special sons, special mom
By Winky
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
Boston, Massachusetts
July 29, 2009 12:01am CST
i have two sons who were both diagnosed with autism. my eldest who is now 13 was diagnosed when he was two-in-a-half years old and it was confirmed when he turned 4. since then, we enrolled him into special education and had his speech and occupational therapies. he has speech delay and is really hyper. to date, he is still in sped but had improved a lot.
my youngest son, who is now 8 years old and will be celebrating his 9th on the 5th of august was also diagnosed when he was four. his first experience in school was into alternative learning and a year, in regular school but, later was advised to send him to special education. to date, my youngest is now in the mainstream program which means... he is already into regular school and is now in GRADE 1. just last week he received an award from his teacher for receiving 5 gold stars in a week.
it is not easy to raise two special kids/sons but i know as a mom of two special kids...i am special too.
2 people like this
12 responses
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
29 Jul 09
Bless your heart! There are two mothers here on mylot also raising autistic children, one is mommaJ and as soon as I remember the user name of the other I will post it. I think there is at least one other but my point is these are women you may want to connect with and share stories and compare notes.
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
29 Jul 09
it's a pleasure hearing stories from parents with special kids too and giving me the chance to share my moments with mine too. do keep in touch!
1 person likes this
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
29 Jul 09
it will be nice sharing experiences and learnings from raising two special kids. thanks and i will wait for your next mail-- so i can connect with your two special moms.
1 person likes this
@seanbryan (349)
• United Arab Emirates
7 Aug 09
Hi msfrancisco!
I salute you for being a special mom! It's nice to hear that you and your husband is coping very well with parenting dealing with your two sons in a special way. I've read an article of your case saying that a child will soon recover "given the right treatment at the right time". Keep the good work and God bless!
@seanbryan (349)
• United Arab Emirates
4 Oct 09
Hi msfrancisco,
Thank you for tagging this as the best response...it makes me feel elated! Cheers.....
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
5 Oct 09
it's so nice to hear from you again. yes, seanbryan is back! you deserve the BR friend!
@ketybhagat (4123)
• India
29 Jul 09
I know it must be very hard for you to bring up two autistic kids, but let me tell you that you have done a wonderful job with them. With such specialities, your youngest got 5 gold stars! This is really amazing and Im sure your heart must be bursting with joy and pride. You definitely are special, and hats off to you. May all your troubles be small ones, and your children grow up to have normal happy lives. All the best and hugs to both of them.
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
29 Jul 09
it's so nice and relieving to hear positive things from people who really understands our journey as special mom... special parents. thank you for that stroke i need it and more blessings to people like you too.
@ketybhagat (4123)
• India
30 Jul 09
Thank you and Im sure things will work out fine. Just dont give up hope and the good work you are doing. It must be a tough task and I sure know how very patient you musts have to be with the kids. All I can do is say a prayer for your little ones. Good luck.
@doglady112 (604)
• Canada
29 Jul 09
I think that's really great your sons have a great mom. I wish I'd had a mom as great, my mom just shut me away. She made life for me a nightmare. She made me feel like I didn't deserve love or emotional closeness with anyone. I'm glad there's mothers out there who really think their children are the coolest people on the planet.
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
3 Aug 09
thanks for the affirmation. first, please allow me to give you a hug! i feel sad about your experience with your mom but don't despair i believe that experience made you more stronger and a better person. how is wish i can do something to ease some of your pains, but i assure you of my prayers and wishes that soooooonnnn you will experience that love... that motherly love that you've long missed and been deprieved of.
@grace118224 (1038)
• China
29 Jul 09
You are a strong and great mother with two special sons . As a mother too although my son is only a few month ord i do feel it's not easy to look well after a child. It takes all your time to look at him to play with him to feed him. i seldom hear of autism indeed . Maybe it's better to take children out often to meet a lot of different peopel so that he won't feel alone.
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
3 Aug 09
thanks for your affirmation! yes, it's really hard and it takes a lot of patience and LOVE to take care of special kids like ours.
we have regular schedule (family bonding) to expose our kids in the mall, church and grocery store every weekend. i am proud to say that they are trained to really behave well especially inside the church and,could easily adjust their behavior when they're inside the mall and the grocery store (relax, playful and mobile).
@TheGladys02 (104)
• Philippines
29 Jul 09
Taking care of special child is difficult. I too have a nice with same case of yours. I bring him to SPED, to his physical and occupationational theraphy, and I paid a sped teacher to come to the house for tutorial. But with the help of the sped teacher and therapist and training from the hospital the family has a systematic way of how we teach our special child inside house. Special child is need to be love and care. Patience, understanding and prayer is our guidlines. Yes it was not easy to take care of special child. Congratulation that your a speical mom . Keep the good work...
