Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | A nice thing happened today.

I have 3 kids, if you didn't know - 6, 4, and 2. I homeschool Luke because the school system was absolutely horrid especially given that he is a different kind of learner - he has Asperger's which bascially means he's a lot like you'd think ADHD and also very bright but has delays in language and socialization and needs things to follow a predictable routine, can't take chaotic unexpected situations or a lot of conflict, he's very sensitive too. It's actually considered on the high funtioning end of the austism spectrum. ANYWAY... why I went into all that I don't know. But I took the kids to Chic Fil A for lunch and to play today. It's always an adventure. Went soemthing like this:

First, all to the potty. NO, not in the boys, in the girls. I know you're a boy but I'm a girl. Go potty. Wash hands. Close the door, we're not done yet - wait for us all. To the playroom - shoes off, socks stay on. Shoes in the cubbies. Come back, shoes in the cubbies. Good. No, socks stay on. On your feet. Come down and put your socks back on. Good. Are you going to take your socks off? (No) Good. I go get food. Aaron (4) decides to come help me. I turn around and see that he's climbed on top the thing to reach the napkins and straws. I get him down. He carries them to the table for me. He has about 10 million napkins! We'll probably need them. We all get seated. Aaron gets his water. Tries to put the straw in by himself. He spills the entire water everywhere. I don't get mad. I send him over to tell someone to bring a mop, so he does. We clean the table - Aaron's chair is still wet so he sits in the booth with Luke and Sarah, they look cute all 3 sitting there together. Luke gets plain chicken, Sarah gets plain bread, Aaron gets a sandwich. Everybody gets a banana brought from home. We thank God for the food. Oh no it's hot! Wait for it to cool. Eat your banana first. No that's Sarah's water, this is yours. They eat most of it. Yes you can go play. Luke you cannot swing from the bar, I know it's easy but it's not safe. Sarah (2), come back, in the playroom or in your seat. Aaron do not hang on the door. Boys, you can both be the Hare, don't fight over who is Tortoise and who is the Hare. Boys come down quick Sarah has to go potty again. No not in the boys, in the girls....

I'm replaying all that because it's funny, but also because there was this family sitting on the other side of the wall from us that I noticed but didn't pay much attention to. Apparently THEY were paying attention to US. They were there when we got there. As they were leaving (after all the above happened and who knows what else) the mother came over to me. She said the funniest thing, after all our chaos she says, "I just want to tell you that you're doing a great job, I remember when mine were that age". First off, I have to pick my jaw up off the floor, look around wondering who she has me mixed up with from that morning!!

My kids always seem so out of control compared to others with 1 or 2 to keep up with. Then she says, "Keep enjoying it, my oldest is 17 now and he still talks to me about everything". I'm wondering if she is a homeschool mom and can tell I am too? I don't know, but it was neat to hear, especially when stuff was so crazy. I told her that was sure what I was hoping for but at this point I was just trying to keep them all alive that long!!!

Anyway, that was pretty out of nowhere but told her it made my day, so thanks.

I don't know why I'm sharing this - it was a big deal to me, I usually feel like when we go places people are mumbling to themselves that I "sure have my hands full" and count down the minutes till we LEAVE!

Hope everyone has a great thanksgiving - I'm thankful for our "crazy life", as the country song says, "Just another day in paradise" and I'm glad for it.

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Take care,
Michelle
...the greatest of these is LOVE. (I Cor 13)

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