The struggles continue. We have started them on meds for ADHD and now I have to find some form that both will take for other meds; melatonin and iron. Iron is for the girl as she doesn’t eat meat (or fruit, or veggies) and the doc worries that she may be anemic. Not a good thing for anyone, but especially with her heart condition.
Melatonin is for both, but mostly for the boy who has anxiety issues and is back out of bed at least 3x a week. He will come down and say that he is scared and the reasons range from a video he saw, to worrying about death and dying (what will happen to him if I die, worrying about the aging grandparents…) and the new one is worrying about his sister as she doesn’t finish all of her food some days.
*Sigh. Let mommy worry about that, and you worry about getting enough sleep so that you aren’t grumpy or sleepy at school tomorrow … is usually my response.
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Our province is also going through a period of rain storms that have caused flooding in the main farming area of our province. Many have been forced from their homes and need to rebuild only to have more rains come. Stores are empty in areas due to stocking and access issues. Gas is rationed. Borders issues with the States. The list goes on.
In the midst of this, I have actually put up the Christmas decor, which is a significant feat for me as I usually don’t like it, don’t want anything to do with it, … I tolerate it and the commercialization of the season. I guess this year I needed something to look for , to hope with. Despite my child’s greed about presents, we have determined that our kids have too much stuff and there will not be an abundance of gifts this year from us or Santa. We figure there is enough from grandparents, etc to add to the piles.
Hubby has asked if he needs to buy something for me or if he “has already done this” *wink (meaning have I bought something and told him that was what he got me). I told him, you got me a new TV so there is that. I was getting annoyed with squinting to read the subtitles from the other end of the room, so we got a bigger screen and it is a smart TV, so it now has only 1 remote instead of 2, and more apps on the TV whereas we had the Firestick (amazon) in the basement where I hardly went. I have discovered shows that I watched in the 80s or have wanted to see but didn’t have the time or platform for it.
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There has also been protests at the BC legislature about changes to the funding for special needs. Currently most autism funding is through the BC gov’t from the Autism Funding Unit. There was an announcement about funding changes to create hubs instead of the current direct funding we currently have. AFU should be increased in amount has been a long said critique. Instead, BC has decided that in order to provide access to services for the various disabilities, diagnosed or otherwise, they will pool it all into hubs. This model has been used in Ontario and has been criticized for increasing wait times to gain access to services. My issue is that information is vague; no budget listed, no information about WHO will determine WHAT services are to be provided, or their credentials to make this determination. In trying to help the masses, I worry that they will hurt more than help. So to that end there have been protests and one will be on December 3, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. I’m torn. I know that I should go. I also have been thinking that I should join the letter writing campaign (to my MLA) about this, but frankly I have little energy for all of this. I’m trying to put my finger on it, but it is reminding me of when I was working in healthcare and they talked about the demoralization of the staff. I think that is it, or the closest thing that I can think of to describe this feeling. The fact that I have to fight so hard for basic access to things that have been deemed essential or fact. It takes so much energy to advocate for things, and it is so far out of my comfort zone that I worry that I will make a horrible faux pas and thus screw my chances (and my twins’) for getting what services are needed.
That ASD Mom 