Great News at School

My oldest boy Gandalf has so many great qualities. One of them that I admire is his willingness to put himself out there. I think it was last year he expressed interest in student government. He ran for a position and it didn't work out. I was proud of him for giving it a try. I would have never desired to run for anything that would require voting. I was super shy as a child. Trying out for something would be too intimidating for me as well.

And it's wonderful as a parent to see awesome qualities that they have that you know did not come from you as we see our children as their own person with their own spirit and qualities.

So Monday after school Gandalf gives me a permission slip about student government. I told him I was all for it, as long as he worked hard on his homework. He promised he would. Later I gave him the form signed and told him to put it in his backpack. I later found it on the ground outside his car and instructions were repeated. His short term memory isn't the best. (Long term memory:amazing!)

I was really proud of him for wanting to do this. But part of me felt like John Travolta's character in Hairspray when his daughter wanted to try out for Corny Collins show. I was nervous about him not making it and possibly being frustrated and not being about to process that in a "normal" way. Or getting his feelings hurt.Sometimes other kids don't understand why frustrations can bother him when it's no big deal to them.  I kept these things to myself because I don't want him to ever think he can't do something. But I worried a little bit.

The next morning I double checked verbally that his form was in his backpack. He verified. Then I wished him luck with the voting process. That's when he told me he had already won.

I couldn't believe it! I was so happy. It has been hard making new friends since we moved to Arizona. And making friends and having Asperger's is even harder. I was so proud that he put himself out there and ran for class representative. I wanted more information but we were at the drop off area and I needed to move. I texted my sweetheart and we both couldn't wait for a chance to talk to him.

When he came home I asked him why he didn't tell me the great news. He said he thought the letter and form explained it. (The letter just said my child show interest in student government and listed the meeting days and times) I could tell he felt good about himself. My hubby asked how many others ran against him. There was about 10. Gandalf, along with a girl from his class, will take ideas from his class to the student council. He will have meetings after school and an end of the year party. He wants to run for Vice President next year. I told him serving with the council will give him great experience. He told us he was the only one who gave a speech. It was his idea and he asked if he could. Gandalf said that since they are learning about pros and cons in class he listed several pros if he was elected.

My heart is so full that he will be able to have an opportunity to  make new friends and have his self confidence grow. I am so glad he had courage to run for office. I know that he is proud of himself. Changing schools and moving is hard. I know there are lots of social challenges he has and there are still hard times ahead.  I can only do so much as his mom.But I am grateful for the tender mercies from our Heavenly Father.

Gandalf Earns his Bear Award

I have the privilege of working in the Cub Scout Program. I have been serving in scouts for about 4 years. I have such a testimony of the Scouting Program. I love the values they teach. I love how they encourage them to work hard, serve others, and learn important skills. The Church I go to has adopted this program for their young men, and for that I am so thankful.

Tonight Gandalf earned his Bear Achievement. He had to work hard and complete important tasks that are helping to shape him into a fine young man. I am thankful for great leaders, both in California and Arizona who have helped and mentored him. Right now I serve with the Wolf Pack, the 8 year old boys. Gandalf has men leaders and I think that is pretty great. Sometimes as a leader I am so busy planning activities and such for my den that I need to be a more active cub parent.

Gandlaf at his first pack meeting as a Wolf Scout.

I am thankful for Scouting Program. I believe it is designed by heavenly inspiration. We train up cub scouts. They become awesome Boy Scouts, who later become leaders and mentor future boys. Below are some pictures when Gandalf earned his Wolf Rank. He was so proud. And it was great to have both his Grandmas there to support him.

Pretty soon this sweet boy is going to become a Boy Scout. And I won't be as involved in scouting then. He will work with great men who will encourage him and help strengthen his testimony of our Heavenly Father. I know having a fun great experience in cub scouts will help him to love scouting and hopefully stick with it through High School. He wants to earn his Eagle Scout, like his dad. I know the scouting program will help him become a great man.

