A Perfect Day

This is our daughter hugging Laurie Berkner. Most people with young children who have watched Nick Jr. or Noggin know her songs. There are moments in our lives, both simple and profound that come with a soundtrack. Songs from The Laurie Berkner Band are part of our soundtrack.

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The day Mae was diagnosed with autism, I called Dave from the parking garage to tell him the news. To cover up my sobs, I played Mae's favorite CD. After a few minutes I heard her singing along with Laurie Berkner, "I'm not perfect. No I'm not. I'm not perfect, but I've got what I've got. I do my very best. I do my very best. I do my very best each day, but I'm not perfect and I hope you like me that way." My heart will never forget that moment. I'd often thought of sending the band a letter to tell them how much that song meant to me in that moment.

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We learned the band planned a show in Providence this month. After considering the drive, finding dog care and cost we decided not to go. While I was on their website I sent an email with our story. The response came quickly from a member of their team. "If you ever come to a concert, we do meet and greets for our special needs fans." We quickly changed our minds, ordered tickets to the show and made travel arrangements. After the show we stood in line with other families waiting for our turn to meet the band. When they called us Mae ran into the room, did a flying leap into Laurie Berkner's arms and gave her a big hug. Laurie closed her eyes, accepted Mae's hug and hugged her back. Mae then got down from Laurie's lap, waved goodbye and ran out of the room. She was so excited! We all called to her, "Mae! Come Back!" I wonder if I'd do the same thing if I had a meet and greet with Kid Rock.

I told them our "I'm Not Perfect" story. The tears began before I even opened my mouth.

Progress

We rode by our friend's house recently and Sam declared, "C & K have kids." Our friends have been a couple and good neighbors for more than eight years. We told him we hadn't heard they have kids and he confidently responded, "They do. They have kids, I saw toys in their yard. C & K have kids now."

Our friends C & K are two women in a committed relationship who run a successful construction company together. Dave and I are impressed that Sam has no barriers when considering what constitutes a family. I am proud to live in a state, be part of a community and a member of a family that raises a child who is unaware of the discrimination his parents have seen.

"Give me a big toothless grin!"

He did.

Got Snow?

Dave after snow blowing yesterday

I almost didn't post these photos because Facebook was flooded with pictures from my Vermont friends yesterday. Today while looking out this window I realized it needed to be done. All day yesterday I thought about the movie "Storm of the Century." "I'm a little teapot short and stout...."

Contradiction

Yesterday's temperatures in the high 40's brought us a little bit of thaw. This morning I was out with dogs during a heavy snowfall and saw the stream flowing. Rushing water is usually what we hear in spring or after a summer storm. I thought it was worth saving.

He's A Smooth Operator

I was on guard tonight because Sam didn't get his medicine this morning. Before I was told he didn't get it, I knew as soon as he got off the bus this afternoon. I stayed close to him all afternoon and evening to keep his impulsively from getting out of hand. It was draining and thank goodness I had a nap this afternoon. Bedtime couldn't come soon enough.

After books we settled in and turned off his light. Sam has glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling above his bed that he sometimes re-arranges. Tonight I noticed a cluster of stars, one big and two small above his lamp that glowed the brightest. Before I said anything he said, "Those stars are you, me and Mae."

The constellation on Sam's ceiling is my reward for not completely losing it tonight. He's good.