Whitterer on Autism

Thirteen Things about
Things I should have avoided whilst pregnant

There’s many a parent raked by guilt with sleepless nights full of ‘what ifs’ and ‘if onlys.’ Here are a few of those thoughts.
1. I should have rigged up the microwave with crime scene tape.
2. I should never have knitted that baby blanket. I’m sure I poked something crucial.
3. Hair dye and vanity, that’s all I’m going to say on the subject.
4. I knew that cell phone was a mistake. Surely I fried every functioning brain cell too.
5. Orders to ‘rest’ should be accompanied with a free pass to a baby sitter.
6. They did warn me about Caesar Salad but I couldn’t resist the craving for anchovies.
7. I should never have drunk the water and breathed the air in Silicon Valley.
8. I blame the blue cheese myself although I swear it was only a crumb or two.
9. I should have made him swear that the fruit punch only contained fruit and no hidden punches. Can you trust anyone these days?
10. I blame the YMCA. It was a mistake to take that Aerobics instructor course.
11. I should have had those metal filling ripped out pre-pregnancy but hindsight is always 20-20. I wonder why it wasn’t covered by my medical insurance?
12. Alternatively I could blame the hospital. How stupid to give a warning about carrying heavy objects! What newly born object doesn’t want to be carried!
13. Yes, regrets, I have more than a few. If I had my time over, I would do things differently. For my baby shower gift I’d have fessed up and asked for a "laminater."

So nip on over and "click" to do you little "bit." I'm always happy to complain about "food" but in the great scheme of things, I for one, should know "better."

Although I usually benefit hugely from a jolly good moan.

Cheers dears

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Wordless - Special Exposure Wednesday

If this continues, I shall sell his bed!
It is white wood.

A cheap trade in return for a very obvious free fall drop in tactile defensiveness.

I also have a few words to share on my "Alien" site called "A Glut of Starving Brains."

Monday, September 22, 2008

Tackle it Tuesday - Teeny tiny

We’re pretty busy around here so today’s tackle is a tiny one that should bring big rewards, especially for me. The trouble with having so many bodies around is that any semblance of organization and tidying is pretty much destroyed with the passage of the next 24 hours. Here is a slightly longer term solution.

Choose the drawer in your kitchen with the highest traffic, the one that everyone needs to use frequently.

First weed the drawer of all non essentials. Try and put like with like.

Have a trial run to see what you can fit in one drawer easily and discard the rest for another time. Take a large sheet of coloured paper and draw around each item with a black marker pen. Alternatively photograph each item but this can be problematical due to scale. [and expensive!] Laminate the paper cut-outs so that it will last longer and be easier to clean.

Line the drawer with ‘grip liner’ to reduce clanking.

Clean all items and replace in the correct position in the drawer.

Finally label the drawer with something relevant.

Some families may benefit from a few additional steps.

Sometimes numbering the empty spaces also helps, as can the name of the item written on the relevant cut out. Many children can read either words or numbers. For example, they may not know what a tin opener is, but if it is matched to a number and shaped cut-out, it is far easier to identify.

On completion photograph the contents of the drawer and enlarge to A4 size if possible. Laminate and mount on card and place on the wall of the counter behind the corresponding drawer. If this offends your ‘perfect kitchen’ image, you can always stick it on the inside of the door below, which can also be useful for smaller children who are better matched in height to this visual aid.

Alternatively, place the ‘cheat sheet’ in the drawer itself over the contents where it can be removed and held as a ready reference guide. Often physically holding the card, something tangible, in one hand aids eye tracking and referencing back.

This is also handy if you have additional spare bodies floating around your house such as therapists, baby sitters and miscellaneous experts.

There are any number of adaptations to suit the individual needs of your little helpers. For instance, part of the reason for covering the paper icons with sticky back plastic is not only to keep it clean but also because the texture of paper is abhorrent to some people.

Other children may find the reflective nature of the laminate equally as offensive. Some children respond positively to certain colour preferences e.g. pink becomes a magical co-operative hue but black means that no-one will dare go within shooting distance.

There are many fringe benefits to this approach other than tidiness and cleanliness.

Additionally, children learn competency, which boosts their self esteem. They learn that they are contributing to the household in a useful and helpful manner which also adds to their feelings of belonging to a unit.

Many of these kitchen items are words that they have no interest in learning. Even though they are still unlikely to ‘want’ to learn them, quite often they learn them incidentally by doing, if not accidentally, or what is often termed ‘kinesthetic’ learning.

They can tell that they have completed a task without help [or not very much help] perfectly and gain the satisfaction of a job well done, and task completion can often be a huge hurdle.

What I like about this task is that it is cheap, easy and relatively quick but with many long term benefits for everyone.

So now that we’re finished! Could you open the fridge, pass me a beer and number 17 please!

