Farewell 2018
Today is the second day in 2019; kids are back to school from break. As I sat at Starbucks, I reflected on this past year. It has been such a learning experience for me. B started Preschool, she was excited and nervous but walked into the school like her parents no longer excited. It was also the last year MJ would be getting Early Intervention services. We held meetings with the Department of Educations Committee for Preschool Special Education (CPSE) which were nerve-wracking. We spent the end of the years looking around and picking a school for him to attend this January was tough and making sure we were ready as well as making sure he would be prepared to start a new school.
Socially this past year has changed me, at the beginning of the year I interacted with fashion industry people and meeting new people almost on a daily basis at work. While still having my few mom friends to do the occasional play date with, when August came it all changed, I left my job to be more focused on the kids. Deciding to quit was a big thing for me giving up my independence, but it was the right thing to do for the kids. Once this happens, I ended up meeting more parents at my daughter's school, their dance school and parents with autistic children in support groups. I went from talking about children and parenting a couple of days a week to discussing parenting on a daily basis.
Last year was a big test for my parenting skills with patience and a better understanding of what my children needed. With MJ being autistic, we spent time learning how we can help him cope with the world around him. While working with his ABA therapist and all his other therapist, all have been amazing, and we were so grateful for the past several years that they have been working with him. We were sad to see them go; I have to admit I cried at each other their last sessions. B has always been the one to test my patience, but this past year I have learned how to communicate best with her and understand what she was feeling. She used to through tantrums almost every day and now since we have been able to find the best way to communicate she doesn’t have tantrums anymore. Which I have to admit and any parent with a preschooler or toddler that has tantrums will understand how happy I am to see them go. My relationship with my oldest is much better now that I am home when I was working, we were only spending about an hour and a half together. She’s so excited that she has time to tell me all the drama in school, new stories read, what was learned, new books she wants to read together. See her happy to spend more time with me and tell me more things brings me to stop much joy.
This year I can’t say that I have a resolution or goals. I will, on the other hand, know that I won’t let anyone bring their negativity into my life. I have so much going on that allowing anyone brings me into their drama I can’t let it happen. I will be focusing more on my website and making moves to improve my platform now that the kids will be at school full time. With MJ starting school soon I am both happy and dreading it at the same time. I know he will do great, me, on the other hand, will be crying and a big ball of mess. Also, this year like the others brings my girls to dance recital both are extremely nervous because they decided to they wanted to try new dance classes. So instead of one dance number each they will be doing two dance numbers each. I will also be a backstage mom this year, and this will include helping the girls get ready for their dance numbers. So many new things coming in 2019 and I’m so looking forward to it all.
