School Girl

I found this quote the other night and I thought it very appropriate considering how well Grace has been doing at school this past week:

Grace: The outward expression of the inward harmony of the soul.

Somehow it fits. We don't know what is going on inside her head because she can't speak but she finds ways to let you know what she needs. 

And she seems to love being with other kids. 

There are times when it is difficult : when she cries and you can't help her because you don't know what is wrong is the worst time.

But when she is on... you would do anything for her.

My little girl loves school!

Gracie goes to kindergarten.

My girl went off to school with the big kids today. More importantly, she went off to school with the "typical" kids.
That's the term they use today instead of "regular" or "normal".  But that doesn't matter. What does is that she is accepted at a regular school.
We spent all last week walking the school with Grace's Tss, Miss Heather. She seemed comfortable most of the time we were there. We got to meet her teachers, who seemed very interested in what we are doing with Grace.
          SO the big day came. Naturally her sleep pattern is off so she was up at 5 and was grumpy when I woke her at 7:30.  Naturally, there were behaviors but I was confident (or I tried to be) that they would subside when we got to school, like they did during the kindergarten trial sessions. And that is exactly what happened. I was able to walk her to her room with Miss Heather and Miss Rachelle, and I even got a hug before she went in to class. I did manage to get away without tears because I think I was so relieved to have gotten her there without stress that I didn't have time to process it.

with Miss Heather

I was hoping we would get to take pictures at the bus stop with the neighborhood kids, but that would have probably caused more harm than good anyway. I still have yet to learn that the Gracie way is not like anyone else. We don't do the same things. We do different things and that's ok.

with Miss Rachelle

Just the fact that she is in that school is a huge accomplishment. She has had so many great people supporting her and helping her along the way.
Her BSC, Miss Rachelle is rock solid and knows everything and Miss Heather has been with Grace since we started with ABA therapies. And all the other people who were and are apart of those therapies have been amazing. I also don't think we would be where we are without the support of her Aunt Angela, who also knows everything about special needs and education. We just hope that she will find the same kind of support at the school.
Of all the books I've read about kids with autism, the parents always say the most important thing is that the child has a good relationship with the people they work with at the school. Here's hoping we are on our way there.

Big Day Tomorrow

Tomorrow my Gracie goes to Kindergarten. Just like any other child. 

That is all I can ask for.

And I am not nervous about it. 

We have taken her to school every day this week and I think she likes it.

I think she will be good and I think she will do good. 

And I love her so much!

Bronies, ponies and the Spectrum

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So, what is a  BRONY?

A brony is a fan of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic that is outside the target demographic of little girls. Most bronies are friendly teenagers and young adults that simply aren't afraid to admit to enjoying a show that is innocent, colorful, and funny. 

We went to BronyCon this past weekend. Yes, Joy is a brony. There were around 8000 Bronies in Baltimore this weekend too. All ages, guys and girls. 

It's like any other fandom: The Avengers, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, Star Wars. They watch it for the characters and the plot. They get together to talk about what they like.  There were a lot of artists and video makers and music makers and that is what Joy is all about right now.

 

This year, however, I noticed something that I missed last year.

There were a lot of BRONIES on the AUTISM SPECTRUM.

and though I've never been to COMIC CON, I am pretty sure I would see a lot of the same there.

When you live with autism everyday, you learn to see the signs that someone else might not notice, or relate to autism.

But the thing that impressed me most is that these kids, autism or not, were out there together, enjoying themselves, regardless of what anyone else thought of them. 

There was one boy at a concert (yes, Bronies have concerts too)

he was weaving in among the crowd sideways without touching anyone. ( Autism, yes?) A lot of them kept to themselves but were still out there with all the other Bronies. For an autistic person, this is a big feat. 

The shows are well written and funny and they all have a message about friendship- and the characters are great! SO Is it bad if people outside of the targeted demographic like the show?

If we go again next year, I am going to do a study or at least question the Brony psychologist( yes, there is a brony psychologist) . Love and Tolerate is the Brony motto. They are very supportive of each other too. So I am glad to be a brony mom for as long as her interest continues. Who knows , Joy may end up as a creator for a Generation 6 or 7 animated series!