Cheers dears

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Best Shot Monday

Hosted by "Tracy" at "Mother May I," but the photo-picture below will whizz you right there with one click.

Now I finally have the chance to spot light my stunning photography skills.

Hmm......I wonder if there's a theme? I should have checked to see if there's a theme.

I'll just go check............

Dear me, the "poor woman" will think she's being stalked or possibly lurked? That doesn't sound quite right? Can you use lurk as a verb? Lets try it out.

I lurk
You lurk
He/she/it lurks.

There you go! Faultless logic.

Now....where was I? Ah yes! Themes =
Rockin possibly?

Would that be rock in or rock out do you suppose? Does it matter what you put your rock in or out of?

Maybe she's referring to the colloquial American dancing variety or perhaps the chair variety or the geology option?

Oh I don't know this is much too difficult. Oopsie 'difficult' is a banned word. So much more of a challenge than I thought!

I can feel grumpiness creeping over me.

What's the point? It's nearly bed time now. Monday is nearly over. I wonder if you get spanked if you post at 12:01 when we pop into Tuesday?

Hmm. What else?

There again, now I come to think of it, the picture was of her daughter. Maybe I could post a picture of a child doing something that isn't rockin?

How about 'Surfin?'

It that American enough?

What a coup d'etat!

Is it cheating to skip the water and waves? Can't be too careful, there are always so many rules!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Snip, snap, snip!

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My sons have both developed an interest in photography because we gave their sister a camera for her Summer Camp trip. They 'steal' my camera rather than hers because mine is silent.

When he skips into the house I catch him red handed. I flip through his latest batch with a frown. "I am be foto dah dead fings." Against my better judgment I must conclude that this is a "good thing."

I dash outside with the kitchen scissors and cut off every offensive crispy brown head I can find. The newly rigged up "irrigation" system is extremely irritating, intermittent and generally unco-operative. Behind me, since I am never really alone, my son hovers in the door way as he clutches Piplup to his chest, close to his heart.
“What you are do?” he asks without prompting.
“I’m just giving this plant a haircut!"
As I reply, I am simultaneously aware that my words have another interpretation, "nothing screams neglect more than an untrimmed bush!”

He runs inside yelping, “don neglect me!”

Although to be honest, my mind was somewhere else entirely.

For more words, I have a new post up on "alien" called "All Frightfully Chummy" and a "note from "Nonna" called "Leaf Location."

Magic Marker Monday

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The boys still struggle with tactile issues, which nip back to bite us every so often.

I promised to show case the girls today so here it is:-

Little Girl

Bigger "Girl"

MM - Love and Formula

Moody Monday theme = "Love"

Manic Monday theme = "Formula"

I learn that last week's lesson has been "generalized."

But his megalomania is subject to his sister's edits.

They grow older and better able to express their opinions.

They grow bigger and taller and notice more things. I wonder if they can agree on a message? A Formula for success!

Brought to you via "It's a Blog Eat Blog World."

What a lucky combination!

Sat - An Accidental Meme

Is there any other kind, I wonder? So "Moondance" tagged me for this meme,"Moondance", probably because she is a deep thinker type with a big brain. Curious that she should have tagged me for this one then!

The idea is that we think of 5 things that we would 'save' in the event of a hurricane or presumably any other natural disaster.

Or as she says, 'Here's how it works (this is my first time, so I may do it wrong):

1. Tell us what five things you would take with you from your home if you had to evacuate for a storm or forest fire or other emergency, and there was a chance you couldn't come back.

2. Include a link to this post, and pass on this list of instructions.

3. Leave a comment below, so we can find your post.

4. Think of something you can do for someone who actually had to make that decision in real like, and share that idea with us, too.

5. Tag three or more people to pass it on.

What would you save?'

For a 'first attempt' I am full of praise. I thought my widget would break the first time I tried one of these, to say nothing of all those frightful linky winkies. Therefore, I am happy to encourage by participating.

1. Nonna.

2. Spouse.

3. Big daughter

4. Little daughter

5. Big son.........only five.....oh dear this isn't going to work. Do you mean I have to "choose?"

Oopsie! Always pay close attention to the details. Moondance wrote 'things' not people.

Phew!

Much easier.

1. The Laptop. More portable that a zillion heavy photograph albums.

2. Sable

3. Blankie

4. Pikachu

5. The basket of DS's and re-chargers.

They're not 'valuable' as such, but will be invaluable as serious motivators if we are ever to be able to dig ourselves out of the rubble.......

"Dig, dig, dig dearies and when we get out you can 30 minutes electronics time, whilst I pick Dandelion leaves for supper."

So now I need to tag five other people, or there abouts? On this particular occasion I leave you to choose whether to participate or not. I recently read "Lou's" post about "tagging" which gave me pause for thought. Possibly on a very small pause and an even smaller thought, but I still ponder. Everyone in the blogosphere seems a little over-burdened at the moment and I shouldn't wish to add to the load, but if you do, let me know.

