I wanted to write something today and share a bit of our lives. I considered compiling our week of literacy learning like I did in February. But I’ve decided instead to share a little boarder. It feels good to think about our family’s habits and ways of doing things and how many of those have been able to stay the same despite the global pandemic.

Quote From a Book I’m Reading:
“Build your kids’ lives on a story-solid foundation and you’ll give them armor to shield themselves from the world’s cynicism. You’ll give them confidence to persevere in the face of life’s conflicts. You’ll give them a reservoir of compassion that spills over into a lifetime of love in action.”

-Jamie Martin
Give Your Child the World: Raising Globally Minded Kids One Book at a Time

Nature
The Redbud trees and phlox around our lower patio are in full bloom this week. It has been a beautiful space to sit and rest. We’ve spent at least five hours outside each day. I carry school and meals out and try do as much as we can outdoors. Spring is usually a good time for Nathaniel to be outside from a respiratory stand point; summers are often too humid for him. Having space to work and play outdoors through this season is a true blessing to Rich, Nathaniel and me.

Literacy with Nathaniel
Our theme for literacy learning this week was pets. We enjoyed daily guided reading lessons using Margie Palatini’s book, The Perfect Pet. Nathaniel loved the poems in Who Swallowed Harold. Another book we read multiple times was Some Pets by Angela DiTerlizzi. The repeated line offers opportunity for AAC modeling of the word SOME, and the book is full of adjectives. Nathaniel enjoyed learning about cats; he told me that he was all done having a dog, and would like a cat now instead. Our George remains loyal regardless. Our predicable chart writing this week focused on pets as well. Friends from the Hold My Words Facebook community helped us by offering twenty animal suggestions for pets!

Communication
We started the Learning to Speak AACtion Plan on Monday to provide some structure to our AAC modeling. This plan was created by the developers of Nathaniel’s communication device. We’ve worked through the twelve week guide for modeling core language on an AAC device before, but the plan is very systematic and builds on itself with four different word set levels. I worked on the orange level, and Rich worked on the yellow level words this week.. The focus of the plan is for communication partners to learn the location of new words on the device and to say them using the device in the normal course of conversations with the AAC learner. I realized mid week that I needed to carry the words I was trying to use on me at all times; I kept forgetting them! A lanyard, retractable badge clip, safety pin, or even a pocket can be used for this.

At dinner on Friday night, I used Nathaniel’s device to say “Not burping again!” repeatedly. He was burping over and over. And he was pretending to burp when a real one wouldn’t come. He enjoyed my astonished expression. It was probably the funniest use of the word AGAIN that I modeled this week. 

Without having a list of words that I was targeting this week, I probably would have modeled “excuse me” multiple times as he kept burping. The phrase “not burping again” caught him off guard and pulled his attention to his device in a way “excuse me” no longer does. Teaching manners is important. But teaching language means sometimes ignoring the expected responses to create novelty and enthusiasm. I am thankful we are doing the Learning to Speak ACCtion Plan again.

Real Work - Real Tools
When I think about our the family culture we created raising our older children, two key aspects stand out. We read a lot of books - likely my influence. We included the children in real work opportunities from a young age - likely Rich’s influence. Meaningful work around the home is one of the most sensible ways we see to work on Nathaniel’s occupational and physical therapy goals. A tire on Rich’s car has had a slow leak for few weeks. Nathaniel helped remove it for repair and then put it back on again the next evening. In the process he learned all about spare tires.

We weeded flower beds and raked this week too. It seems we will find fall leaves and sweet gum balls to clean up until the middle of July. We have this set of yard tools for Nathaniel and have been pleased with the quality.

Reflection
We spent last Easter at our son and his wife’s home in Cimarron, New Mexico. We went to church in the morning and then took a drive to a high mountain valley in the afternoon. Instead of hunting for eggs, the boys had a snowball fight. The entire trip west was a milestone for Nathaniel and our family. For years we wondered if Nathaniel would be able to travel to such rural locations. Read more about last year’s trip here. Though not planned for this week, we expected to return to the mountains this spring. We’ve cancelled the trip. Nathaniel’s annual cardiology appointment and echocardiogram and his two day check up and evaluations under anethesia at Cincinnati Children’s scheduled for May have all been cancelled. We gladly defer the hospital space and supplies to those coping with Covid19. We lean deeper into trusting God for Nathaniel’s continued health until his appointments can be rescheduled. As we struggle with social distancing, cancellations, and disappointments, I am glad Easter is never cancelled.