I try not to ask for too much from my friends but I have a good friend who is a mother to a son who is Autistic.  His caregiving needs are very high and she is unable to work or find steady employment because of it.  I was unaware the situation had deteriorated this badly but she posted this on her facebook this morning. 

http://myfriend.chipin.com/contributors/public/id/c02fe4f81900e4b1

I asked her for an amazon wishlist for Christmas gifts for her son too.

http://www.amazon.com/wishlist/33I7YCSEBCRID/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_wl_fVpbnb0GMWPFV

If you could help or boost the signal that would be awesome.  Trisha is just so sweet and loving and giving and funny.  And her son is amazing.  But life isn't always fair and she is having a rough go.

Thanks Ya'll.

Many years ago (a decade in just 3 weeks) I had a very, very teeny baby Thomas. He cried a lot, I struggled with depression, I had a group of friends both real life and internet who helped me through that. That group of friends became one at some point and included the very amazing quietish  but also included Katie Allison Granju.  Katie literally wrote the book on Attachment Parenting and become a  confidante and friend in a time of my life I struggled.  I was mean sometimes and harsh and judgemental and Katie was one of the people who reminded me to back off on that.

We grew apart as life happens...because it happens.  I suspect our fledgling friendship was more important to me than it was to her.  She helped shape who I became as a parent and why I choose some of the things I do.  She was a friend.  

Her 19 year old son died two days ago.  I had met Henry several times.  He was sweet and lovely.  And now he isn't and I want to cry.  I want to cry for my friend and for the world who doesn't have him.  I want to rage at the people who think those with addictions deserve to be nearly beaten to death.  I was to punch the people who have made him a political rallying point just two days ago.  He was a real fucking human being.  And no one deserves that.  No one.

So I am boosting the signal.  Katie's post here about a scholarship fund is here however the family could also use donations and her employer is helping with that.  Here is a post about that.

I don't normally pat myself on the back but want to take a moment to say I almost always give every time there is a signal boosting because I have decided to put people before money...even if it might be a scam.  I don't think I have ever really asked.  But I knew him.  If you want to boost the signal I would appreciate it...

Want a post card from the Flemings on our travels this summer? Post a comment with your addy. I am screening them. We will be in Italy, Vatican City and Egypt. If you want a specific country let me know which of the three. Not promising they will be wordy!

If you want one comment with your addy. Comments are screened. They will have pictures of them boy in them and some vaguely braggy letter.

Xposted

Dear Thomas,

In just a few hours you will be 9 years old. And as I have every single year on your birthday I am writing you a letter. Your father and I reminisced today about those last few days of pregnancy before you were born. Everyone says it, and I suppose they say it because it is true, but we had no idea what was in store for us. I suspect one of the great things about genetics is that it can produce children so well suited for their parents.

You have grown and matured so much the last 12 months. You amaze me every single day. This year has been an incredibly exciting year for you. You started off school and did very well. Probably the biggest highlight of the last 12 months was when you were voted your 3rd grade class president. You wrote one of the best, funniest, and totally true to you speech in your run for sergeant of arms. And as you know it brought you lots of media attention. Flying to New York with you so you could be on TV was unforgettable.

The summer before school started you impressed me and lots of other people by hosting anyone who wanted to come to your Wizard Rock Birthday party. Sure the cops showed up twice! And that was pretty kickass! But mostly it was the kindhearted request to raise funds for the Harry Potter Alliance. The funds split between the HPA and the Genocide Intervention Network. The money you raised by requesting no gifts protected 52 women for 52 weeks. It was an amazing celebration of life, you amazing, amazing boy.

But there was more than just media!Thomas wrock!Thomas this year. There were endless games of monopoly and civilization. There was the sudden discover of Harry Potter in the written word instead of just the stories retold by bands. There was the community service you performed not only as part of student council but also as part of our family. There was your first piano invitational and wonderful improvement in your violin. There was our rock band, Listeria. And the hours the three of us spent on it. There was Costa Rica and ziplining. There was laughing until you cried. There was your religious struggles and finding peace in a faith that you came to on your own terms.

You amaze me. Every. Single. Day. I am torn between wanting you to stay little and wanting to see every single moment of you as an adult. You are the best person I have ever known and your presence in my life makes me want to believe in a God who would give you to me.

Happy 9th Birthday.

Mama.

Yes he is adorable and yes he really is starting to look like me.  And yes he is freaking adorable and a heartbreaker and seriously you have to click and look at how cute he is.  ACK!  I don't know when exactly I became this mom, but he has reached a new height of fucking adorable at 8 years old.

( Picspam )
( Picspam! )
A teaser of my adorableness I call Thomas

http://tinyurl.com/82zt8f

I think it was stupid to tweet that to peeps you don't know.  But I have tweeted similar and I am pretty sure I just told hp5freak that my new year's resolution was not to murder my 8 year old.

For the record there is absolutely no risk of me murdering anyone.

Thomas has the chicken pox.  Broke out yesterday apparently but decided not to mention it because he thought they were mosquito bites.  In December.
Inside.
Randomly
on his butt.

Yeah

The child is brilliant, but also lacking in common sense.

The Flemings had a lovely little Christmas.  I think Tom enjoyed all his gifts and I liked mine perfectly well.  Although remarkably this is my first sweater free Christmas.  I got many lovely things but two particularly lovely items.  An emerald and diamond double helix necklace for Tom and lovely golden topaz earrings from my sister in law.  In addition to tasty candy, books, socks!, lots of kitchen goodies, new dishes and flatware and a food processor. 

Thomas had a lovely Christmas as well.  He welcomed Santa with a note inviting him to some whiskey.  He was less than enthralled with the few items of clothes (much needed sweaters) except for two shirts (1. 2.)  My child is a math geek.  He is wearing his get real/be rational shirt today.  He opened all his gifts, waited very politely while Tom and I opened ours and through Xmas morning at the inlaws (across the street) before he had to tear into his PS3 to get it set up.

Lots to put away.  Daring dress to wear for Xmas dinner at aunt/uncle in laws.  And naps to be taking.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/nov/25/kid-savvy-politico/

Things I love, another one of the kids in his class got to be in the article.  She said he was nice.  She also admitted to voting for him instead of herself.  I just love the tone of this article.  I also was very happy to see him say something a bit less overreaching, that helping his school be better helps america be better.

I have to admit it, I am terribly proud of my kid.  He may express a bit of an attitude with me but he is one of the nicest, most compassionate children I have ever met.  He balances his intelligence with a genuine caring about other children.  He loves getting to do service projects and truly is the best of the best of boy scouts (while none of the worst!)

Also, he needs a haircut :)