Fostering The Love In Kansas

Little Man doesn't understand Christmas. I don't know if it's because he never had a Christmas or because he just doesn't understand it since he's developmentally delayed. I don't know, but I'm trying very hard to bring him a Christmas he'll remember. Just as I overpack, I may have overdone on the presents part. I always have for those that I care about.  I agonized for days about the wrapping, but it was all over with in less than 5 minutes.  But I think he enjoyed it.  We then went to my parent's house where he was spoiled even more.  I don't know if he understands Christmas but I do know he now understands opening gifts. We also did Christmas Eve service where he was an angel in the nativity.  My boy is a handsome man. I am hoping for many more Christmas's together to teach him about what Christmas is and how much he is loved.

So I really want to write a nasty post about Little Man's first visit with his mom in 3 months but it would be, in no way, objective unbiased or nice. I'm still dealing with some regression and anger issues - almost a week later. What I will write about is Christmas with my extended family and Little Man.  We left very early Saturday morning for a 6-hour drive to Northern Iowa.  I know Little Man has a short attention span for some things but a long one for others.  I just didn't know what to expect.  For 2 1/2 days of a visit, I tried to anticipate every need or want he may have for the long drive, being around strange people and then another long drive back. I have been known to be an over-packer.  We had a small car and two other people going.  It was not fun fitting all of it in there. We spent 2 days with my brother and his family.  They met him for the first time and just like everyone else that meets him, they fell in love wit...

So, Halloween was a first for Little Man.  While it didn't go as planned, I know he still enjoyed what we did. Christmas is another thing he just doesn't understand.  It first started in WalMart, when I would see the Christmas trees and ask him about them.  While he's not able to verbalize a lot, he still never seemed to understand what Christmas was. Last night, we had a box on our porch with a Christmas tree in it.  He wanted to put it up and so I went out to the garage and got lights and ornaments.  He was so excited to put the tree up. He still doesn't quite know what Christmas is and I think it's a combination of never having a Christmas because his family could never afford it but also a portion of it is because of the developmental issues. I have planned to wrap 25 books and he can open one each night starting December 1st.  He's really gotten into reading a few books each night and I want to encourage that further.  Most of them...