Christmas blessings to all...

Christmas is almost over for another year. It's funny how the tree just doesn't look the same anymore. The lounge room has various gifts, bits of wrapping paper etc scattered around. The gloss and glitter just doesn't seem to have the same sheen and sparkle anymore! We had a wonderful day here today, my son and daughter, my daughter's friend from the States, my partner and I. All adults but we still shared the special moments that the spirit of Christmas brings.

The kids were all up at some ungodly hour of the morning. I believe it was around 3.30am. I refused to get up until a respectable 7.30am despite repeated nudgings from my 14 year old. Everybody was suitably spoiled by santa and we spent the rest of the day chatting, relaxing, eating and napping turn about.
My partner and I managed a few short hours of special time together early evening as the kids all went off to have dinner with their father and his new family.

Now late in the evening we are all winding down, each relaxing in our own way prior to bed. My son is staying with his dad for two weeks holiday. My daughter's friend is staying with us for approx 3 weeks so we will be trying to show her a little of Australia before she returns home.I feel truly blessed to have my loved ones with me this Christmas.
I hope your family was touched by the Christmas spirit and enjoyed a loving and relaxed day.
wishing you sunshine in your shadows
Helen

**photograph my own

How did that happen?......

My baby girl turned 18 today. I am sure all parents can relate to my question of how did that happen?
It only seems like yesterday she was a baby in my arms, a busy toddler playing dolls and dress ups or building trains and lego. I missed puberty as she was living with her father at that time. She returned home to me as a fully fledged teenager at age 14. Kate has always been old for her years and a very unique individual.

She celebrated her 18th in her own individual style today, an outing to the second hand bookshop where she enjoyed a big spending spree on foreign language books. Kate has Aspergers syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder. Obsessions are a characteristic of the disorder and Kate has had various obsessions throughout her life, foreign languages being the latest and most long lasting. (She has studied various languages over the last several years and speaks Japanese and Indonesian)

Kate's birthday cake was a plain old madeira cake as per her request. The rest of the family did enjoy a more traditional birthday cake! We are not big on parties but birthdays always involve getting together as a family and sharing cake. As fitting to the occasion Kate and I shared a Midori cocktail. I'm not sure she was impressed. I suppose she will eventually find an alcoholic drink she does enjoy but I trust she has enough sense to drink responsibly.

I wish for my darling daughter as I do for all
sunshine in your shadows (Happy Birthday darling)
Helen

Happy Birthday Sam

A day late and a dollar short as they say! My baby boy turned 14 yesterday. I was feeling unwell yesterday though so the post is a day late. I'm proud of my son, he is growing into a fine young man.
I know all mothers are biased but it never ceases to amaze me that Sam is such a well mannered young fellow.
It must be so - his teachers tell me it is!

Whilst it's a lean year this year financially we still managed a card and a couple of small gifts and a chocolate mud cake. Sam was one happy boy.
Being on the autism spectrum means Sam likes routine and sameness in his life. Every year I ask what kind of cake he would like for his birthday and every year he smiles and says just a chocolate mud cake mum.
Happy Birthday Sam - never forget mum loves you!
always wishing you sunshine in your shadows
Helen

When all else is grey and gloomy...

It's a drab dreary day here in Geelong today. Since this is my first post on this new blog I thought I would share a photo of the two biggest bits of sunshine in my life. 
My daughter and my son bring joy to my life every day. They will probably never understand how proud I am of both of them and their accomplishments. My daughter was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome when she was almost 8 years old. My son was diagnosed with Autism at age 4. Life has been a difficult journey for them both, a puzzling experience many times over. Despite all the challenges life throws their way they continue to grow and learn with enthusiasm and curiosity.Despite being on the verge of adulthood and well into puberty (my daughter is soon to be 18 and my son turns 14 next week) they will of course always be my babies! I cannot believe how they have grown. Where did those years go?


Wishing you sunshine in your shadows
Helen