Evidence that someone "special" lives here...

The first clue might be the multitude of visual schedules lying or posted around the house (I think Mason was mortified to have friends over after I forgot to remove the "how to go pee" schedule above the toilet a few years back when the soccer team was here for a big dinner; needless to say he's hesitant to have friends over any more).

The second giveaway might be the EXIT signs hanging above some of our doorways.

If you look closer, you'll notice all the ways in which I could employ a personal handyman (probably on a monthly basis)...

• a neat hole (the perfect diameter of a door knob) in the drywall behind the entry door...due to a broken door stop and excessive & repeated slamming of the door + a pair of winter boots strategically placed to block additional slams (complete with a sticky note on the wall instructing do-gooders to leave the boots in their place!).
• door jambs that have been knocked loose and do not line up normally with the other trim pieces.
• black "ball" skids on multiple ceilings.
• pictures that hang crooked on the wall or just the nail hole "slightly enlarged" from the multiple swipings, thus no picture hangs there anymore.
• scrape marks on the ceiling around the dining room chandelier due to excessive spinning of the light fixture.
• a mysterious food particle "cemented" to the ceiling above the kitchen sink.
• light switches that do not stay in the "on" position from extreme OCD lights on/lights off behavior.
• a large wall clock which would be a fabulous and functional piece of decor, if only it had the hands to display the time!
• sharpie ink used to cover up dents, scratches, scrapes on a variety of furniture and decor.
• crumbling drywall from the spot where a towel holder hung three "fixes" ago
• missing backs to TV remotes and cordless phones (once the little tabs bust off after an unexpected "flight," the backs just don't stay on).
• digital clocks that are all programmed for different times.
• drawers that cannot be pushed in all the way, due to bent frames from being used as a stepping stool.
• sugar bowls without the matching tops (long ago busted)
• cracks, dings, or other exposed drywall in virtually every room of the house -- typically caused by launched items.
• onion peel and cracked pepper in my Kitchen-Aid mixing bowl (obviously deciding to build his skills)

If I get past the obvious...and get with gratitude, I also...

• hear contagious laughter.
• beam with pride when one of the other boys interacts with interest and compassion and carries that over into experiences with other people with special needs.
• find myself shaking my head in disbelief at some of the things he comes up with.
• laughing that he gets me to do some ridiculous behaviors to satisfy some of his obsessions.
• delighting in new found skills...even if they happen at nano-speed.
• latching on to positive moments that give me hope for the future...