Is it really a slump? I am not sure. What I do know for sure is that we are doing the same things most days. Meaning we accomplish a nice amount of things on most days.
We walk each day and have upped the distance to 3 miles.
We do school work in some form.
We bake, talk, play music, do zoom calls and virtual visits.
So why does it feel like a slight slump?
Did I dare to look at the future in my minds eye and sort of mentally gasp at the sight ahead that is a combination of time and question marks? I think I started off with a great deal of reserve and gotta say, did well with everything.
Including the fact that we as a family all caught the Corona virus.
So we made our way through the quarantine, healing from the virus and truthfully making sure that Elizabeth stayed organized and on track.I hate to say it that way but with her special needs of Sensory Processing Disorder ( SPD) and global dyspraxia; Helping to keep her neurological system organized and in a state of homeostasis, makes the day calmer and more productive for her. And allows for others to relax and enjoy the time with her.
We know her signs of a overload and anxiety and are quick to identify them so as to help her help herself. Such as taking a break, some sensory items( please see our store for items), or talking to us or her therapist. We have learned what things help her as she had a sensory diet for years.
You know the saying Happy wife, happy life. Well for us we insert Elizabeth for the word wife. We joke about it but we do know that her stress and anxiety can be hard for us all, and of course especially for her.
So let’s say that with the routine fairly set, we have done pretty well and then it hit me…we will be continuing this for a long while more. I am concerned that I will be doing enough for her, enough “stirring of each pot” for the things or skills she would have typically gotten from those on “Team Elizabeth”
I have also learned that many of those on her team, are not ready to work with her face to face due to their fear of the virus and I respect that so very much, but for me, that becomes one more pot to stir, one more thing to make sure we do.
So is it a slump? or is it a bit of fatigue? I say maybe a combination of the two.
I know I am proud of how she did during it and that she remained upbeat, organized and happy for a large portion of the time and I know that we will continue to be a team I just needed to process my feelings this week. Maybe it was the increasing number of cases, maybe it was the calendar moving toward July or maybe it was just some feelings.
I will regroup, as will others who feel this same fatigue or slump or whatever because we always do for our special needs children.
I wish everyone a peaceful week.
Be safe and wear a mask! I wear a mask for my mom and other who could get really ill.
Michele Gianetti author of:
I Believe in You: A Mother and Daughter’s Special Journey
Elizabeth Believes In Herself: The Special Journey Continues
Special Needs Essentials Blog 