Christmas is hard for special needs kids. They don't understand in the same way we do. Simple things like decorating a Christmas tree can be a frustrating and somewhat dangerous thing.
Anna loves lights. When we had a tree, she would often want to see the lights up close. But she didn't understand the concept of stepping close to the tree to see them. She brought the lights to her. She also brought the tree to her. Multiple times.
Then there's opening presents. When Anna was a toddler, she hated the sound of paper ripping. She'd scream the whole time we opened presents. That was fun. As she grew, she began to LIKE the sound of ripping paper – which meant pretty much nothing was safe. Today, she loves tissue paper, and we try to use as many gift bags as possible. But we have to keep a tight watch or she'll pull the paper out of all of them, whether they're hers or not. She's also been known to put things IN. Anna loves putting things in things. Her favorite toy is a plastic box which she puts small toys and blocks in and dumps them out and starts all over again. Often using her feet. Family and friends know to look for small toys, ripped paper and Dorito or pretzel crumbs in their gift bags.
Bows and ribbon? She loves them, too. I haven't used them in years.
Still, it's hard when people give her presents and expect her to open them right away. She just doesn’t get it. We're used to her, but at the same time, it's a little sad she doesn't get excited or look forward to the gifts. She enjoys the process, but she doesn't really understand.
The hardest part is that she isn't in her regular routine. No day program to get ready for. Just time home with mom and dad – or worse yet – visiting friends and relatives. She's fine getting in the van and going for a ride, but after about 5 minutes at someone else's house, she's pretty much ready to leave. One of us has to sit with her all the time, so we often don't get a chance to take part in the fun.
It has prompted us to keep Christmas as simple as possible. Guess what? It's not a bad thing! We are more relaxed. We focus more on the meaning of the day. We enjoy each other's company. I think this is a pleasing thing to the Lord and it works for us.
Anna is back to her routine and couldn't be happier. No Post-Christmas-Reentry-Syndrome for her! The rest of us? That's another story.
What If She Outlives Me?
pam
10/30/2024
Good from Covid?
pam
5/18/2023
Encouragement from a fellow special mama
pam
7/31/2020
A Sister's Love
pam
5/16/2019
Medical Moms
pam
1/26/2019
The Power of Doritos
pam
5/7/2018
Yay For Friends!
pam
1/9/2018
Show You!
pam
9/11/2017
Happy? 26th Birthday, Anna
pam
5/15/2017
Re-grouping
pam
3/14/2017
We can relate!
pam
9/1/2016
A Little Fall Fun
pam
10/18/2015
Going Commando
pam
10/5/2015
So Behind
pam
9/22/2015
Stares and Storytime
pam
4/12/2015
Big Big Changes
pam
3/27/2015
Blog Post on Autism
pam
9/22/2014
The Power of Pets
pam
9/12/2014
Depression's Demands
pam
8/15/2014
Do We or Don't We?
pam
8/4/2014
Falling Down
pam
6/22/2014
Research Study
pam
5/23/2014
Who goes? Who stays?
pam
5/19/2014
Being Thankful
pam
4/25/2014
Excellent Article
pam
4/7/2014
Jury Duty and Holland
pam
3/27/2014
I Confess
pam
3/17/2014
The Dreaded Medication Change
pam
3/4/2014
Keeping It Together - part seven
pam
2/24/2014
Keeping it Together - part six
pam
2/10/2014
A Milestone Day
pam
2/3/2014
Keeping it together - part five
pam
1/21/2014
Keeping It Together - part four
pam
1/3/2014
Keeping it Together - part three
pam
12/16/2013
Keeping it Together - part two
pam
12/9/2013
Keeping it Together - part one
pam
12/5/2013
Catching Up
pam
11/13/2013
The Perfect House
pam
10/25/2013
Another Mom in the Mix
pam
10/7/2013
Grieving the Loss
pam
9/24/2013
Great article
pam
9/11/2013
This and That
pam
9/9/2013
Fun in the ER
pam
8/30/2013
Bless me, Anna!
pam
8/14/2013
Talk to me, Anna!
pam
8/8/2013
God's Will
pam
7/30/2013
Update on Anna's bloodwork
pam
7/24/2013
Stirring the Cesspool
pam
7/11/2013
Vacation and Other Fun Stuff
pam
7/3/2013
A Day at the Beach
pam
6/17/2013
Anna's Surgery Experience
pam
6/5/2013
No Place For Anna
pam
5/26/2013
Painful Gifts
pam
5/21/2013
Happy 22nd Birthday, Anna!
pam
5/15/2013
A Rough Day
pam
5/6/2013
Things I've Learned - part five
pam
4/30/2013
Things I've Learned - part four
pam
4/22/2013
Things I've Learned - part three
pam
4/15/2013
Things I've Learned - part two
pam
4/9/2013
Interview with Terri Groh
pam
4/5/2013
Things I've Learned - part one
pam
4/3/2013
The Things People Say - part eight
pam
3/27/2013
Comparisons
pam
3/18/2013
Why Is It A Blessing?
pam
3/11/2013
Tim's Place
pam
3/8/2013
New Medication Worries
pam
3/5/2013
A Night Out for Anna
pam
2/25/2013
Play it again, Sam
pam
2/20/2013
Happy Birthday
pam
2/15/2013
The Anna Bowl
pam
2/4/2013
The Queen of Babble-on
pam
1/30/2013
Really, people?
pam
1/25/2013
Cold Feet
pam
1/23/2013
Hearing God
pam
1/15/2013
Running Away
pam
1/10/2013
Post-Christmas-Reentry-Syndrome
pam
1/4/2013
Emmanuel, God With Us
pam
12/17/2012
Take Heart
pam
12/7/2012
Jumping in the Leaves
pam
11/27/2012
Being Thankful
pam
11/19/2012
Patience and Love and Wretchedness
pam
11/13/2012
A Typical Halter Vacation
pam
11/8/2012
Is This Really My Life?
pam
11/1/2012
Frankenstorm
pam
10/27/2012
A Small Victory at Anna's Program
pam
10/24/2012
Update on the problem at Anna's program
pam
10/22/2012
The Fight Goes On
pam
10/19/2012
Fighting the Good Fight
pam
10/18/2012
Sit down, Anna
pam
10/16/2012
The Things People Say - conclusion
pam
10/15/2012
The Cloaking Device
pam
10/12/2012
The Things People Say - part seven
pam
10/11/2012
The Things People Say - part six
pam
10/10/2012
The Things People Say - part five
pam
10/9/2012
The Things People Say - part four
pam
10/4/2012
The Things People Say - part three
pam
10/3/2012
The Things People Say - part two
pam
10/2/2012
The Things People Say - part one
pam
10/1/2012
Godzilla Lives at my House
pam
9/27/2012
The Early Bird Gets Eaten
pam
9/26/2012
Over and Over Again
pam
9/25/2012
What Good Are Seizures?
pam
9/21/2012
Why Me?
pam
9/20/2012
The Rest of my Life?
pam
9/19/2012
Feelings
Pam
9/18/2012