Don't Blink ...

... or time will pass you by.

Last week, I had one of those moments when reality hit me right between the eyes. While Anna's been talking for over a year about going to high school, nothing makes it all sink in like setting foot inside the doors of the building to register for classes.

My little girl is growing up. I've known it all along. After all, that's why we've invested years in early intervention, speech therapy, and intensive treatment programs. All to help her develop to her full potential and live a quality life as an adult. In that far-off place called the future.

Now, at age fourteen and with the hormones to prove it, she's about to launch the last stage of her educational journey.

Four more years of school.

Four more years of support.

Four more years within the safe routine.

Just four years left until she graduates.

Graduates. Can I help it if I still picture her like this?

I must have blinked. Because somehow we're further along this journey than I had ever imagined possible.

And the future looks a bit scarier the closer it gets.

What about you? Have you ever blinked and found time had passed by? Have you found the future closer than you were comfortable with? How did you handle it?

I Got New Shoes

Now, before you think I'm a stereotypical female with an addiction to footwear, let me be the first to burst your bubble. My shoe collection consists of the barest of necessities purchased from such establishments as Wal-Mart, Payless, and thrift stores. (As in "I'd like the cheapest pair of black size nines you've got.")

Until Saturday.

My daughter won a free pair of shoes from a store specializing in running shoes. A store that doesn't carry anything even close to small enough to fit her feet. So, they let me use the gift certificate instead. After all, now that I'm exercising more consistently and even starting to (gasp) run again, I needed a good pair of shoes.

Enter a very thorough shopping experience. Starting with analyzing my stride and measuring my arches. The salesman then recommended shoes designed for stability and brought out a pair for me to try. Lace them up, walk around the store, even head outside to try them on the sidewalk. Back for another pair. Compare the differences. Test pairs three and four. By then, I was very aware of the nuances of my feet and what felt like a perfect fit. Not too tight. Not too stiff. Not too high of an arch support.

All of this to find the right pair of shoes to support my weaknesses and give freedom to my pursuit of health and exercise.

The whole experience made me think. Why don't I give the same care to selecting the tools to pursue my dreams, including my dream of writing for publication?

What if I started off by analyzing what I needed? My strengths and my weaknesses and where I wanted to go? What if I explored the possibilities and tried a few routines or methods on for size? What if I even took them for a test-drive? What if I was willing to try another plan ... and another until I found the right one for me? All this to say, I don't have to do things the way everybody else does. I can take the time to find what works best for me in my current situation.

For example, do I need input on plot and/or character development? I can try a critique group, contests, workshops, a new book on the craft of writing, or find a mentor?

Do I need a consistent writing time to fit around my kids and day job? Try getting up early or staying up late, or getting an Alphasmart to maximize time spent at kids' activities.

Do I need fresh ideas or inspiration when I'm blocked or dry? Try praying, reading something different, watching a movie, taking a walk, or doing something else like a puzzle.

There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. Just like my new shoes.

What about you? Are you pursuing a dream? What do you need? Do you have extra support for those areas of weakness? Is your current pursuit working or do you need a new pair of shoes?

Processing Difficult News

What do you do with news you didn't expect? I've learned it all depends on what kind of news it is. (Since good news is much easier to accept than bad news.) But it's also important to have a strong foundation for life since the stability of family and faith keep the boat from rocking too much.

On Thursday, I had a meeting with my daughter's educational team to discuss her autistic-like behaviors. The onset of puberty and the resulting hormonal roller-coaster have magnified both the ups and the downs. So, after a CdLS research study strongly recommended further evaluations, we asked the school to take a closer look. I hoped to gain a better understanding of how her mind works and discover strategies to help with the issues at home.

Which brought us to Thursday. As I walked into the school to find out what they had to say, I braced myself for the addition of another label. Austism Spectrum Disorder. At least it would open avenues of understanding and move us toward a more peaceful home.

What did I get? Nothing. (At least nothing really helpful in my opinion.) While she certainly has behaviors that mimic those of autism, she is able to turn them "off" and function socially at school. Kids with "real" autism act the same everywhere. The team's conclusion? It must all be part of her CdLS issues and we'll continue her current education plan.

Best of luck at home, Mom.

It'll take time for me to figure out what this means for our family. In the meantime, I'm a little stunned. And praying for wisdom and patience to handle the years ahead.

What about you? Have you had to process any difficult news lately? How long did it take? What helped the most?