Welcome to OUR World!: Raising Homebodies......

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Raising Homebodies......

I am raising little home bodies.....
Dont get me wrong, as you have seen before they love to go outside and play and mess around......
But....

They are are just as content to stay inside and read and draw. Those are two of their favorite things to do. Does that seem weird to anyone else? One of my neighbors said that they thought it was weird that they never see the kids out playing with the other kids in the neighborhood.

Well that is for many reasons, I am an overprotective mom, the kids in the neighborhood are a little whacko and dont all share our same moral compass; but the main reason is they just dont ask to play with the other kids in the neighborhood (minus their friends that live at the end of the next street, our buds Andrew and Christopher, we love them). They have their specific friends that they like to play with. We dont use our community park much either, when we go outside to a park we take them to a bigger (better maintained) park where they can run and be wild and have more "safe" room to roam with their scooters and their kick balls and park toys.

I just thought maybe someone was seeing something that I am not. I know that I tend to shelter my kids a little and I have been accused of babying them too much in the past.... I just wondered is anyone else on the same page with me on this. They get plenty of time outdoors playing.... I dont think it is my job as a mom to push them into being around a bunch of kids that I am not crazy about. And am I expected to tell them "No you cant read that book you want to read, and No you cant draw me that beautiful picture taht you want to for me to hang on the fridge, you must go out and run around like a normal child so the neighbors dont think we are weird." I dont know, to me that just doesnt seem right? Whats your take on this? Has anyone else been in a similar situation.... What do you think?

I am just curious!
Love ya,
Jenn XOXOXOX

1 comment:

Unknown said...: I think your kids are proabbly just fine. I have had a few issues with people and my kids too. Everyone wants to tell you how to raise your kids and what to do with them it seems. I dont htink they are missing out especially if they dont ask to do those things.

Amy; January 9, 2009 at 2:27 PM

Post a Comment

More About Us.....

Sean is doing AMAZINGLY well (considering), If you missed the last couple updates Sean has been diagnosed with Aspergers (High Functioning Autism). It was a tough road to get to that end result, but we are picking ourselves up and dusting ourselves off and moving on in the direction that is best for the little man. Always making sure that the end result will be in his best interest.

Sean was able to be a part of a program this last couple years that has helped immensely with his sensory needs, coping mechanisms, language helps and keeping him on track educationally without the chaos of a "normal" classroom getting in the way. He made so many friends, friends that understand him and his quirks and LOVE him despite them. He was finally able to see that there are people out there like him and he is not alone in the world. We were SO blessed to have that oppurtunity. After a couple months of waiting for the new school year and homeschooling he is back in the program at a new campus and loving it (Pieceful Solutions) they are a God send for us. This next school year they are going private BUT due to a scholarship program offered by the state we are able to continue him in this amazing program AND their new campus is right around the corner from us. Couldnt be happier for them or for our little man. New adventures on the horizon. SO exciting! Check back to see how our Aspie survives the new school year at his new campus!!!

Lexi has had a rough school year last year BUT she is LOVING her new school and her new teacher, her and her BFF (in Florida) are enjoying being pen pals still. Miles cannot come between them, they are still forever friends and always have each others backs. Its nice for her to have a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen from someone who is her "two peas in a pod" bud and will always get what she is going through. She loves her and misses her terribly, but they are making it through. They are both SO excited (AND so are us moms) that we will be taking a vacation to Florida in July to see them. Its been over a year and we miss them SO much. Cant wait. It will be a great adventure; first trip to Disney World, first flight and reuniting with great friends.

After a couple months of being homeschooled last year (which really turned out to be a great experience for both of us despite the added stress at times) Lexi is very excited about being back in a brick and mortar school. She is enjoying the cheer and dance club as well and chapel time on Fridays. Its been great for her to make new friends. This year has been tough again, ups and downs with friends. BUT she is learning to make it through and cope with the fact that not everyone is nice and kind all the time. She has had a boyfriend this year and they are adorably cute together. This year has not been without its drama, but we are expecting that to be the new norm as the kids get older. If we can just make it day by day, step by step we will make it through. Keep checking back for updates on her going ons at school and with her friends.

For both kids this new school year is a BIG change and an oppurtunity for them to grown in their own ways, It has been good for them to have much different experiences and growths. As much as they grow apart in some ways they are growing closer in others. Its been a struggle, but a good life lesson for Sean to be attending Lexis class for some parts of the day. Its good to watch her friends reach out to him, and to hear her want to stand up for him with the couple kids that dont understand him. Hopefully this trend will continue and they will remain close. As much as they get on each others nerves, they both know they have each others backs. We have made it through most of the year and in one peice, thats progress in and of itself =) Hoping this will continue next year as Lexi moves onto her Middle School Campus and Sean moves onto his new campus. This will be the biggest change ever for them, Two totally different schools, new adventures around the corner.

Brandon has been working hard and traveling ALOT (still, some things never change). We have been VERY blessed that he has been able to keep steady work this last couple years or so with the economy the way that it is. And we are hoping that it just stays that way. He is looking forward to our vacation this summer and a break from work. He is getting close to burn out but hanging in there. He is AMAZING and we appreciate the hard work that he does for our family. We love him dearly and miss him like crazy!

As for me: I have been enjoying just being a mom and having the oppurtunity to help my kids learn and grow this last year or so. I was blessed with the oppurtunity to give them all of me and everything they needed this last year. And they blessed me right back with a few lessons I needed to get out of life on perserverance and endurance. I love those guys to peices; and none of it would have been possible without the hard work of my loving husband. He is amazing, and although things arent always perfect between us he never gives up and always fights hard to provide us with everything we need. I love him more than words can describe.

I am looking forward to this school year and being able to take a more stand off approach. Still being involved but seeing how much they can flourish on their own. Still being there to help them with homework and attend their fieldtrips and events. Still helping occasionally in the class, but allowing them space to thrive. The stand off approach has been good for all of us, they are settling into that well. They know I am around when they need me but they are becoming much more independent. Love those little monkies!