Thought I'd come by and update

[AmynKayla]

I hope everyone here is doing well! Things for us have been going pretty well, thankfully. Busy, but okay.

Yesterday I got news that Kayla has been accepted into a summer program, similar to a daycamp thing, but more intensive and designed to work with kids that have struggles. They have a fairly lengthy interview process and sit down with the kids and their guardians and formulate a number of goals and construct a plan to help reach those goals. Due to Kayla's situation and many of her struggles, they were willing to help. I'm excited eventhough I know that in order to be accepted, there has to be significant challenges (which doesn't make me feel great), but had they not felt that they could help her, they would have referred us somewhere else. They told Kayla some of the things they do through the summer, and she is super excited too, which is great! My hope is that she will learn things like socialization and communication and age appropriate skills before entering the next school year.

We went through a rough patch a bit ago and I just couldn't seem to get to the bottom of it. Turns out one of the kids at school told her that nobody cares about her (or something like that) because she doesn't even have a mom or a dad. For about 4 days she was really difficult and while I kept prying at her, I really was getting nowhere. She finally told me what this girl had said to her and asked me if it was true. I (of course) told her NO! I dont know if I went the right way here or not, but I told her basically that I'm her mom now and I have a piece of paper to prove it and that she was so special that I picked her to be mine and that every family is different and not every family has a mom and a dad, or a grandma or an auntie or cousins. She has me and grandma and auntie and uncle and a cousin that all think she's pretty special. From that point on, when talking to people, I'm "her mom". She doesn't call me "mom", but refers to me as such when speaking to people. I know its because she doesn't want them to think she doesn't have a mom, but I'm not sure if that's something that ought to be dealt with or not.

*Knock on wood*, there have not been any biting incidents in some time. Can I hope we're past that?

I have been working a ton which unfortunately is a fact of life, but over the past 4 month or so, we've come a really long way. Its hard to believe that I've had her nearly a year! I am so lucky to have a support system now and people helping me with her. My mom has had her quite a bit and has really bonded with her, which is nice. She seems to get away with murder at grandma's house (not really, but things like showing her how to make an ice cream float 15 minutes before bedtime...).

Still really struggling with staying dry through the day, but I've come to accept that it will come and to keep trucking forward. Certain aspects have improved but its still something she has a difficult time with.

Take care, Amy

[parentastic]

Thanks for the update, Amy! I am glad to hear things are evolving. You are doing a great job!

[mom2many]

Thanks for the update, i hope that from here on out things do nothing but improve!

[NancyM]

Thanks for the update I was wondering what was going on with Kayla.

[SpanishParent]

That sounds like an amazing story. You have come a long way and a real inspiration to everyone. I recently read a really uplifting article about parenting and your story brought it back to me. You certainly are her parent.

http://www.theminuteidea.com/parents/