Three tearfull phone calls from Daughter this past week....overloaded and overwhelmed, she pushed the Mom button on her cell phone and sobbed.
The absolutely AMAZING thing is, she is able to so clearly identify what the problem is and respond with the appropriate emotion. This has always been the biggest *never gonna happen* issue in the autistic spectrum...so I just sat down and LISTENED to her.
I let her go on (and ON) about the assignments that were due, quizzes coming up, the Big Research paper....and asked her if going to the Academic Skills Center might be helpful. Perhaps an appointment with her advisor was in order? Talking to her RA in the dorm?
*No, thanks Mom. I just needed to talk to YOU.
Thanks for the comfort.*
Oh, sweet child of mine, thank YOU...
more than you can ever know.
On Sunday, I called her, just to check in and make sure she was doing alright....
Cheerfully, she told me she was making a list of all the things she had to do in the next couple of weeks and ordering them by priority. *It really isn't such a LONG list after all Mom, it's so much better now that I've Written It Down!*
We're both looking forward to the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, when I go to pick her up. Spongebob Squarepants, The Movie is on the Agenda.
Hope your Monday has a moment of sweetness....
mwah!
After reading your post my eyes are full, as your heart must be. Kids. They can make, or break, your whole being. I so respect your outlook and attitude---you're a great example for those little birds, Greta. xxoo
Posted by: Kim | November 15, 2004 at 08:48 AM
It's a grand thing to have a child that trusts you and just wants you as part of her/his life even if it's just as a listener. I'm so happy for you, why am I crying?
Posted by: Larry | November 15, 2004 at 10:23 AM
Isn't it wonderful? I'm looking forward to picking up my daughter next week, too. Happy Monday to you, too, Greta.
Posted by: Norma | November 15, 2004 at 10:28 AM
I'm so happy to hear that Daughter Bird is doing well at college. You must be bursting with pride!
I'm sure that the Spongebob movie is in my near future as well! We live with a high level of spongebob awareness around these parts! :)
Posted by: Christine | November 15, 2004 at 11:04 AM
Hugs! What a truly poignant moment! Lists are good things. I was just thinking about that Spongebob movie and hoping we'd be able to take all the kiddos to see it when we're at Grandma's (in VA) for T'giving holiday.
Posted by: sUsAn | November 15, 2004 at 11:07 AM
This is the stressful time of the year in a college student's life. Good for daughter bird for handling her stress so well. Is she available to give pointers to frazzled moms?
Thanks for your comment today, sweetie! You are too kind. :)
Posted by: Annie | November 15, 2004 at 11:11 AM
Inspiring, as always. So glad to read daughter bird is able to handle the pressures of college. :)
Posted by: Kathleen | November 15, 2004 at 11:22 AM
It brightens the day to read of you and the interaction you have with your children. What a wonderful relationship you have created.
Posted by: Margene | November 15, 2004 at 12:37 PM
Awww. That's really all there is to say. You're lucky to have your birds to make you feel so good, and they're lucky to have you to have made them who they are -- it all comes full circle.
Posted by: J Strizzy | November 15, 2004 at 03:25 PM
How cool! You should send her a "Cup of Tea" care package--so you and she could have a real cup of tea together, even just on the phone. Kudos to her on her list of priorities.
Posted by: Annie | November 15, 2004 at 04:01 PM
My daughter and I had SO many conversations like that last year when she was going to school far, far away. She'd be stressed or sad or depressed or overwhelmed or lonely (any one or combination thereof) every time she called. She told me later that even though things didn't ever sound real great when she called me (oh, and she could go on and ON, too!), it really wasn't that bad; it's just that when she was down, it was me she wanted to talk to!
Ah, the power of the list for bringing things into perspective. Yay!
Posted by: Vicki | November 15, 2004 at 04:02 PM
Ah, Greta, you give me hope!
Posted by: Laurie | November 15, 2004 at 07:16 PM
this makes me happy, you know.
i have a sister that's 5 and is autistic... *lil smile*
Good going.
Posted by: Sara | November 18, 2004 at 03:26 AM
Thank you for sharing this. I have an 8yo boy who is a very high functioning autistic. He has come a long way. Often I listen to 'experts' who claim autistic people don't get married ,have careers, etc. It is so wonderful to hear a story like this. I know my child will have a harder time than most but I alsao know that he will have a productive fulfilling life. Thank you for sharing that yours is!!!
Posted by: elizabeth | November 19, 2004 at 09:46 AM