I have moved over to WhittereronAutism.com. Please follow the link to find me there. Hope to see you after the jump! :)

Sunday, October 05, 2008

Best Shot Monday

Please scroll down for Magic Marker Monday

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

Just call me snap happy.

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A grey reflective day, but only for some!

Magic Marker Monday

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From the little girl:-






And the big girl:-










See more "here" or have a go at the competition yourself, "here."
It's on my 'to do' list.

Cheers dears

Saturday, October 04, 2008

all dogs have ADHD by Kathy Hoopmann - A Review



From "Jessica Kingsley Publishers"

Eye candy with a message:-

Whether you are fan of Anne Geddes or not, Ms. Hoopmann’s book achieves a similar result. Babies are beautiful and between "3 and 5 percent" of them are likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.

Interestingly, Ms. Hoopman provides a brief introduction to her second volume following "all cats have asperger syndrome," where she describes some common elements of the ADHA spectrum. What follows is a delightful romp, high lighting those factors in a whimsical manner through the device of a dog’s perspective. This book provides an excellent spring board to facilitate open discussion and intimacy about a difficult subject, for both parents and children alike, without threat.

Criticisms:-

1. It’s too expensive.

True but that’s because it’s a hardback. The 72 pages work out to the equivalent to 3 days of your routine CafĂ© Lattes but the effects last a lot longer and won’t give you a buzz. You can always wait for the soft back or support your local library.

2. How will it help with autism?

It won’t, it’s about ADHD, remember! Please try harder to keep all pertinent facts available in your working memory simultaneously. However, an ADHD diagnosis is often co-morbid with autism. Think of it as a selection box of chocolates. You can pick and choose your favourites, and leave the hard candy for someone else.

3. The photographs fail to meet expectations.

Well now I’m just being picky. I’m no photographer, so I shall restrain myself. I had no specific expectations so that appear to be perfectly fit for their purpose.

4. The captions and text are too generalized. They could apply to anyone and everyone.

True. I think it is essential to avoid any possibility of common ground, level playing fields and empathy. More importantly, I’m getting ahead of myself. Never flip pages or speed read. Always pay close attention to the introduction first, where Ms. Hoopmann specifically draws our attention to the spectrum nature of the disorder. Now lets try and keep focused.

5. Curiously, I do have a genuine criticism.

There are many different breeds of dog illustrated in the book. They are not labeled. My knowledge of dog breeds is basic. As a result, I have been plagued with questions about breeds and species. Strangely, there were no similar questions about cat breeds in “All Cats have Asperger’s,” but that is probably merely an indication of my children’s increasing willingness to speak. Maybe the next printing will address this omission, so that we can concentrate on the message and content rather than categories. Rest assured that only the tiniest of fonts and the briefest of descriptions would be needed, just like the codes on the papers of all test sheets for evaluations.

My second criticism would be by way of apology to all dog owners in advance. Very shortly my children will be accosting people and there dogs with the following question:- “is it a mut?” This is entirely my fault. One quick slip of the tongue and now we are stuck in the myre. I promise to put, ‘research dog breeds,’ on my ‘to do’ list.

Clearly it would be wrong to speculate about the author’s motivations. Perhaps she wants to ease the path for those newly diagnosed, their families and personal circle? Maybe, she would like to make the topic ADHA more socially acceptable for a broader audience? Possibly, other spectra may also benefit, incidentally. I can think of a great many other diagnoses in DSM IV that might also warrant a boost in the national psyche. I am of the genuine opinion, without a shred of supporting evidence, that Ms. Hoopman is out to change the world by stealth and humour. If so, she can bark up my tree any time.

Who knows what animal shall be next, but I wish Ms. Loopman luck in finding another good match.

I suspect that “all dogs have ADHD” failed to hold my attention as much as it’s
"predecessor." This might be because I am subject to a cat bias, but there again, it may also be because 72 pages can be quite a challenge for some,………….. now I’ve gotta dash as I’m sure there’s something[s] I need to do, although I’m not sure which one, or two, or three....... and I’m positive I was in the middle of something,....... although I can’t remember what it was,........ but I won’t be a "dog" in the "manger."

