WELCOME TO HOLLAND.....

WELCOME TO HOLLAND

by
Emily Perl Kingsley.

c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reservedI am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

Time to make a change~

All the blessings in the world can not compare to loving your children.
As I sit here watching the news a broadcast was on adoption children with facial deformities or special needs being adopted and given plastic surgery if needed.
Then a broadcast on a bill going to the Senate to have mandatory cameras in Special Education classes.
apparently there are people who are abusive to children with special needs, wow!~ I'm in shock but yet I don't know why, ...... this world,,,,,, wow~!! that's all I can say.
is sad to say we parents of children who are "special have enough to worry about,, and then I now have to think about predators, abusive bus drivers, limbs broken, etc...
Our children are not a punching bag or outlet for abuse.
Time to make a change World,... !

What a difference a day makes!

After a recent post regarding Simone and school vs daycare, I am pleased that she is now transitioning into a three year old class, and doing well. I look forward to her transition and the new learning experience.

school vs daycare?

Okay since Simone is 3 1/2, she is enrolled in PPCD (preschool program for children of disabilities), * side note I'm getting better at learning all the acronyms** anyway, her school is good and she is learning sign language very well. I'm am wanting to enroll and take a class myself. BUT, after school she attends daycare. When I enrolled her I was advised they can accommodate my daughter, I even met and visited the three year old classroom. I enrolled her at the daycare and was advised the three year class was full and that she can stay in the two year old class for now, well It is January and many of her class mates have had birthdays and parties that we have attended and moved to the next class for threes. ... I asked the teacher why my child hasn't moved up and was advised, since she isn't potty trained it is easier for them to manage her,,,hmmmmm!!! well prior to October my daughter was at a different  daycare that I Loved but due to change in school districts, I had to move her, she was learning potty training there and at home, now she is being treated like and infant and is returning to infancy stages and not wanting to use the potty chair anymore.! I would like my child to be moved up so she wont be 4 years old in a two year old class. Is this right, what should I do?? Is this delaying her progress or is it best I seek a new school who will work with special needs children.?

Come to be in 2013!

wow  Ive been gone for a minute and haven't written in a while, but since its the Christmas holiday season and soon new years, I wanted to reflect on what we can come to be in the year 2013.
I am hoping the  new year will bring a reflection to all compassionate people and the yearning to compliment, advocate, support and love others with special needs. ! There is allot more that can be done and its time to get started!~
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

stop using the r ~~~-word

Congress banned the use of the words "retard" and "retardation" in 2010 in federal health, education and labor laws in favor of using the words "intellectual disability." The American Psychiatric Association also plans to replace the term "mental retardation" with "intellectual development disorder" in the fifth version of The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, to be published by in 2013.

Then why do people cling to the word,

let alone call the president this name??

http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/23/living/ann-coulter-obama-tweet/index.html

October is Down syndrome awareness month

For many of us, every day is a chance to promote Down syndrome awareness—advocating for our children to be included in school and community activities, highlighting their talents, giving them opportunities to show just how much they have to share. The calendar, however, provides us with one month during the year when we can really step up those efforts. October is Down syndrome awareness month!!