Cheers dears

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Lights Award

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"Angela" over at "Memoirs of a Chaotic Mommy" has not only designed a new award, super photo shop spotter that she is, she also offered it to me! Isn't it just the winkie dinkiest thing you've ever seen? Imagine being able to make something like that without getting a knitting needle stuck in your keyboard?

Anyway, as I begin to ramble, it's my turn to pass it on to some other people.

Of course there are "rules."

Here are the rules:-

'For those who have warmed my heart with their stories (You either a. made me laugh out loud or b. made me cry my eyes out.)...I made you this:

'You know, the blog world is very unique in the sense that it has opened up such a huge community outside of our local surroundings. In doing this I really feel like those who touch our hearts have the ability to be seen by many for their actions, rather than so few when it's in person. There isn't a single person on my list that I feel expects recognition despite the potential huge audience in the web. In fact, many on my list don't even use their real name so even if someone who knows them in real life knows their deeds, they still will not receive recognition.

So here it is...those who have blessed me with their words, those who have lifted people up with their prayers, those who have given insight into their own lives in order to make it easier on those who are facing the very same challenges. I am passing this very well-deserved award to those who have shone their light on the rest of us.

This award is for those who have touched your heart. You do not have to be a recipient to pass it on, nor does a recipient need feel obligated to pass it on. I do hope that if you do pass it on it will be given with the same amount of reverence and love in which it was given to you.'

Pretty liberal if I do say so myself!

Anyway, I thought about it for a while and I decided that I would award it to the first commenters from a long while back who encouraged me to keep blogging, coz it's pretty scary when you first start!

1. "I Am Nasra"

2. "Pecos Blue" at "Now West of the Pecos River."

3. "Lisa/Jedi" at "Lisa-Jedi."

4. "Jerry Grasso" at "My Autistic Boy and Other Adventures in Fatherhood."

All on my first ever post called "The Dreaded Telly."

For me I find it especially interesting that apart from 'Anon' [sorry anon] and "Jerry" appeared to have any connection with autism. And you know what they say......."There's no point in preaching to the choir!'

Cheers dearies

Smiley Saturday

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It’s quite a challenge really.

Following last week’s first attempt to find something to smile about, this probably means that I have to crank up the pressure and delve even deeper to find something else to smile about

So it’s Thursday as I write and not so much as a snigger in sight nor even further in mind. I wish I could pod cast the telephone message I received yesterday, as that was definitely of very high snorting value. What else? Surely there must be some little nugget buried away somewhere?

Ah yes! A nugget.

We were outside in the garden so that my engineering type could explain my errors with the "irrigation system." There was a flower pot full of all the hardware, screws, piping, little widgety things that control the water flow and my son was sitting nearby playing with his Pokemon.

He explained that there were two types of widget, one that dripped and one that squirted and I’d bought the wrong ones. They looked exactly the same to me, so he picked up one of each and examined them to explain the differences when my son perked up and said “one is being pointy wiv a lil spot hole and one is being long wiv a big hole in dah middle.”

He wasn’t even looking at the parts.

It reminded me of several things, his visual acuity, his ability to appear to be absorbed in something else and supposedly oblivious to other people’s doings and the other thing…..you know………that thing about……….there’s none so blind……

Sorry my numb is brain!

Aha! I’ve just thought of something else when I posted these photos earlier this morning. I have a second thing that made me grin.

It’s a bit like the back story to the "photos."

It was such a hot muggy day, yes I know, England does have the occasional stiflingly sticky day.

Back then they were so small.

We were having an ‘outing’ on one of our first family trips to England. It was not a happy time. My children are like fine wine and do not travel well. We were still at the stage where the boys were physically attached to me 99% of the time. They were either in the double stroller or being carried. Walking anywhere were virtually impossible.

I had been carrying one or both for several hours. I was completely exhausted and mystified by their misery. My husband constantly told me not to carry them, but I never listened.

I concluded that it was probably my own attitude, grumpy, that was bringing everyone down. I decided to lighten up, both physically and mentally. We would play a game. Run down the path in a race to get out of the sun and into the shade. It would be fun. I would break the spell and happy innocent laughter would bubble up from the well spring.

I briefed them all. I made sure I had everyone’s attention first. I was lively, animated, joyful, teasing, clear in my message. No-one would die from a few minutes separation. Then I legged it.

I waited at the foot of the steps and took photos of their happy progress.

I could hear them. Oh could I ever hear them. Everyone could hear them. Surely some child was being skewered by a monster as their cries of agony percolated through the fetid air.

Of course they never ‘arrived.’

As usual I had to submit, defeated, but boy have they come a long way since then, positively leaping now.

More of a gem than a nugget.

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Cheers dears