Wow, it's hard to believe it's been two years since my last visit. There was a time in my life that I couldn't get through a day without these boards.
Things have changed so much since then. I've thought of many of you often, but life being what it is, I haven't had much time for anything shy of work and kids.
Since my last visit to the board, I have changed careers, become a Grandma (twice,) moved to the country to take up hobby farming, watched my oldest difficult child spiral out of control and lose custody of her now two-year-old daughter. (My sister in law is now raising her.)
My boys (the two youngest difficult children) have become more easy child than difficult child. For those who were there for me in the darkest days, that alone is amazing. My difficult child #2 (now 17) was hospitalized 7 times in the 19 months after his father died, having tried every medication known to man. He's now completely medication free and hasn't had a meltdown in almost two years. (Christmas Day will be two years exactly since his last meltdown.) difficult child #3 is truly a easy child these days. The two of them do more around the farm than most grown men would be willing to do, which I count as nothing short of a miracle, given where we were just a couple of years ago.
I now have a career that I absolutely, positively love. I work as a freelance writer, which is what actually brought me back to the boards. I recently finished some articles on Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), Asperger's, and autism spectrum research. In writing those articles, I had to think back to some of our worst days. In that reflection, I naturally thought of the wonderful parents here who helped me keep my sanity. I also remembered how valuable was the advice I received from parents of older kids who had already been through what I was living.
It was then that I realized I had done a horrible thing. I stopped coming to the boards. Part of the philosophy of the boards back then (and hopefully still is), and something I was always grateful for, was that the parents who had already been there stuck around to offer help to those just starting their journey. I realized I had not done my part in that regard. I took everything that was offered, but dropped the ball in terms of giving back what I was graciously given.
So here I am, navigating my way through all the changes the boards have gone through in my absence, hoping to right my wrong and offer what little I know for whatever it's worth.
I see a lot of names I remember, and many I don't. As much as things have changed, I see so much that hasn't. You guys are like a favorite old pair of jeans found in the bottom of a box in the attic that amazingly still fit. It's nice to be back home.
So...what have I missed in the last couple of years?
Things have changed so much since then. I've thought of many of you often, but life being what it is, I haven't had much time for anything shy of work and kids.
Since my last visit to the board, I have changed careers, become a Grandma (twice,) moved to the country to take up hobby farming, watched my oldest difficult child spiral out of control and lose custody of her now two-year-old daughter. (My sister in law is now raising her.)
My boys (the two youngest difficult children) have become more easy child than difficult child. For those who were there for me in the darkest days, that alone is amazing. My difficult child #2 (now 17) was hospitalized 7 times in the 19 months after his father died, having tried every medication known to man. He's now completely medication free and hasn't had a meltdown in almost two years. (Christmas Day will be two years exactly since his last meltdown.) difficult child #3 is truly a easy child these days. The two of them do more around the farm than most grown men would be willing to do, which I count as nothing short of a miracle, given where we were just a couple of years ago.
I now have a career that I absolutely, positively love. I work as a freelance writer, which is what actually brought me back to the boards. I recently finished some articles on Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), Asperger's, and autism spectrum research. In writing those articles, I had to think back to some of our worst days. In that reflection, I naturally thought of the wonderful parents here who helped me keep my sanity. I also remembered how valuable was the advice I received from parents of older kids who had already been through what I was living.
It was then that I realized I had done a horrible thing. I stopped coming to the boards. Part of the philosophy of the boards back then (and hopefully still is), and something I was always grateful for, was that the parents who had already been there stuck around to offer help to those just starting their journey. I realized I had not done my part in that regard. I took everything that was offered, but dropped the ball in terms of giving back what I was graciously given.
So here I am, navigating my way through all the changes the boards have gone through in my absence, hoping to right my wrong and offer what little I know for whatever it's worth.
I see a lot of names I remember, and many I don't. As much as things have changed, I see so much that hasn't. You guys are like a favorite old pair of jeans found in the bottom of a box in the attic that amazingly still fit. It's nice to be back home.
So...what have I missed in the last couple of years?
It really warms my heart to hear success stories like that! I'm sorry your oldest difficult child is still struggling.
Now I'll need tissues. I'm glad that sharing some of my experiences helped you on your journey as a parent of difficult children. 
