No they aren't normal, but...

 A year has passed and I've not done any blogging whatsoever concerning the kids. It's not that I can say that I've been SO busy that I haven't had the time.. If I really think about it, I think it's been more of an avoidance. Avoidance of the reality that there is something not normal about Morgan and Makayla.

 It has been 1.5 years since the kiddos were diagnosed Autistic, with Asperger Syndrome to be specific. Before they were diagnosed, I thought that Morgan had such a terrible temper at times.. that he was extremely OCD and that he was just not paying attention or trying very hard when it came to school and other little things. With Makayla, I always thought that she was just really obnoxious. True, ha ha. She was an A student, did have some problems with getting along with kids her own age, but on the whole..she was just a girl that drove me crazy.

 Now that they've had the diagnosis' they have had ABA therapies and seem to have the victim mentality. Any time I have been upset that they are not behaving appropriately I hear "I can't help it" from Makayla and "Why do you want me to be like everybody else" (like that has anything at all to do with it) from Morgan. I thought therapy was supposed to "make things better" not create more issues. :( They behaved so much better before we started the therapy.

  Maybe it's just me? Maybe I have more of a problem with accepting that these challenges are not something I can just say, 'stop doing that' and expect it to be done. I have taken the advice and backed off from the discipline they've had since they were born in the attempt of being "more understanding" and I BELIEVE that it has been some of the worst advice I ever took. Yes, I need to be understanding, but they need to have the discipline in place so that they learn what is not acceptable has consequences. Without this knowledge, school, work, relationships all will be more stressful.

 Morgan and Makayla are so smart and I love them more than words can say. The things that they DO know, how they experiment and try things in different, surprising ways always keep me on my toes and surprisingly proud. They bring laughter and joy to my life even through the drama. Granted I see the joy and sometimes have the laughter LONG after the drama has passed, but that's okay. No, my children will never fit societies idea of "normal", but I don't think I would want them any other way.