<p>I gained the 5 lbs I lost back - sigh - stress works the opposite on me that it does on some.</p>
<p>TROPHIES - eek forgot about them, those little dust collectors - hmm wonder if he’d notice come Christmas that they have been disappeared.</p>
<p>Oh I would never throw them out, but they would be boxed with his name on them and he can take them someday</p>
<p>OK I am as sentimental as they come but watching “Clean House” and “Clean Sweep” has made me a major purger. All of the “participation” trophies hit the dumpster years ago. The beanie babies were donated to the abused women’s shelter. The AG dolls…except Molly and Samantha as well as their accouterment sold on ebay to finance an entire Christmas’ worth of gift buying. </p>
<p>The things we have held on to are books. All of the Redwall, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Chrincles of Narnia, and Series of Unfortunate Events series, plus everything by Tamora Pierce and loads of their “little kid” books will remain safe and secure until their kids want them.</p>
<p>I can’t say the G word without crying it started on Monday and isn’t showing any signs of lessening.</p>
<p>I always wish that I could get my husband and kids out of the house for two weeks…I would get rid of so much stuff and I’m sure they’d never miss it. They would just think that I cleaned the house. Husband is the original pack rat. In 2001 we had the pantry redone from those stationary wire shelves to wooden shelves that roll out. Guess what is still in the garage? Right, the wire shelving -as if we’re ever going to remove the nice rolling shelves and return to the cheap wire stuff. At about the same time we upgraded the kitchen faucet - of course we still have the old one. I could go on and on.</p>
<p>You’ve got to have some context here. One of the things that led us to a psychologist when Son was in 4th grade was that he had no friends at school. There were nice boys in his class and he had no friends. Asperger’s diagnosis…it made sense then. Over the years he’s made some friends…in high school, more friendly folks from choir and the musicals. Definitely not the social life of many teens, but not friendless. </p>
<p>He just emailed me that he has graduation parties to go to three days in a row. He is so happy. On another thread I think someone posted that their child was invited to 59 parties. I’ll be happy with the three, thank you. Okay, now this mom has to go cry.</p>
<p>missypie, that is really heart-warming. It sounds like he has really grown, no doubt with lots of help from you. Probably nothing could be better.</p>
<p>First close my door and cry moment of the graduation season!</p>
<p>Oh missypie - how wonderful is that!<br>
The music dept had their awards the other night - 2 awards each go to band, orchestra and chorus groups. They usually give it to a super talented kid and the kid who will be a music major. BOTH orchestra awards went to a boy who has Asperger’s. He got a standing ovation. I don’t think I ever saw a happier child - ever! It was such a terrific moment for him and - I might add - completely deserved</p>
<p>missypie: You must be so proud. Look at how far he’s come in such a short time. I mean really 4th to 12th ISN’T that long. Sometimes I know that it seems it but what a change. Friend from works oldest was just diagnosed with Asperger’s. I’ll need to fill her in on this. I know that she is always saying how she hates trying to do birthday parties as no one wants to come and she always invites his entire class!!! It’s great to hear about someone who is coming out on the other side.</p>
<p>Enjoy this time and relish the changes that your son has made.</p>
<p>Missypie - I don’t know if it was me you were referring to…D is inviting over 50 kids to her party, but I’m sure she won’t get asked to that many. I did notice that a boy in her Drama class who she is friendly with (and he has Aspergers) is on her guest list. </p>
<p>You know the more parents I talk to, the more I hear about so many kids who struggle in some way. I know both of mine have. Let’s celebrate each child’s accomplishments and what great things they have done. All the best to your son.</p>
<p>WAHHH Missypie–that is so nice. We don’t “do” many graduation parties around here for HS, though people do them for college. </p>
<p>And I started to lose the five pounds today----again…</p>
<p>I just asked S if he had any grad parties to go to and he said no he has not been invited to any - my turn to cry.</p>
<p>missypie, how wonderful. I love your close the door and cry moment.</p>
<p>historymom, me too with the G word.</p>
<p>S1 brought his yearbook home tonight and it had me weeping all over the place.</p>
<p>prom tonigt. everyone looked awesome and all were very excited. weather did not cooperate so had procession indoors. no water pictures. Atleast they are happy. I did start to get choked up as this is prelude to bacclaureate and graduation this week. Can’t stop it. Why did it have to come so quickly? These kids are not from my town so I will not see them again. I hope my D keeps in touch with some. i grew very fond of some of them, I want to know how things go with them.</p>
<p>history, missy and harriet—hugs to you guys, those close the door and cry moments are challenging…</p>
<p>to quote Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz,
“scholars and yearbooks and grads oh my”</p>
<p>oh wait, that was
“lions and tigers and bears, oh my”</p>
<p>Plantmom - we have the Star Destroyer, too! But it was too big for S’s bedroom, so it has lived in the family room for the last 8-9 years. Along with the pirate ship and robotic thingy Legos and the cases of Magic cards and the Warhammer pieces and the 2 guitars and the sheet music and the video games. Sigh. And the construction paper alligator from pre-school is still on the wall over there. I can’t even contemplate putting these things away right now.</p>
<p>Legos - check. In fact, boys came upon them the other day, bonded over how they were all lego “nerds” when they were young and then had a contest to see who could come up with the best build in 30 minutes. Seriously impressed. They are all still on the mantle.</p>
<p>Weeds - check. Have them, keep pulling them and hope I will have time to plop some flowers in the window boxes and a few pots (not to mention fill the holes in the garden) by Monday when MIL arrives. I cant even begin to describe her. It will sound like I made it up.</p>
<p>AG Dolls - freshman daughter has hers and older D’s on the top of her bookcase/desk thingy. All clothes and various accessories from Molly to bitty babies have their own trunks that I found at Pier one about two years ago. They will even stack. Best buy ever.</p>
<p>Transformers: still have a rubbermaid box of them, along with another of playmobile and barbies for future grandkids.</p>
<p>Lacrosse section finals tomorrow night. OUr team has gotten further than we ever expected. Hugely exciting around here but can I just confess here that I can think of worse things than having the season end tomorrow. I have stuff to do!!! All the family arrives on Monday! Egads… where’s my xanax?</p>
<p>you guys all deserve these great moments. Congratulations</p>
<p>Depending on when you graduate, I think the invites are just starting to be thought of, and sent. People around here are so rushed that it’s all still being formalized. Prob the same everywhere.</p>
<p>Modadunn - I have the same checklist but the offspring in question is a rising college junior - still haven’t cleared out his stuff. And he’s the neat one - kindof…
I really can’t wait to hear your MIL stories - I think I’ll be able to top you. Mine won’t be coming till the end of June but she sounds strangely similar.</p>
<h1>theorymom, when is your graduation? There are a lot of possibilities, here, including the one that he’s been invited and lost the (paper) invitation, or never paid attention to it, or that people are still sorting out dates, etc. And some areas are bigger on graduation parties than others are.</h1>
<p>Fingers crossed that he’s included - and for at least one he would actually like to attend!</p>