For future reference, please note that I shall not post negative opinions of any book. This is why my reviews are so few and far between.

Could also be that 72 pages is about my limited limit.

Cheers dears

Friday, October 03, 2008

Strategic Planning and banned words, SOOC

Slurping Life







Like many parents, my life is lived through laundry. It sprouts from every corner of the house in various pending files; the hampers of clean laundry waiting to be put away, the colour sorted piles awaiting washing, the random discards in between. Considering how rarely anyone is suitably attired for any occasion, it is a complete mystery why this should be such a full time job.

I nab him as he flits by, “excuse me young man! What do you think you are wearing?” He hops in place, anxious to move on with several armfuls of trouser gathered at his waist. “I am be wear pant.”
“I can see that.” He looks at me blankly whilst trying to free his feet from several yards of surplus fabric. “They’re not yours dear.”
“Not……?”
"They’re huge! Look!”
"Dey are be soft."
"They're mine!"
“Er……..we are not be use dah ‘mine’ word.”
“Yes but..”
“You are not be a good sharer wiv me?” He skates away without a backward glance at my de-hoisted petard.

I give up.

At least he’s clothed in a manner of speaking.





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Thursday, October 02, 2008

Lunch with Love






Warning!
Not for the squeamish
Graphic material follows






We eat in the garden as the ‘outside’ campaign continues before the Fall puts the campaign on the back burner until next year. I present him with his 'Burrito,' a tortilla folded and positively engulfed in Nutella, more of a chocolate crepe if truth be told. The price hike from $2:79 to $4:89 for the only type of bread he will eat, makes diet expansion a priority. He examines it closely but makes no attempt to eat it whatsoever. As usual, I adopt my 'not interested nor anxious' expression. Whilst he makes rooster noises at the end of the table, I encourage the others to eat their more conventional versions.

"You didn't put cheese in it didya Mom?" asks the intolerant one.
"Not in yours dear."
“Mom?”
“Yes dear?”
“If ya kiss more dan one girl……….. d'ya get poisoned?”
“Um…..no I don’t think so…….but…..er……nevermind, we’ll talk about that later. Now eat up your Burrito.”

I make a mental note to follow up on any number of possibilities from blind alleys and cul-de-sacs, to faithfulness and fickleness.

“I……don like……dah………guaca yuk.”
Guacomole! It’s very good for you. Just remember…..green is good.”

I contemplate the age old difficulty, his inability to say the word ‘green,’ although he has no difficulty whatsoever with any other hue from Emerald, all the way through to Myrtle and British Racing.

“Mom?”
“Yes dear?”
“Whats zis?”
“Dill and Basil. All fresh, highly nutritious.”
“Mom?”
“Yes dear?”
“Praying Mantises.”
“What about them?”
“Are dey……..vegetarians?”
“Mainly, although they’re not averse to the odd bite of cannibalism here and there.”
"What's for dessert?"
"Er.....I've not thought that far ahead yet."
"Do I have to eat all ofit Mom?"
"Yes, every scrap."
"Can I still have dessert if I don't?"
"I'm afraid not."
"Doesn't matter anyways. I expect desserts summat disgusting too."
"Actually.......we'll be having........." I troll through my mental image of the fridge contents. I have decided to have it tattooed on the inside of my cranium........ "er......strawberries."
"Cream? Do we get to have cream too?"
"Possibly."
"Can I check if we've got any?"
"When your plate is empty."

My 'image' is hazy. I can't quite get the cream into focus."

“I am a good sharer.”
“Indeed you are.”
“I’m gonna share …….my Burrito……..with love.”
“Ah. That’s so delightful. Very thoughtful but I think maybe you had better eat it yourself, build you up a bit.”
“But she is having……only………..a teeny tiny appetite.”
“Um……who has a teeny tiny appetite?”
“Love.”
“Er………?”
“I am give my pet a name.”
“A name? Which pet?”
“Look! ..... Here she is. ....... Mom,...... meet Love.”







Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Thursday 13 - 164:- how to plan a successful date night



Thirteen Things about planning a successful date night


1. Book baby sitter 3 weeks in advance.
2. Write cheat sheet for baby sitter, copy three times, laminate, place in kitchen and children’s bedrooms to avoid slip ups.
3. Write "social stories" to explain the concept of baby sitting.
4. Brief children in advance of impending night out. Reinforce ‘joy of babysitting’ with aforementioned social stories.
5. Role play 'baby sitting.' Utilize Pokemon as the babies.
6. Write both cell phone numbers on business sized red card stock, laminate and stick in prominent position in each and every room.
7. Carefully remove the word ‘abandonment’ from their vocabulary and reinforce ‘third party thoroughly responsible and much more fun Respite Worker.’
8. Book back up baby sitter two weeks in advance.
9. Re-write all "social stories" and erase the word ‘baby’ from every page. Replace with the word ‘child.’
10. Note absence of all Pokemons. Find alternatives within the next 24 hours for further reinforcement and practice.
11. Persuade Warrior to step into the breach if plan A babysitter and plan B babysitter should fail.
12. Re-write all "social stories" and erase the words ‘sit,’ ‘sitter’ and ‘sitting.’ Replace with the words ‘care,’ ‘carer’ and ‘caring.’ Role model ‘caring for children’ by third party. Remain standing throughout the exercise although bending is permitted. Substitute Webkinz as the objects of care.
13. On the night in question, leave house and children in care of Warrior and drive to movie theatre to watch something. Resist temptation to leave cell phones in car. Switch to vibrate. Lock car. Note rear seat is full of Pokemon and Webkinz.



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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Wordless Special Exposure Wednesday

5 Minutes for Special Needs





Is tactile defensiveness a thing of the past! I'll check my 'generalization of skills' log book before I say anything rash.

For anyone keen on words, I have a new note from "Nonna" called "Telescopic or Micro?"



If you enjoy caption competitions and photographs, you may wish to nip along to"DJ Kirkby" over at "Chez Aspie" and test your brain power.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Tackle it Tuesday - menu plan



Try This Tuesday


Formulate Plan A

In these financially stricken times, we need to tighten our belts and plan ahead. One way to get to grips with dwindling money supplies, is to stock up, stand up and design a fool proof menu plan for the week ahead. This should prevent marketing mishaps in the store.

The easy bit is to make the plan.

The difficult bit is sticking to the plan.


One way to stick to your plan, is to publicize it by sticking it somewhere prominent, such as the fridge door, either written in stone or alternatively on a disposable, wipe sheets with magic markers. Magic markers ensure that everyone is briefed in advance, but if you accidentally find that you have scoffed all the potato salad whilst the children are at school, you can easily substitute ‘green’ or ‘rice’ salad and no-one will be any the wiser.

You of course will be much wiser, but possibly penny foolish. As the pounds pile on together with the potato consumption, you may well find that you may benefit from shedding a few surplus purchases from your weekly shop. I make it a habit to check my receipt at the check out. If any item cost's more than $10, then I make a mental note to refrain from buying that item ever again. This is why we currently out of toilet rolls.

Ideally you should plan to shop immediately after consuming the potato salad. Make sure that you visit a shop with a restroom, so that you may take advantage of their copious supplies of toilet paper.

Psychological studies have shown that a shopper with a full tummy is much less inclined to shop under impulsive, although possibly under the influence. Other studies have shown that if you are full of potato salad, there is a much higher incidence of tummy cramps, which is directly related to one’s ability to push a trolly ladened with groceries. Further studies indicate that these same shoppers are far more likely than not, to be ‘basket’ users, if not basket cases. Basket cases usually restrict their purchasing power to one sack of potatoes, so that they are better able to repeat their mistakes and go completely off their trollies.

Hence, these few little steps may assist, the props and prompts of menu planning.

1.

