I feel like it's time to post, but don't have one coherent idea. So here are a few recent thoughts:

-The paradox that is raising a teenager

Kate has been so great lately. An unanticipated bonus to Henry switching schools this year is that his elementary school and Kate's high school share a cafeteria. They see one another every day at lunchtime! It seems to be something that's really special for both of them, and I am so thankful. Kate has also visited his classroom, and may visit regularly to read a book next semester (she doesn't have a study hall this semester).

Henry has added "I'm going to miss you, Kate" to his repertoire, and one night specifically asked HER to read him a book, rather than me or Bill. She is a junior this year, so I'm glad the two of them are enjoying their time together, before she leaves us.

And this is the paradox. One minute I'm choking up, unable to believe that the little girl I played tea parties with will be leaving us in 2 short years.

The next minute, I'm looking at her dirty socks on the floor and her trashed bedroom and her hair all over the sink, and thinking "in 2 short years I won't have to clean up after her anymore/remind her to clean up after herself. I won't have to look at her IM away-messages every time I get on the computer..."

I say stuff like "in 2 years you can eat whatever you want and stay up as late as you want. But until then..." Blah blah blah.

-Henry is smart

The bus driver said this to me the other morning: "Do you know that he is so smart? He already knows where all the kids live and in what order they get dropped off!" I was like "duh." I mean, that's vital information to an ASD kid- that's what keeps his world spinning- knowing what is coming next.

Someone gave him a "Henry and Mudge" book for his birthday. As he now has HOMEWORK (eeek!) which includes 15 minutes of reading, we have been reading it every night. The first night I read most of the story, prompting him to read a few words. The next night I paused for longer spells, and I'll be damned if he didn't read almost every word! He got stumped on a few unusual words (teacups is one that comes to mind), but read really quickly, and without protest.

-Our sitter, L, is awesome

It's been rainy for a few days. One day when I picked Tommy up, I asked "did you have to stay inside all day because it was raining?" L said "no- tell your mommy what we did." She let the kids run around outside in the rain in their underwear, and even jump on the trampoline! I can't imagine anyone better helping us raise our kids.

A friend was having some problems with her babysitter. I was relating some of them to L, and said "you know, the only time you ever did anything that upset me was when you told me you thought Henry was autistic. And you were right about that."

She said "do you know how long it took me to get up the nerve to tell you that?" I had never considered how hard that must have been for her. I don't know if I'll ever be able to tell her how much she means to me and my kids.