I am Different, We are Different. The ASD Journey.

We have always swum against the flow, run against the crowd. In my heart, and that of my husband, we have never felt the standard or popular approach is what would help our son. OUR SON. Not the teachers' nor the specialists', nor other parents'... OURS. And for that many have belittled, derided and questioned our approach. Our outside the square ideas and ideals, our belief in our child.

I must admit it grates when someone can't see the trees for the forest, when others still don't get it... because in all honesty when I look at how Boy 1 was in the early days, and how he is today I know what we did was right, I know he is far beyond what any of those outsiders thought he could ever be, I know he is growing into an incredible young man, one his parents always knew he would be.

So, question our approach all you like, mock, deride, or just keep that mind closed. For we have our justification, we have our confirmation... we have a wonderful, confident, happy son who has Asperger Syndrome. Just look at the smiling kid from the photos in the last post.

That is all.

Do You Vote For Yourself?

Yes. it's that time again. Blog This Challenge 32: Comfort Food voting has opened and I have a question for you.

Come on, be honest! Do YOU vote for your own entry in challenges? I know it is not the done thing, certainly not considered politically correct and most people would deny it until blue in the face, but I do. Not all the time, but when one of my entries captures my heart (and we all have those favourites) like my Literary Whore, or, yes I will admit it, my Midnight Oil Eat It Out entry for this challenge,  I vote for ME!

I also am a competitive git, and as I said in one of my earlier posts, have this immense fear that when I go look at the poll a big fat zero will be there staring right back at me. We all crave acknowledgement or recognition, it is the nature of the beast. Once we have a taste of it, we want more.

The two challenges I have won, the first one I entered: Challenge 26 Quick Fix Meal and the most recent Challenge 31 My New Super Power, have given me an incredible emotional high and confidence boost. And once you have experienced this, well it is addictive.

You see I do not, like a lot of people who write or blog, truely believe in myself. I still find it incomprehensible that I have 58 followers! 58 people who want to see what I write, who find me entertaining enough to want to come back, who like my blog. I think it stems back (at least in my case) to the life change which comes with being a Mum. It is the most rewarding job on the planet BUT you also lose a piece of yourself, of your individuality. A lot of my self-worth was tied into my former working life. It is a situation where if you do a good job, you receive a pat on the back in the form of personal praise, a bonus system, or review. Motherhood rewards are not that clear cut, and usually come from sources who you know have strong personal ties to yourself. And so you lose that little bit of confidence in your ability. Winning these challenges gives you back a piece of that. Others who do not have a strong personal involvement have chosen to honour you and your entry by voting for you.



Get free graphics at blixy.com!

Anyway, enough of my self-analysis, what about you? Do YOU vote for yourself? Just sometimes, maybe? Come on, 'fess up... a bit of self-belief is nothing to be ashamed of.

Oh, and go read all the entires in Challenge 32, and vote for the one you like best. Every one of us who enter would appreciate it more than you could ever realise.

No undue pressure or emotionally charged persuasion from this end this time, but...

December 25: Gift #best09 Gwen Bell

What's a gift you gave yourself this year that has kept on giving?

Gwen Bell 2009

Forgiveness. I forgive myself for making mistakes, I forgive myself for being swayed by others and their actions, and I forgive myself for being human. We all make mistakes, but the only tragedy is if we do not learn from them and move on. Witnessing others caught in this unending cycle of hatred and lies has made me eternally grateful to have granted myself this gift.

I actually like myself pretty much at the moment...

Merry Christmas one and all, hope it was as simple and wonderful as ours was.