It's Just Another New Year's Eve by Alysia

Happy New Year!

Ah, the end of the year.  The moment for looking back and remembering the past - the never ending TV specials of  “Top 100 Songs of The Year” or “Top 10 most fascinating people of 2010”.  It's the time when we’re supposed to think about all that we’ve accomplished in the year and make our New Year’s resolutions to improve our future. 

I stink at making those resolutions.  Either I break them in the first week (willpower is NOT a part of my vocabulary) or I make them so weak that become meaningless. Last year I resolved “to remember to take the laundry out of the washing machine before it starts to smell”.  It was a pathetic goal…and I broke it within three days of the new year.

I decided instead to look back at 2010 and see how it this year has changed me.  It has not been an easy one for us.  It was the first full year since my son Howie’s autism diagnosis.  It’s was the first year of him being in a specialized program at school and the first full year of him receiving behavior therapy and weekly OT for his sensory processing disorder.  It was the year we realized that Lewis, our youngest, had a speech delay. 

But it was also the year that I found my voice.  The year that I took on the role of being my kids’ best advocate.  The year that showed me the power of community, both in person and online.  The year I started writing.

So I thought I’d break it down into categories of how things have changed in my life this year:

I became a better mom:  For the first time in eight years as a mother, I think I finally understand my kids - all of them.  Each one of my boys has a very distinct personality.  Understanding my middle son’s autism and sensory processing disorder diagnoses has helped me relate better to each of them.  I’m more patient with all of my boys, and now that I have a better understanding of the issues that come with autism and SPD, I am better equipped to handle the difficult times that come our way.  I am not a perfect mom, nor a great mom.  But I am a good mom and getting better at it every day.
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