So I find myself thinking that I am so thankful for my "external brains." You might call them friends. Best friends. It is often said that our kids with FASD need the help of an external brain when their brain is not able to process the overload of things bombarding it. So to, with an exhausted brain like mine. I had a wonderful time with friends last week. I am so incredibly blessed to have a group of friends who "get" it. We truly carry each other's burdens and share each other's joys. If there was a gift I could give to a new Mom on this journey of raising special needs children, it would be to wrap them in a group of friends like I have.
My friends "get it" and can laugh wit me and cry with me when things are rough...but they also provide me with an invaluable tool when I need it...they serve as my "external brain." Our 13 year old has had a terrible few weeks. Duh...I totally forgot that he moved into our home on December 20th 8 years ago. His anniversary date always causes him great stress even though he is not consciously aware of it. This year, I had totally forgotten about this. But I have external brains--my friends who could help me remember. All of the sudden, things make more sense in my world again.
And then there are the sleeping issues, medication issues and urology issues that we are having with the kids. On a good nights sleep and with no other stress going on, I might be able to sort out the next steps I need to take. But, being sleep deprived, I need the help of my friends to point me in the right direction. Their insight has brought our family stress down to a much more tolerable state. By the way, I love January...we can get back to the structured routines that our kids thrive on and everyone seems to settle down around here. Life is feeling so much more manageable now...
