The kids are off to school, and I have 2 hours and 13 minutes to myself, but who’s counting? Ryder has finally recovered from a bout with the flu, one that had him out of school for a whole week. I was starting to worry about him on Monday, but reminded myself that he just needs a little more time than the average human to rebound from a virus. We also survived January, which felt like the longest month ever this year. Between the wicked weather we had, and Ryder being sick, we’ve been stuck indoors a lot. Hayley and I are heading out sledding after school, and believe me when I say we need the outdoor therapy.

In the middle of that long month there was a big, bright spot, as Hayley turned 5! And what a wonderful 5 years it has been watching her grow. I tried not to get too far ahead of myself when I registered her for grade one, knowing that in just a few months, she will be off to school full time. She got her first report card last month, and she is thriving at school, but most importantly, she continues to be a kind, caring, and thoughtful friend to her classmates. She’s a little girl, with a big heart, and we couldn’t be prouder. She makes us laugh every day, and we just love the adventure that she brings into our lives.

Both of the kids have been enjoying swimming lessons over the past few weeks, and Ryder has started music therapy again. Hayley has gymnastics twice a week, and Ryder’s therapeutic horseback riding starts back up this weekend. I’m starting to get a feel for the  job of managing my kids and all their extracurricular activities!

Hayley was talking about all of her friends yesterday, and she asked me why Ryder doesn’t have too many friends to play with. This was a bit of a loaded question, and at one point in time, it might have made me feel great sadness to hear her ask it. I explained to her that he does have many friends, even though they may not play together as often as she plays with her buddies. It also served as a gentle reminder to me, that school and therapy are not quite enough, and that we need to make sure we make time for just hanging out with our friends too. It made me think about just how hard we have to work, as parents of kids with special needs, to help our kids thrive socially and in the community. It’s tough, but so important to help our kids create and maintain relationships. Ryder may not speak, but he shows his interest in others in so many other ways. He, too, got a report card last month, and what struck me most about it, was his social skills, and how much he is growing in that area. I may have cried a little when I read about how he connects with his peers at school. It’s fascinating, and beautiful, and a reminder that we all seek the same thing in this life: meaningful connections with other humans. Playing with others is hard for Ryder, as he tends to prefer to do his own thing, even while in the company of others; but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t enjoy or need time with his friends. How a five year old is teaching me to better understand her big brother, and reflect on things we could improve upon, is beyond me, but it is pretty amazing! While you can’t force someone to be social, you can provide the right opportunities should they choose to be a part of things. This can only mean one thing: friends, we’re coming over, soon!