I would encourage you to find a troop for your son and to get involved. It is a wonderful program! You will love it. Some moms aren't crazy about it, but when I go to training meetings or see the boys grow and learn, my hear swells. I know this is a good thing. And we should seek after good things. Especially for our sons. I am thankful for my testimony of scouting. And when Gandalf moves on to Boy Scouts, Draco will be ready to start. And the same pattern follows with Yoda. 

So it's probably good that I love scouts so much...

 Here is Gandalf pinning on my mothers pin (Did you know moms get pins when their sons earn different ranks? Told you this program is teaching our sons right). He was having a hard time. His fine motor skills aren't the best. Plus baby girl was trying to get it. Then he dropped it down my shirt and tried to get it. I let him know I would take care of it. I went off to the side and shook out my shirt.

Being crazy. He was so happy and proud of himself

I am so proud of my growing boy! Glad that he has a group of boys to grow up with. Glad that he is learning to become an honest young man. And glad that he is having fun. Scouting is for all boys. And I love how they accept and encourage them to "do their best" whatever that it. I love the boys that I work with. And I love when past boys let me know what great things they are doing in scouting now.

My Oldest Boy

It's after church. I am always gathering my littles. Trying not to loose anyone so we can go home and eat lunch. My youngest boy is missing. I peek my head in the Primary room (where the children meet as a group) and don't see him. The leaders of the children's group ask me to come in.

They share that they love my sweet son and I wonder which one. They are all dear to me. They tell me my oldest who we will call Gandalf, shared some wonderful words. They were watching Mormon Messages and rejoicing in an amazing program during our Sacrament meeting, or meeting where we all meet.

Check out this uplifting video here.

It's about a girl who loves her brother. Her brother has autism and sometimes others don't understand how his brain works. After the video Gandalf raised his hand and shared that he sees now that he is more special than he realized. These dear leaders told me the spirit was there and Gandalf had tears in his eyes.

{photo by Shari Hanson}

I'm so thankful he sees how important he is. I have always known it. My husband and I have always felt tender and sure he was a truly amazing spirit. Of course, all children are wonderful. And all my children are really amazing. But there is something about our eldest. And I felt this way before we found out he had Aspergers.

As a mom I tried to read as much as possible about child development and to watch out for markers or cause of concerns. My older brother suggested Autism when he was rocking one time. I knew that was a marker, but it didn't match up with what I knew about autism. There were so many things he was great at. I kept taking note and watching.

When he was four we put him in a great preschool. I am sure The Lord put us there for a reason. At one of the night classes one mom told me Gandalf was a lot like her son. And her son had Aspergers. I am so thankful for her courage. It must have been a little hard to suggest to someone else that their child could have autism. Some times people can be offended by that suggestion. I just listened as she told me about Aspies. It sounded a lot like my son. I was pretty sure that would explain his actions.

I remember driving home, thinking about my son and what this would mean for him. I wasn't upset. I love his brain! I love way he expresses himself. I love his pure heart. I love his quirks! And I remember feeling how important he was. That The Lord has a special plan for him. And I knew I wouldn't change the way he was. Maybe in some ways his brain was more like Heavenly Fathers's than mine.

That doesn't mean it's easy. There are times when we both had to leave preschool, both of us crying. There is heartbreak as children treat him unkindly sometimes. And we haven't even hit middle school.

I wish I could find the letter I wrote him that night when I came home from that preschool meeting. I didn't want him to feel bad because of this label because I knew he was a choice spirit. I knew it would be hard but I told him I wouldn't change the way his brain is because I loved him the way he was. And I trusted that The Lord had great things in store for him.

We had a great experience when we told him he had Aspergers. He was totally fine with it. And kinda thought it was cool. His brother was kinda bummed he didn't have it. I love Gandalf's  view. And I love that he is beginning to see his potential. I can only imagine the way our Heavenly Father sees him. And I look forward to see the great things The Lord has in store for him. I know I need to do my best as his mother and help him see his great worth.