Hello, and welcome to Speaking for Moses!
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Leah and thru this blog you will meet my husband and our four amazing kiddos. Three of our four children have special needs. To start with we have my eldest, Merlin the Wizard age 10, who is diagnosed with ADHD. Merlin, obviously loves anything magic related, taekwando, making his own movies, and science.
Wild Krat, my middle son age 8, is diagnosed with severe dyslexia and dysgraphia. He loves all animals and wants to live on a farm. He is a budding cartoonist and has an amazing sense of humor.
My youngest son age 7, Turbo, is diagnosed with severe autism. Turbo is a powerhouse! He is always on the go! Even though he does not have many words he loves to laugh, is a cuddle monster, and loves all things slide related. If he can't find one he'll make one.
Last but not least there is our daughter, Princess Flowers age 4, who is nuero typical. She is a girly girly who loves to draw, the color pink and American Girl dolls.
My husband and I started this blog to share our experiences on the front lines with the hope that it will help another parent just beginning their journey know they are not alone. We are not lawyers, doctors, or specialists. We are just proactive parents doing all they can to support and provide what our children need.
In this blog we will discuss IEP, biomed, homeschooling (yes, I said homeschooling), advocacy, meds, grants, cognitive behavioral therapy, poop (a lot of poop talk), isolation, respite, and hope. I give fair warning I pull no punches. Authenticity is very important to me. I don't sugar coat the truth, so if you are looking for nothing but flowery words of inspiration you are in the wrong place.
There are defiantly gifts that come with being the parent of a special needs child but many days it feels like a one way ticket to the Hotel Rawanda and I believe we need to be able to discuss both openly and honestly.
All are welcome here!
Please, be respectful of everyone's opinion even if you don't agree you might learn something. Let's get real about special needs and see if we can help each other and ourselves!
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Why the name Speaking for Moses for this blog?
As a historical and religious figure, Moses is known as "The Law Giver," the scribe of the Five Books/Torah, a work hailed, by some as, a perfect work, making him the father of all prophets for having spoken with G-d (figuratively) "face to face." When visiting the United States Supreme Court you will see Moses in relief standing at the front of the line of other great historical law givers.
Yet, when you think about it, Moses was flawed. He had a severe speech impediment. One source says it was the result of an angel trying to save his life. So, in a sense, his imperfection was actually from G-d. Why would G-d do such a thing?
For a moment think about all the times you may have heard of a clergyman saying something like, "children are afflicted with autism because...(insert whatever foolish comment you like). Obvious question--so, you know the thoughts of an infinite being? Whatever the reason for a challenge a child may have, it is certainly not intended as a punishment to the child.
In Moses' case, for those of you who accept, to whatever degree, sources outside the Old Testament, it was a result of an angel pushing Moses' hand to grab fiery coals instead of jewels when Pharoh tested the intentions of the young Moses. As a result, he put his burnt fingers to his tongue in an attempt to relieve the pain. Instead, he burnt his tongue. From that moment on, he speech was flawed.
So, why was such a work as the Torah transmitted through a person of flawed speech whose best known trait is that of supreme humility?
After thinking about it for a long while, it seems to be this: Before you think only an innately superior person can achieve greatness -- think again. Worse yet, Moses at certain points, must rely on his brother Aaron, to communicate G-d's wishes. In the end, his flaw does nothing to prevent him from achieving greatness. In fact, he achieves greatness precisely because he is aware he is a flawed human being.
Moses takes all the excuses away. You want to be great? And you would be if only for (insert whatever excuse you care to insert here)? No excuses.
Lesson: Keep your eyes on the ones whom you have judged to be lesser creations, lesser beings. It is they who shall rise to greatness. This a recurring theme overlooked by most.
Don't believe me? Here is one more fella for you.
There is this boy. He goes out in the fields to tend to animals, to sing and play a music, to get away from people so he can be spiritual (You know what I mean, man). Sounds like the boy might be on the autism spectrum, you say? He is so detached from his family his father forgets he even exists when a visitor to the home comes over wanting to meet all the children.
Got the picture? Not a very good one, you may agree.
Well, this is one way of looking at David, son of Jesse, King, prophet, poet, musician, and worrier.
All special needs children have the potential for greatness. They just need someone to speak for them once in a while.
So, here we go. We, together, are Speaking for Moses!
More to come...
As a historical and religious figure, Moses is known as "The Law Giver," the scribe of the Five Books/Torah, a work hailed, by some as, a perfect work, making him the father of all prophets for having spoken with G-d (figuratively) "face to face." When visiting the United States Supreme Court you will see Moses in relief standing at the front of the line of other great historical law givers.
Yet, when you think about it, Moses was flawed. He had a severe speech impediment. One source says it was the result of an angel trying to save his life. So, in a sense, his imperfection was actually from G-d. Why would G-d do such a thing?
For a moment think about all the times you may have heard of a clergyman saying something like, "children are afflicted with autism because...(insert whatever foolish comment you like). Obvious question--so, you know the thoughts of an infinite being? Whatever the reason for a challenge a child may have, it is certainly not intended as a punishment to the child.
In Moses' case, for those of you who accept, to whatever degree, sources outside the Old Testament, it was a result of an angel pushing Moses' hand to grab fiery coals instead of jewels when Pharoh tested the intentions of the young Moses. As a result, he put his burnt fingers to his tongue in an attempt to relieve the pain. Instead, he burnt his tongue. From that moment on, he speech was flawed.
So, why was such a work as the Torah transmitted through a person of flawed speech whose best known trait is that of supreme humility?
After thinking about it for a long while, it seems to be this: Before you think only an innately superior person can achieve greatness -- think again. Worse yet, Moses at certain points, must rely on his brother Aaron, to communicate G-d's wishes. In the end, his flaw does nothing to prevent him from achieving greatness. In fact, he achieves greatness precisely because he is aware he is a flawed human being.
Moses takes all the excuses away. You want to be great? And you would be if only for (insert whatever excuse you care to insert here)? No excuses.
Lesson: Keep your eyes on the ones whom you have judged to be lesser creations, lesser beings. It is they who shall rise to greatness. This a recurring theme overlooked by most.
Don't believe me? Here is one more fella for you.
There is this boy. He goes out in the fields to tend to animals, to sing and play a music, to get away from people so he can be spiritual (You know what I mean, man). Sounds like the boy might be on the autism spectrum, you say? He is so detached from his family his father forgets he even exists when a visitor to the home comes over wanting to meet all the children.
Got the picture? Not a very good one, you may agree.
Well, this is one way of looking at David, son of Jesse, King, prophet, poet, musician, and worrier.
All special needs children have the potential for greatness. They just need someone to speak for them once in a while.
So, here we go. We, together, are Speaking for Moses!
More to come...
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