4/28/23

I will start this blog off with a disclaimer that in no way am I bragging about anything at all. I am only saying that it all simply worked well this week.

I

LOVED

MY

TIME

WITH

ELIZABETH

There, I said it.

And for those who have ready any and all of my posts, you know that we have had our fair share of challenges in the 25+ years that she and I have been on this journey together. Her Sensory Processing Disorder ( SPD) and Global Dyspraxia have been challenging since birth. Sometimes one beats out the other for the forefront of concern, but trust me, one of them is there and present most days.

But she has worked.

HARD! Everday to grow and achieve.

So back to my exclamation prior. The end of the week off that we all had was when Michael and John headed to New York to see the sights. And well, let’s face it, that whole crazy there was not going to be a good fit for Elizabeth. So we decided to stay back and have “girls time”

And it was simply wonderful.

She was all in for this. We shopped, had coffee, got dinners in and watched movies.

I discovered the fun of clicking around Netflix and landing on a show that she and I watched.

I learned she likes getting her nails done in a salon. First time for her because there was always the thought that she liked it better at home.

I learned that she is simply FUN to be around. I mean I KNEW she was fun but to have nothing but time with her, no schedules, no appointments, no calls to make. JUST TIME was a wonderful and beautiful thing.

She picked the places and the pace, and I was like, YEP let’s go.

I loved seeing the side of her that others see when they are with her, and they don’t have to worry about the things I just said.

I got the fun! and it was great.

I love knowing that this Elizabeth is the one that she shows to the world because knowing how easy going she is and how much fun she has with the littlest of things makes my heart know she will be good in life with friends.

It was heart lightening to see all this.

When our time was done, we both could see that we can and will continue the fun things. And I have to say we will not forget the first really long and open ended “girls time”

I think of the young child who cried all the time. Who didn’t want to go here of do this. Who was afraid of the world. and I think how wonderful to see this young adult enjoy life.

She was an is a buddy to me.

And I am in awe of her.

and so proud of what she has become. We are a work in progress but celebrating the good is what we all need to do. Even the smallest of things should be shouted to the roof tops.

So, I am doing just that.

I wish everyone a peaceful week.

Michele Gianetti author of Elizabeth Believes In Herself.

Soon Elizabeth will be looking at her next birthday and every year it sets me thinking! About what? Read on..

She will be looking at birthday #26! Wow, hard to believe.

I know her birthday is a few months off but as I have been organizing some things for a vacation, thinking about some tests Michael is taking in May, I couldn’t help but raise my eyes to the month of June.

And that leads me to thinking about her birthday.

And THAT leads me to thinking about her year and how her world has changed as well as how she has grown.

And that is the thing…

The question of how she has grown.  I have been doing that same line of thinking for FOREVER!  From the time she said a word, to the first whole sentence, to her trying to swim, to her swimming. And on and on.

It is the marker of time passing that sets off this “year in review” for me.  I don’t think about doing it, it just happens, and I believe that is the result of both how God made me and the IEP process that takes place in the spring of each year she was in school. 

The IEP process required me to literally look at the goals set in the previous fall and see just what was accomplished in the following Spring.  As my eyes would go from goal to goal, I would be forced to see if the year was a success, in terms of goals, or not.    This “side by side” thinking would then spill over to all parts of Elizabeth’s life as I mentally looked at her language at home, life skills she was learning at home, how she handled tough situations and on and on.

And now, after all the school year IEP processes are not part of our life, I am still conditioned to see and smell the beauty of spring and then do the “year in review”

I know at 25 and soon to be 26 that her life has taken on the rhythm of, well, just life!  Working and friends and cooking and….life  But there is always and will always be a part of me that knows she is continuing to grow.

Both as an adult and as a worker. 

There are things she continues to learn about life, work, bills etc. and there are skills she grows to make her more employable.

I also think that when you have a child with special needs, the journey to adulthood is 100% unique to you and your child.  What I see other young adults doing may or may not yet be what Elizabeth can do or ever will do or really ever will WANT to do.   

I think it is so important to see, in all of this, what your child truly likes and wants to do and who they are. Just because someone else is interested in gymnastics or a musical instruments and they are succeeding doesn’t mean that is the fit for your child.  And this is where knowing who your child is is SO important.

So with all this said,  The review will begin. 

I am proud of all she has done, learned and accomplished and the journey continues.

I wish everyone a good month,

Michele Gianetti