Saturday, 27 November 2010
-
Thanksgiving
I hope everybody had a happy thanksgiving. I was happy to see my brother back at home even though I know he'll be going back to the rehab center real soon. I miss him a lot but I dont know how to let him know. I have been feeling sad this whole month but I wasnt sure why. I sometimes dont understand what makes a person sad and what could possibly change that. I see people crying and then they suddenly stop as they think of something else. I try not to think about the things that make me sad but it's hard to just change a thought. But my mom told me that Thanksgiving is about thinking about things that make our lives worth living.
I'm thankful that I have a family who loves me and (tries) to understand me. I never understood why they tried so hard. To me, if I understand what I'm talking about, then nothing else matters. But I guess thats why we socialize. So that we can learn from other people and let them learn from us. I'm thankful for my family for teaching me that.
I'm also thankful that we have money, food, and a home. A lot of people want more and more and it's always a positive thing to have more, but we need to look at what we already have and be happy with that sometimes. Especially now these days, there are a lot of people losing their jobs, not having any money to go to college, and some people cant even go to college because they have to get a job to pay their bills and feed their children.
I hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend and I hope everyone had a safe holiday. Get ready for Christmas!
Monday, 18 October 2010
-
Movin' On Up
by: Jenny
Jon has recieved his first progress report of the school year last week. He got one B and the rest A's! His teacher, Ms. Shepherd was telling me what a gifted child i have. I'm so proud of him for continuing to work hard even though things are difficult lately.
Some exciting plans lie in the future. When his second semester starts (at the begining of February) he will no longer be in the special ed class that he has been in for the past 3 years. His teachers and I feel that he is capable of taking mainstream classes with the rest of the high schoolers. im not going to lie, im very nervous about the thought of him being in a classroom with N.T. people, but he has to learn sooner or later. this is his last year in high school, and next year he'll either be in college, or whatever his future plans are, and i want him to get to know the world, and for the world to get to know him. it'll never happen if i shelter him like i have his whole life.
his thoughts on this idea? well as of now, it hasnt exactly hit him yet. when his teacher and I told him the news, he just kind of nodded his head and continued concentrate on whatever he had his attention on at the time. i dont know if i told him at the wrong time, or if he just doesnt care lol. but its going to happen regardless, and i know it'll benefit him in the end.
i wonder if any other parents of children on the spectrum experienced this? the transformation from special education to "regular" classes.
-posted by Jenny
http://twitter.com/jennybee0309
jennybee0309@gmail.com
Friday, 01 October 2010
-
by: Jon
I'm out of school early today because its the end of the first marking period. This happens every 5 weeks. I cant believe I have already been in school for 5 weeks. But if I look at all of the assignments I have done so far, it's not too hard to believe, since I have been doing a lot.
Last night was "Back To School Night", thats when our families can come to our school and meet our teachers and see the classrooms. My mom is really good friends with my teacher now since I've been working with the same lady for almost 4 years. School seems to get easier and easier because the people I work with start to know me better and I start to know them better and it just makes learning more fun. I dont understand how Sister can have 6 different teachers, and change teachers every school year! It was hard going to all of her classes last night in a short amount of time. But she told me that she likes high school.Next month, before Thanksgiving break, I have to do a presentation in front of my class. I have to talk about my topic for my senior project and I have to show them my poster board with information. I'm really afraid to talk in front of people, even though it is just my classmates. I like people to just watch what I do and learn instead of me teaching them. I'm not good at explaining things
. But I hope I end up doing a good job. Dad said that hes going to start helping me every weekend until the presentation date. Maybe I'll make an entry focusing on my progress in public speaking some day. It's so scary!I'm forgetting the other things I wanted to blog about
...but before I end this entry, I'm going to say thank you again to the people who still read my entries, and follow me on twitter, and email me. I dont update as much as my fellow autism-related contacts, but I try my hardest. Sometimes I get caught up in doing puzzles, homework, videogames, and other things! I'm also thinking about making a few changes but I'm not sure if it is going to happen yet.
-posted by Jon
http://twitter.com/sillyjon
sillyjon93@yahoo.com
Sunday, 12 September 2010
-
Back to School
by: Jenny
It's that time of year again, isnt it? Our kids are going back to school and before we know it, another school year will be over. As Jon mentioned a few times, he is now a high school senior! The best part about being a senior is knowing that everything you do this year, will be your last. That's also a scary thing.Jon does everything in a routine manner. It has always been difficult transitioning him from school to school. One of my biggest memories was sending him off to 7th grade in 2005. He had become used to his elementary school for students with special needs. He had the same teacher for 6 years and he was sure that things will stay the same forever. It was really hard to find schools for kids with autism around here, luckily his teacher thought that he was smart enough to go to a "mainstream" school (but still be in a special education class). The special education class was very helpful for him, and he got to be a little more independent. He just had to get used to being a school with a lot more kids. That led to bullying, melt-downs, and other challenges, but he said that all of it has made him a stronger person. 2 years had passed and once again, he had to move on a different school and get used to a brand new location, class room, students, and teacher.
In the fall of 2007, Jon started high school. He says out of all of the schools he has attended, he likes this one the best. It wasnt as scary because he got to go to school with his older brother, Joey. His teacher Ms. Shepherd is one of his inspirations in life and she encouraged him to do things he never thought he could do. He is sad to know that this is his final year in high school but he is also excited about doing other things with his life.
As a mother, I cant help but take several trips down memory lane. A lot of things have been happening lately, that I havent really taken time to sit back and think. But last night, when I finally did, I was amazed and how quickly time has flown by and how much Jon has grown as a person. Im not gonna lie, raising Jon wasnt easy at all, but it was a challenge for the both of us, and also a gift.
And now he is finally a high school senior! My other boy was a high school senior 2 years ago. What is there to expect? The same things, but at the same time, different things.
-school dances.
-the dreaded SENIOR PROJECT.
-college preparation
-the senior trip
-graduationhes not looking forward to the senior project. he doesnt like the idea of finding a mentor and interviewing someone. he doesnt have to have that done until december. lets hope for the best!
-posted by: Jenny
http://twitter.com/jennybee0309
jennybee0309@gmail.com
Saturday, 11 September 2010
-
Senior Retreat 2010
by: Jon
I did something I never thought I would do. I went on a week retreat with other seniors at my high school. I was very scared at first because I'm used to being around the students in my class, and them only. My class is very small, there is about 15 students in total, and we are grades 9 through 12. The only 12th graders are me, and 2 other people and those other 2 seniors werent able to go on the trip because their parents were nervous about letting them go. When I asked my parents they were happy to let me go because they want me to be around other people so that I can get used to being away from home without being with someone that is in my family.I didnt make friends as easily as most people, but I have made more friends than I ever thought I would. I was remembering how badly my friends from last year were treated by the "normal" students, that I was worried that I would be treated the same way. It's hard for a lot of people to understand me because they dont know what AUTISM is. They think that Autism means that a person is retarded. When people look at me, they say "you look normal". I tell them that I AM normal, I just percieve things "the Jon way". A lot of the students were asking questions about autism, and they said that they learned a lot of things and that they have more respect for it. It made me happy because I want people to know that any person with any type of "disability" or difference, can be treated just like anyone else.
But I am very happy to be back home with my family. My parents are going through a lot right now because of the problems with Brother but things will get better. Thank you to everyone who I keep in contact with, especially online, since you are the ones who usually read what I have to say. It means a lot to me
-posted by Jon
http://twitter.com/sillyjon
sillyjon93@yahoo.com
