Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Growing up
When, oh please Lord WHEN will my 85 pound son realize he's not so little anymore and stop leaping on me like he's got the prowess of a cat??
Funnies from William...
Watching Scooby Doo on Sunday, one of the characters called another a "scaredy cat." He said, "Hey, he's not a scaredy cat, he's a scaredy HUMAN!"
Cocooned (wrapped tightly in a blanket) last night, starting wriggling across the carpet like a worm...cute!
I asked him if he was excited about school starting: "I'm excited! But I don't wanna go."
Cocooned (wrapped tightly in a blanket) last night, starting wriggling across the carpet like a worm...cute!
I asked him if he was excited about school starting: "I'm excited! But I don't wanna go."
I know you're out there :-)
Hey all! I just wanted to give a shout out to my silent lurker...LORI! Hi Lori!!
Chris told me you're here...blame him. HA!
Chris told me you're here...blame him. HA!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
It's officially back-to-school season...
The kids have picked up their packets and know who their teachers will be. The supplies are purchased. There are new clothes. New haircuts are next on the agenda. They are getting excited. There is one week left...
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
4 Posts in ONE day???
Heehee...I really should be working...shhhhhhhh!
Just putting this out there that I will be participating in the Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism on Sunday, October 12!!! You can join the "Walking for William" team and walk with us and/or offer a donation!!!!
My personal webpage for this event is:
http://www.walknowforautism.org/columbus/personal/cyndeewhitaker
or you can go to the walknowforautism site and search for the Columbus, Ohio walk and team "Walking for William!"
Thanks!!!
Just putting this out there that I will be participating in the Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism on Sunday, October 12!!! You can join the "Walking for William" team and walk with us and/or offer a donation!!!!
My personal webpage for this event is:
http://www.walknowforautism.org/columbus/personal/cyndeewhitaker
or you can go to the walknowforautism site and search for the Columbus, Ohio walk and team "Walking for William!"
Thanks!!!
Lasting Impressions
This past weekend, my friend Chris was in town from NYC (YAY!!). I'll get into that more later, but I got to see him briefly at a group happy hour on Friday night, and then again on Sunday afternoon when the kids and I met up with he and Keith at the home of our former 5th grade teacher, Mr. Will.
I'd like to say that what drew us back to that teacher was just a sheer coincidence, nothing more than chance. But sadly, that's not the case. I had read in the paper about his wife dying of a heart attack. My heart hurt for him. That man had such an amazing impact on my life.
We had moved to Ohio from Kansas that summer and he was my first teacher at my new school. I was late my first day of class because I wasn't shown as bring registered at yet, and therefore hadn't been assigned a teacher. I have a certain level of social anxiety anyway, so walking into that classroom after it had already started the mornings activities was MORTIFYING for me. I was mortified even more when this most beloved teacher made a joke about me being late and it was only the first day. I still remember what I was wearing...that's how vivid that day is to me.
There were two "Cindys" in the class that year, so he asked me if he could call me by my initials, "CB." I hated it, but I was new, shy, intimidated, and friendless, so I agreed. By year's end, it seemed like a term of endearment. And my friends called me "CB" until Jr. High. Ugh!
We had moved to Ohio to be closer to my father, but the relationship between my father and I continued to be sparce and strained. In my mind, Mr. Will had become like a surrogate father. He made me laugh, his lessons were unforgettable, he took an interest in all of our struggles and successes, and he showed true compassion for his students. On more than one occasion, this little dark-haired girl who wore her heart on her sleeve would end up in tears. He would take me out and say something funny and tell me I was a good kid, to ignore what the bullies had to say, and I would feel so much better. I even got to the point where everyday, before I left for home, I would ask if I could have a hug...and I would get one.
The day before Spring Break, I must have been even more chatty than usual, because I was assigned a 500 work essay on why I was talking, that I had to complete over break. Well, I had been warned...3 times. I wasn't angry at the assignment, I wasn't upset that I would have to spend some of my much-beloved break-time freedom trying to explain that I was asking for help on a math assignment, I was devastated because I felt like I had let down Mr. Will, let down a parent.
He was the first person in my life who, on a regular basis, made me feel worthwhile; that I was smart enough, strong enough, and worthy enough to do whatever I wanted, to be whoever I wanted. I don't think there is any special reason for this. I do not think I got any extra attention, any extra effort, any extra input from him than he gave the rest of his students, than he continues to give his students, but he still made such a huge impression on me....just by being him.
This post just doesn't do justice.
I'd like to say that what drew us back to that teacher was just a sheer coincidence, nothing more than chance. But sadly, that's not the case. I had read in the paper about his wife dying of a heart attack. My heart hurt for him. That man had such an amazing impact on my life.
We had moved to Ohio from Kansas that summer and he was my first teacher at my new school. I was late my first day of class because I wasn't shown as bring registered at yet, and therefore hadn't been assigned a teacher. I have a certain level of social anxiety anyway, so walking into that classroom after it had already started the mornings activities was MORTIFYING for me. I was mortified even more when this most beloved teacher made a joke about me being late and it was only the first day. I still remember what I was wearing...that's how vivid that day is to me.
There were two "Cindys" in the class that year, so he asked me if he could call me by my initials, "CB." I hated it, but I was new, shy, intimidated, and friendless, so I agreed. By year's end, it seemed like a term of endearment. And my friends called me "CB" until Jr. High. Ugh!
We had moved to Ohio to be closer to my father, but the relationship between my father and I continued to be sparce and strained. In my mind, Mr. Will had become like a surrogate father. He made me laugh, his lessons were unforgettable, he took an interest in all of our struggles and successes, and he showed true compassion for his students. On more than one occasion, this little dark-haired girl who wore her heart on her sleeve would end up in tears. He would take me out and say something funny and tell me I was a good kid, to ignore what the bullies had to say, and I would feel so much better. I even got to the point where everyday, before I left for home, I would ask if I could have a hug...and I would get one.
The day before Spring Break, I must have been even more chatty than usual, because I was assigned a 500 work essay on why I was talking, that I had to complete over break. Well, I had been warned...3 times. I wasn't angry at the assignment, I wasn't upset that I would have to spend some of my much-beloved break-time freedom trying to explain that I was asking for help on a math assignment, I was devastated because I felt like I had let down Mr. Will, let down a parent.
He was the first person in my life who, on a regular basis, made me feel worthwhile; that I was smart enough, strong enough, and worthy enough to do whatever I wanted, to be whoever I wanted. I don't think there is any special reason for this. I do not think I got any extra attention, any extra effort, any extra input from him than he gave the rest of his students, than he continues to give his students, but he still made such a huge impression on me....just by being him.
This post just doesn't do justice.
He's Graduating...
Okay, not actually graduating, but...
William has gone as far as he can with outpatient OT. They will transition him into the new school year (at a new school) and then at the end of September they are turning him loose! YAY WILLIAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
William has gone as far as he can with outpatient OT. They will transition him into the new school year (at a new school) and then at the end of September they are turning him loose! YAY WILLIAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, August 04, 2008
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