Mutterings Of A Mindless Mommy

Alright I’m hopping back in the saddle again.  My life has been in an absolute downward spiral lately and I feel like I’m suffocating.  I’ve decided that I absolutely must return to blogging.  It is a sanity saver for me.  Without going into too much detail (for risk of boring you to death) the prospect of being a single mother to two spectrum kiddos has been lingering on the edge of my reality.  Right now it doesn’t appear that this is the direction my life is going to take but who knows what the future holds.

On to topical information…

The Autism Society of America’s 38th Annual National Conference was held in Scottsdale, Arizona this past week.  It just so happens that this is within driving distance for me so I decided to go.  I’ve had two kiddos diagnosed as being on the spectrum within the last year I figured I could at the very least learn something useful during the conference.  I am so glad that I went, I learned way more than I expected and came out of it feeling inspired.

I listened to speakers discuss topics such as Potty Training, Asperger’s Syndrome and Bullying, and an absolutely inspirational speech given by two teenagers on the spectrum.  Jordan Ackerson (a 19 year-old recent high school graduate) and Elijah Wapner (a 17 year-old soon-to-be high school junior) shared their stories with the audience.  At several points during their talk I was near tears with a smile on my face and a warm fuzzy feeling in my heart.  A lot of the parents there had older children but I felt that it was important for me to attend this discussion even though my children are still so young. 

One of the hardest parts post-diagnosis for me was wondering what, exactly, my children’s future may hold.  I was able to let go and move on when I realized that even parents of neurotypical children don’t honestly know what their children’s future may hold.  Seeing these two young men talk gave me a feeling of comfort; I know that my children’s future will be bright and while it may not follow the common path for neurotypical children they will most definitely be successful and happy in adulthood.  Thank you Jordan and Elijah for sharing your stories with us, words cannot express how truly wonderful I felt after that discussion.

The ASA has it’s negative sides but for the most part I was able to avoid getting drawn into any biomedical debates/conversations.  I skipped over the Kirkman and Great Plains Laboratory booths at the exhibitor exposition and instead went to the booths that pertained to me and my family.  I was able to stock up on some fun sensory toys (discounted and no shipping!) plus some handy social skills tools for my son.  One speaker informed our group that next year’s conference is going to be held at the Grand Palms Resort in Pembroke Pines, FL.  Well that isn’t within driving distance but I’m already making plans to go.