Baby Steps

We decide to debate the topic.

Are they ready?

Is this doable?

If not, how can we wangle the odds in our favour?

It’s time for the school fund raiser, the Walkathon, where the children walk around the field for as many laps as they can manage. Each year we have attended. The first year we just attended and did not participate. The following year we attended and participated, in a manner of speaking. This year, it may be time to step up to the plate and tackle the sponsorship form.

We are already practicing our ‘trick or treat’ skills through modeling, social stories and kinesthetic learning. This would tie in quite well. Go to someone’s house. Avoid being squished by traffic. Use path. Do not walk on grass or flowerbeds. Avoid hedges, think of them as walls not hurdles. Find and ring bell, once. Wait for homeowner. Greet homeowner. Do not run into homeowner’s house. Verbalize request. Do not whisper or bellow. Stay on topic no matter how fascinating the door mat or light switches. Remember, frantic movement and speech confuses your listener. Do not talk to the wall, talk to the person. Listen to their answer.

“Maybe we should take them one at a time, that would help?”
“Yes, but there’s also safety in numbers and it would muddle the 'trick or treat' practice. They’re working much better as a team, one fills in the blanks for the other, as it were.”
“So we think we’re ready?”
“Definitely.”
“So who will we visit?”
“Just the two houses." Two tries. Two attempts. "Opposite and to the right only.”
“Deal. You’ll phone them first to warn them that we’re coming?”
“On the list.”
“How long is this evolution going to take?”
“Ooo 30 minutes?” 50 paces to each house.
“30 minutes for each house?”
“Approximately, we have to allow for the unknown.”
“The unknowable.”
“I don’t need to remind you about clipboards and pens do I?”
“Huh! Far too easy, I can take that in my stride.”


New post up on "Alien."

fri - Smooze Awards

"Dgibbs" from "Myfavouriteautistic" has bestowed upon me the Schmooze Award. Thank you Dgibbs, I am quite honored, if a little unworthy lately, due to a series of laundry crises.














“Good schmoozers effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship.”

So now it's my turn to pass this little one along.

This one's for "Jeni" at "Down River Drivel" because she shares many of the same intergenerational problems.....er .....issues, that I encounter.

Also for "Kristina" at "autismvox." I am always stunned by her productivity, the clarity of her posts and how she helps keep sloatheful people like myself, up to date. The number of blogs that she keeps up with, her positive attitude and genuine kindness is quite breathtaking.

"Chelle" over at "Soodz" as it would appear that Brits have much more in common with Canadians that I could have ever imagined.

I have to hand it to "Leanne" at "Mumkeepingsane" because unfortunately no-one else truly understands the true nature of laundry crises.

Lastly, but not leastly [is that a word?] for "April" at "Zoning out again," because it's always good to end on a giggle.