Dear Mrs. Winston

I remember meeting you about a year ago when you were campaigning for a seat on my county's school board. You were walking through our neighborhood, ringing doorbells and shaking hands, trying to get your name in front of the voters.

When you stopped at my house, you asked if I had children in school. I chuckled and said yes. You just had to ask one more question then, didn't you? You wanted to know how things were going for my children.

I started to tell you, and then invited you inside since I knew the discussion would be a long one. At that point, I saw the panic in your eyes, and a new appointment you 'just couldn't miss' was revealed.

Well, Mrs. Winston, you did win the election and you are now the school board representative for my area, the area in which all my children's schools exist. In fact, you spoke at my son's senior honors assembly on Wednesday. You were one of the 'distinguished guests' the program said. However, I must take issue with something you said.

You were speaking directly to the seniors. You told them that the County School Board spent $9050.00 on each of them, and then followed that with the admonition that you expected great things for that money.

Well, here's my problem with your statements. I believe it is the taxpayers that spent that money - not the county school board. Yes, you write the checks, but we the parents, the grandparents, the neighbors, and the friends are making those checks good.

Oh, and one other thing, my son does not have to prove himself and make good on the money spent on him purely to make you and the rest of the school district staff feel good. He will definitely do well in life - he already is - and his teachers played an important role in that - but you, Mrs. Winston, really didn't do anything. So, in the future, please keep your admonitions to yourself.

Sincerely yours,
Ashley's Mom

p.s. Yes, we will probably have this same conversation at least three more times as my other children reach the end of their high school careers. Perhaps you would like to rethink your distinguished speech for them.

Thankful Thursday

This edition of Thankful Thursday is dedicated to my son, Chip. Chip graduates from high school this year, and I couldn't ask for a better son!



Today I am thankful...

• that Chip has a plan for his life and is acting on that plan. I realize his plans may change, but I have no doubts that he will adjust as necessary.


• that learning has come easily to Chip. With all the other 'things' in his life, not the least of which is being a sibling to three adopted children with disabilities, it is good that he didn't have to struggle academically also.


• that Chip serves as a wonderful role model for his siblings. They can see the results of committment and drive. They can see his success and hopefully realize that their success can be defined also by their actions.


• that Chip was accepted to the college of his choice and that the college is in our hometown. I wasn't quite ready for him to leave the nest just yet...


• for the scholarships that Chip has received. It takes a bit of the weight off my shoulders.


• for the awards and honors he received at his high school senior assembly yesterday, and that it really bothered him that not all his classmates received honors.


• for the levelheaded way he is managing his money and preparing for the unexpected costs and fees associated with starting college.


• that he has matured into a fine man, a man full of compassion and understanding, a man with a drive to make the world a better place.


• and that he still calls me 'Mommy', but don't tell him I told you that!

Special Exposure Wednesday

UPDATE: We have a winner! Kitty and Queenbuv3, I took both guesses and researched them on the Internet. Here is a link I found for the Eye hawk Moth and one for the Hyalophora Cecropia. Based on that research, the winner is Queenbuv3!!! Queen, send me your mailing information via my email link on this page, and I will send your prize to you!

We had an unexpected visitor at our house yesterday afternoon! I have no idea if it is a butterfly or a moth (I'm leaning towards moth), but Ashley loved it! I have a special prize waiting for the person who can tell me exactly what it is :)



Be sure to check out all the other Special Exposure Wednesday shots at 5 Minutes For Special Needs!

Around the Blogosphere

Over the last week, I ran across several interesting stories on the Internet.

First, I never thought about what a hazard the new and very quiet electric cars could present to people who are blind. But apparently in the UK, someone has thought about it. Electric cars in the UK will be made to sound like noisy sports cars after concerns were raised that silent vehicles posed a danger to blind people and cyclists.

If folks have problems with that concept, perhaps we could turn the tables and put people who are blind behind the wheel of a car. That is exactly what the Colorado Center For The blind did!

And finally, since 18 month old Devin Sheppard is too young for driving school, his mother is worried that his blindness will create a major safety issue on the busy street on which they live. His mother, a woman from my home state of Virginia is trying to get drivers to slow down and be aware that her young son is blind. Her efforts included asking the transportation department to erect a sign indicating that a blind child lived on the street.

I have two signs on either end my road that state 'Deaf Child Area'. I asked to have it installed about 8 years ago, and had no problems from the transportation department in my area. But Devin's mother is finding that things have changed.

When Devin's mom contacted the Virginia Department of Transportation, a VDOT spokesperson said in 2007, at the recommendation of Virginia Board of People with Disabilities, they did away with specific signs for the blind or deaf, for example.

I sure would like to understand the reasoning behind that decision, and since the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities is housed in the office building right next to mine, I think I will pay them a visit.

How do other states handle this? Have you ever asked for a similar sign and either gotten it or been turned down?

Have you seen any interesting stories this week? If so, please share!

Memorial Day

Saying thank you just doesn't seem like enough....

When Is It Bullying?

At the IEP meeting this week for my 16 year old son, Corey, a comment shared by one of Corey’s teachers was that Corey had a hard time knowing when his peers were joking around. Corey would take the joking personally and get upset and frustrated.

Corey is diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and peer relationships have always been a bit of an issue for him. But, I was seeing a few red flags this time.

The day before the IEP meeting, Corey came up to me as soon as I arrived home from work, and in his typical ‘Corey style’, asked me, “Is it considered assault if someone comes up from behind, pulls back on your throat, and covers your mouth?” I told him yes, that could be considered assault in certain circumstances. He turned and left and appeared not to want to share anymore information.

The IEP meeting comment coming so close to Corey’s question, made me start thinking about bullying. I know most of our school systems are hypersensitive to the issue of bullying, and Corey’s IEP team was very responsive when I broached the subject. But, it just made me wonder. How do you know when joking around becomes bullying?

Normally, I would rely on how my child is feeling – does it feel like joking around or worse than that? But with Corey, and his often inaccurate reading of emotions, I just don’t know.

What are some of the warnings I should be on the lookout for? Have any of you had to deal with bullying and your child with disabilities, and if so, what tipped you off to the fact that it was happening?

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful...

• for summer foods - pasta salad, marinated cucumbers, grilled bread


• that Ashley only got up one time last night. I feel great when I get three hours of straight sleep!


• that Dianne and her cutie son, Collin, are home from the hospital following his trach surgery


• that Dancing With The Stars ended last night and American Idol ends tonight. I need to get back to doing something other than watching television!


• for the upcoming three day weekend - three whole days with my family!


• that Corey's IEP went very well yesterday. Of course, he's the easiest of my three receiving sped services for the schools to accommodate and teach appropriately


• that my vegetable garden is growing well. The plants that were just a few inches tall when I planted, are now about 6-8 inches tall.


• for meals with my children every night. I know so many families who seldom see their teenaged children.


• that Jessica lost 3 pounds last month. Excess weight causes significant problems to her left leg and ankle but exercise and eating healthy are hard concepts for her to embrace.


• for Fig Newtons - I LOVE them!