lines a few days into practice. Then she is willing to remind the character exactly what they should be saying or doing. Shakespeare is her favorite and knows most of the lines to Romeo and Juliet. She is also a very talented dancer and knows the moves to the majority of music videos or she makes up her own. She dances so much she has started to wear a hole in the carpet in her room that is only 3 yrs old.

Lexi is such a sincere and caring person. At school she always makes sure to include the girls that are being shunned even if it means being shunned herself. This is such a total contradition to her anxiety of having friends. She great about playing with her sister Jordyn and taking her outside to play when I'm busy doing something else. She loves to get into the tub with her two little sisters so that I can get stuff ready for bed instead of sitting in the bathroom. She overly protective of her dog who weighs about 5lbs to the point of yelling at her older sister even though Lexi is scared to death of her. Lastly she great with money always saving and contemplating before buying.

Jordyn is my endless bundle of energy. She's a great motivator to go for that walk that she needs before bed. She's taught me to think outside of the box to solve problems, what else is there to do you do at 3am when the world is sleeping and she's not. She's a great one to say "Mom's crabby we better kick her in the butt" or to tell our case worker "Thayla's being mean to mommy again she makes mommy cry" just to let the case worker know that mom's having a hard time with Kayla even though I don't want to ask for help that I know isn't there. She can be so great with her little sister, she'll hold Rori's hands when they hurt or put a whole box of bandages on her hands in hopes to make them feel better. She such a little chatter box who is so wise even though she's so young.

Little Miss Rori is so proud of herself when she finally accomplishes something be it crawling on the table or her newest thing is crawling up the stove to stand on it. Dangerous I know but that's her newest accomplishment. She's so gentle with the dog and the cat where most kids her age pull hair. She's such a little talker and advanced for her age saying more words then what is age appropriate. I love the way she spits things out when you try new foods with her especially anything sweet. She's usually willing to try a food a 2nd or 3rd time before I get a decisive no on it. The way she teases people just because she can and then she'll lean over to give them a kiss just because. The best thing about Rori is she opened up a whle new understanding about SPD and how that has been the quirky thing wrong with her older sisters that know one could figure out.

Want a long term lift? This might help.

Tadhg for those of you who dont know my story has ADD & Dyslexia. He has gone to College unassisted (big deal over here!) He will be doing a degree course in Hotel Management and is doing just fine.

He is a good social mixer even if he has to tone down his enthuiasms (sp) a big bit.

I never knew if he could make it to College (he has a high IQ but that doesnt matter a bit if you cant "use" it and me being a Single Mom didnt help the mix either.

He was also elected Vice President of the Student Counsel (big deal here). He went to mainstream school and managed.

so girls hold tight no matter how tough it is and I know some of you have more difficult circumstances with your children it can turn out better than you think.

WE dont have the back up and educational resources here even if we pay for it that you guys seem to have so hold on and treasure your little ones for who and what they are.

Ive learend the hard way they bring their own gifts to us

Anne

ps dont take this as a "brag" its truely not my intent

Annemc's back!! Yay! Thank you for sharing. So good to have you back. We were worried! I know you're proud of your offspring, and you should be so proud of yourself. You basically did this with no or little help, so congrats again.

thank you Mam:D

It really is good to be back and thank you for your kind comments. All of us Moms are just doing the best we can and I think (since Im further down the road age wise than most here) that we will surpise ourselves just how well our children can do in the end.

Its in all of them,some just need a little more help to get there

Anne

Brag all you want! You deserve it! You must be so proud of your son. It is amazing how easy it is for a young person to go in the wrong direction. To have your special needs child succeed is a special blessing. You let me know when your son finds his first job in a hotel. It is my biggest dream to visit Ireland and I would love to stay in a hotel where he is working. Hugs to you Mama, You did good! It gives the rest of us hope for our kids.
Mitzi

My ds 9 and is on the Autism Spectrum. We have had a rough week with his stims/tics and the school. So, This is refreshing.

Call it selfish but I love the fact that I am his favorite person in the world. When he gets off the bus yelling mama with open arms, it makes everything okay.

I love how he can remember facts about things, months and years after they happen.
I love his obsession with Buzz Lightyear now it is Starwars, Lord of the RIngs and all those shows on jetix and cartoon network. His favorite color is blue and everthing he ate out of or wore had to be blue. Now he will wear and use other colors that I like, So Green and purple are okay too. He is trying to be more flexible.

He loves video games, He usually will play until he masters it, then he will stop playing for days or weeks. He is an amazing singer if you can get him to do it. He doesn't like to be stared at. He also loves to cook. He only likes a few foods so Alfredo and cookies are his favorite to make.

He loves his family and is trying real hard to make friends in his new school. The one thing I admire in my son is willingness to adapt. New teachers, new school he is willing to try to fit it. He is amazingly intelligent and can tell funny jokes, Only he thinks we are laughing at him not with him. The autistic side.
He is very neat and organized, A trait he did not receive from me. He is also very generous. As long as they are not his Buzz things. Those are precious. He has great manners and will hold doors open for ladies and always uses please and thank you.

He is my future scientist or engineer. Even if I have to drive him to work. He lights up my days and is the one person who loves me unconditionaly. I guess I needed that in my life . I am so blessed to be allowed to be his Mama.

Very well said. I see many parallels between our sons. My son's favorite color is green, and he had to let everyone know it, and would accept no other colors. People don't understand, including his own preschool teacher, who, supposedly, was trained in special needs (this was before his actual diagnosis and my knowledge) that it's not a choice for him. If he wants a green shirt and you make him wear a blue one because the green is in the laundry, it just ruins his day. How can a day go well if I'm not wearing my favorite color? On another day, no big deal because there'll be a new obsession. I've seen so many ways he's matured and become more flexible now that he's six. He's amazing. My little man.