guest posting at hannah's happy days

Hello Friends!

I know it has been awhile. Although I still read all my favorite blogs in the early morning while I drink my coffee, I have found that after teaching 1st graders and then tending to my family leaves me too exhausted to write. I miss it. Which is why I am SO excited to be over at Hannah's, Happy Days, with a  guest post about motherhood. I love Hannah to pieces. I'm sure you are familiar with her, but if not, please check out her beautiful blog here. 

Much love,
Katie

dear my son (who happens to be on the autism spectrum)

Dear My Son,

April is Autism Awareness Month and it is with a heart of gratitude that I thank you for making me more aware.

More aware of the gifts, more aware of my weaknesses, more aware of my strengths, and more aware of the fact that differences are truly under appreciated. You've shown me that being like everyone else is grossly overrated.

But, I have to admit that in the beginning, I was scared and uncertain of where this journey would take us.

However, I have to say that we are now changed people. We are not perfect, but we are trying so very hard.

I am incredibly thankful that we have turned our initial focus of changing you to be like us "typical" (whatever that means) folks, to us becoming  more compassionate and accepting of you just as you are; perfectly made.

Autism does not need to be cured. We know that now. For you are you and there is nobody else we'd want you to be. Always know that my son.

There is so much beauty and talent that derives from your specially wired brain. We are in awe of your abilities and unique gifts.

Autism simply needs to be talked about and understood.

 It needs to be embraced and supported.

So we honor you this month and every month because of the wisdom you have shared with us and for changing us in ways we didn't even know that needed to be changed.

Thank you, my son, for making us better parents. You are a gift and we celebrate you.

Much love,
Mom

easter 2013

My kids take their egg dying seriously; hence the straight faces.

I should say the same about their egg hunting. They don't mess around when there is candy at stake.

We had a fun day celebrating Easter with my side of the family. Sun, family, delicious food...what a perfect day. Well, it was a perfect day minus my mischievous 5 year old pouring green Gatorade on my sister's white car. Fortunately for him, my sister handles those things much better than I do!

I hope your Easter was filled with blessings and joy. 

Much love,

Katie

the latest and greatest

The goodness of March means...

Pinewood Derby preparation at Nana and Pops...

Seeing their race cars in action...

A dehydration trip to the ER for Charlie...

This kid is all better, but it was quite a scare! I wasn't too thrilled with my Fun Time Charlie being out of commission. Children's Hospital knows how to hook a kid up, though and make a trip to the ER fun.

Wishing each of you a Happy Easter!

Much love,
Katie

was it supposed to be like this?

I think I had a Walt Disney version of parenting prior to having my 3 boys.

It took just one day home from the hospital with our 1st born to show me that all my cotton candy visions needed to be chucked out the window.

Frequently, I have to do a check and balance of this motherhood gig. What is my purpose? Am I doing okay or I am a total failure?

Tough days make me question what being a mother is all about even more.

Don't get me wrong. Though there are many special moments like reading favorite stories together at bedtime, baking chocolate chip cookies, and celebrating special occasions that make my motherhood title bold and proud, I know it is much more than that.

This week, being a mother means throw up buckets and Gatorade.

It means looking like a train wreck. Um, do you see my "fine" lines?

(in all my sick kid glory)

They are not so fine, but they are representing motherhood like none other.

So what if my unrealistic expectations vs. reality of motherhood have crashed head on? Does it change my definition of motherhood?

I suggest that it defines me even greater as a mother since motherhood is a journey filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.

Like me, you may ask, was it supposed to be like this?

Yes.

All of it.

Much love,
Katie

blog lovin'

I'll be honest, I'm not sure about the whole google reader vs. bloglovin' shindig that's happening, but if you would like to continue following minivan diva, please click on the bloglovin' link on my sidebar.

How was your weekend, friends? I'm sitting on a bed with a bucket and a sick kid. Fun times. Fun times.

Much love,
Katie

when the fuel is low

There are just times when you have nothing but glimpses of happy to hang on to when the circumstances get to be too much.

Parenting has a way of knocking the wind out of you.

The exhaustion can be too much at times. It does not just take down one, it takes us all down.

It is not forever, but it sure can feel like it.

However, the wind returns. Our lungs expand again. We exhale.

Though trials of tantrums, autism spectrum disorder, and boys that seem to argue more than they get along make me feel like I want to shut down, I stand firm. I refuse to shut down. I am not a shut down kind of girl.

Instead, I fuel myself with what I can. It may not be much, but I absorb it and let it carry me through the rough patches of this parenting journey.

Behold my fuel.

80 degree weather and a make-do pool complete with a diving board...

Painting in swim trunks...

Shadows...

A love bug girl just trying to make sense of it all...

A boy who could teach his mama a thing or two about kicking back.

Random Legos on my counter. I will miss these one day...

Wishing you a week full of fuel, friends.

Much love,
Katie