Great Teens

Today was parent-teacher conferences for Lauren and Austin.  I didn’t get to go, obviously, but Kevin went and gave me the full report.

I don’t think I have ever been sooo proud of two kids who have the worst grades.  I won’t embarrass them with what their grades are, but lets just say they aren’t making honor roll. Most of their issues have to do with not turning in their homework assignments.  Or they turn them in incomplete.  The kids have a really tough time asking for help.  When they were with their biological mom, they would get screamed at and verbally degraded when they asked for assistance.  Even at home they have a tough time asking questions but they are slowly learning that questions are welcomed and encouraged. 

I’m sooo proud of them though!!  All of their teachers praised both of them.  They both got kudos for their magnificent sense of humor.  We try not to take life too seriously around our house so it was nice to see that is spilling over into school.  Lauren’s teacher’s love how compassionate she is.  They also praise her maturity.  Austin’s teacher’s are in awe of his honesty.  He is so straightforward and honest about everything.  With both kids there was the occasional teacher who said, “I’m not supposed to say this, but your child is one of my favorites.”  It made Kevin and I really feel like we are doing something right with these kids.  I’m sure if Kevin could get away with it, he would proudly stand on a table and scream, “Those are my babies!!”

Kevin was a little worried that their grades could result in them returning to their biological mom.  Our worst fear is that the court would give custody back to their mom.  I don’t think that will ever happen though.  And I told Kevin that.  She may try to get them back, but if just 1 of those 9 teachers who praised them wrote a letter to the court, and if we also got a report from the kids’ counselor, there would be no way the judge would let them go back to her.  On top of that she hasn’t visited them one time, her calls keep getting farther and farther apart, and she didn’t even acknowledge Austin’s birthday. 

But hopefully the kids will start getting stuff turned in and start asking questions when they don’t understand something.  It’s all a work in progress

Matthew and Rachel have their conferences on Friday morning.  I’m hoping I can make it but Kevin may be going solo again. 

Fragile X Webring

I found a new fragile X blog, Basically FX, yesterday.  The blog owner decided to start a Fragile X webring.

For a definition of a webring you can check out wikipedia at this link.  My definition is that it is like a charm bracelet.  The charms are like our blogs: each individual and unique, but attached to one bracelet (or topic).  

So if you have a blog that deals with fragile X syndrome, I invite you to join this webring.  It’s free and it will link up all of us families who deal with fragile X in ourselves, our kids, our families, or whatever. 

There are two ways to join:

1. Click on this link and fill out the fields.  You will receive an email confirmation and a link to the html for your website.
2. Or I have the webring box (I’m sure there is a fancier name for it but I’m on painkillers, guys) in the widgets on right.  Click the middle link that says Join and it will direct you the form to fill out.

I think there is autism and autism spectrum webrings out there too.  I haven’t looked into it, and some of you autie parents probably are already participating in them.  If you are a parent involved in one of those webrings please put a link in the comments so others can look into it too.  I don’t want anyone to feel left out