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
1 Sep 09
hi thegladys02,
as long as you let her feel that you and the family are there for her she will make it of course with all the therapies and other interventions you will be surprise with her development. cheers for our special kids!
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
29 Jul 09
Aww... you must be very happy!
We also have a little boy who was diagnosed with Autism, he is almost 4 & he is in the special education program right now along with therapy. We are seeing improvement.
Our goal is to get him into regular Kindergarten by the time he is 5. His teachers are giving us hope & believe he is doing awesome. Right now the only thing holding him back is he doesn't talk, well he does, but in his own way, plus we have lots of sensory problems to work on.
Are your boys or were they mute around 3-4? If so, when did your boys start talking?
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
29 Jul 09
hi! my boys were not mute then. they're just pointing on things that they need and want. they're able to utter a word or two but had difficulty pronouncing the words clearly. that's why we too had speech therapist for them and thanks god at 6 my youngest was able to talk and express himself clearly and is so witty. my eldest needs more time and hours for speech theraphy but is very responsible. he was able to develop certain life skills that will help him communicate and be undestood by people around him. as parents we need more time to be with them... play, talk, listen and learn with them.
you will be surprise with the development that your kid will show given the appropriate therapy, love and care... believe me they can make it!
@divkris (1156)
• India
29 Jul 09
Ofcourse you are a special mom - no doubt about it. The advantage of autism is that these kids have really good talents and parents should be the first to tap it and channelize it properly.
I've a sis with special needs, she is mentally challenged - and hats off to my mom to have borne all the agonies deep inside her mind and still helping my sis cope up with her disability. And guess what - she loves calling herlf a special mom too :)
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
29 Jul 09
i agree with you! they have special talents to cultivate to and they are extremely affectionate. my two kids always give me warm hugs and kisses everytime i arrive home from work... always a special moment...special family ever!
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
29 Jul 09
Hi msfrancisco,
Welcome to myLot!
It takes an extraordinary person to be able to face the challenge such as yours, and I feel that whatever you're going through and will go through in the future, you will rise above them all. Your kids are special and as such they were given a special mom to love them, be there to travel with them in their journey, share their triumphs and celebrate their milestones. It seems your efforts are paying off, the kids are doing well in school. You've just shared a special story here with a very important lesson: special kids can lead normal lives too, for as long as there are moms like you.
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
29 Jul 09
it's always a pleasure to share this kind of experience...living with and loving my special kids. i learned so much from them and will learn more as i join them in their journey to LIFE and SUCCESS!
thank you for inviting me to part of this group my dear friend..more discussions and sharing of minds and hearts!
@ravirai8616561 (824)
• India
29 Jul 09
I would like to say happy b'day to ur son in advance for 5th of august.I myself have my b'day on 7th.Its hurtinf for any parents to have their child with autism.Hope that God helps u to get them out of this situation.May God give Ur sons the most Happiest life one would have ever got on this earth.
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
3 Aug 09
thank you for your birthday greetings (for angelo - aug5th) and advance happy birthday to you too (august 7th). yes, it's really tough to be a parent of two special kids but very rewarding! now, that it's very evident how both of them are exerting effort to be better and even excel in school is something to be happy and proud of. you're right... life is really beautiful and even more beautiful living with and loving my two special kids. cheers!
@rahildeziner (22)
•
30 Jul 09
You are the best father in the world and i hope your son become a biggest man in the world
@zhanjian1987 (109)
• China
29 Jul 09
I feel so proud of you first,and you are a great mother.I can imagine how difficult and uneasy for you to raise your special sons and i am very sad to read your story while i am very happy and hopeful that they have a great mother who never abandon them and it is cheerful that the younger boy is now into regular school which will be a nice news for you to promote and be more confidence.
Just stick out your sons and hopefully they will totally ger rid of autism one day.It is important to hold such conviction.
you can overcome all tribulations and manage all,and real happiness will not be far from you.
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
29 Jul 09
you're right. this experience of having 2 special kids made me more stronger, and kept our family intact! my husband and i never gave up and we never failed to show them our love and care. now they are giving back that affection by...making my "house dress" ready once i arrive from work, set the table for dinner, sweep the floor and make sure that drinking water is always ready inside the refrigerator. little things but really a big accomplishment for us...that's their simple way of showing how they love us too. and of course the never ending hugs and kisses from them. i am so proud and lucky to have them as my sons!!!