Multi purpose, re-usable and self re-inforcing.

2.


Use a permanent marker for the title and days of the week.
For the details use an Expo.


3.


Sometimes it is possible to be extra sneaky and slip in some therapy on the side.




Although this kind of a challenge is not for the faint hearted. Be careful to ensure that nose pegs are freely available for all participants.


4. Under the current democratic rule, everyone is encouraged to take responsibility.






When you consume the last item in the box, add to the shopping list. Be independent! Take full responsibility as a participating member in the clan.

5.


Colour co-ordination may help with eye tracking to deliniate different 'parts' of the meal.

There are a great number of fringe benefits to this system. First and foremost, the numerous enquiries from every living breathing member of your household:-

What's for supper/dinner?

This is swiftly dealt with by directing their attention to the plan. This is especiallly helpful if you exist in a swarm of butterfly brains who forget the answer only seconds later, only to then repeat the same question at 20 minute intervals thereafter.

Beware of self expression!




and editing!




It is important to clarify the difference between 'wants' and 'needs.'




I am now off to formulate plan B. Maybe I should have done that first?

Cheers dears


Get the code:-
Cut and paste
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Sunday, September 28, 2008

Best shot Monday / Manic Monday Pride

Please scroll down for Magic Marker Monday

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

Just call me snap happy.

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Darts! Experience success!








Although I take a great many snaps, I can use very few of them, because my children are rarely dressed appropriately.

The skill of dressing, is an art form.

When a toddler first manages to dress themselve’s independently, parents rejoice in their success. Pride in achievement doesn’t seem a sin but something to celebrate. It is a huge step to master snap fasteners, zips and laces. All of those tasks are too difficult, textures are aversive, fine motor skills are poor, weak and unpracticed, and anyway you’d prefer to avoid the whole clothing issue entirely. Despite all this, there comes a time of realization to that child:- the things that other children, littler children achieve without effort, are way beyond their own reach. When this notion takes hold of a youthful mind, many begin to lose their sense of self worth. A child as young as 5 or even 3, may suffer depression. Unlikely as it may seem, sadly, it is true.

This is where tiny huge incidents of success may help address the imbalance. Small experiences of positive feedback can help re-build their fractured self esteem. A sense of pride in a task completed, becomes a tantalizing goal. It can’t be faked. It must be real to be of worth.

A dart board is fun for many a child, and adults! But the needle end would be dangerous for many and truly scary for others. Hence these magnetic darts fit the bill. Despite shortcomings in some realms of fine motor, co-ordination and eye tracking, other skills may be unusually enhanced. They may help compensate.

It is important for me to note that at the time of that photograph my son was in the 'Thomas the Tank Engine' developmental stage. He has already passed through the 'dinosaur' stage. Many people describe autistics as having obsessional interests and sometimes compulsive too. This may be a fair shorthand. It is often true that the interest pervades their lives to the exclusion of everything else. They do not stop to eat or to meet any other of their basic needs. I can see why it's described as obsessional.

However, I sometimes think that an alternative view would be 'single interest.' They have a current single interest but it can change to something else without warning. In our case it was on Christmas day. No more Thomas, so no motivation to open any presents at all, even if we ignore the tactile issue.

If you take a child with an obsessional interest to a toy shop, they will seek out their preferred toys. If you take a child with a single interest to a toy shop, when the single interest has gone, there is nothing at all to entertain them. I know that this is very difficult for people to understand. It is the very opposite of the 'kid in the candy store.' Name any 'thing' or 'toy' you can think of, but to entice a child to engage, is often an insurmountable hurdle. It's like a secret club where no-one will share the password.

This is not to say that you couldn't have more than one 'single' interest:- dinosaurs, Thomas and insects simultaneously. I could be interested in reading, knitting and gardening or motor cycle maintenance, art and stamp collecting, but anything else? Well it's just off the radar, perhaps?

However, it may well be possible, with a dollop of luck on your side, to find just the right password, and hit the bulls eye. It isn't really a secret, it's just patient, persistence or obstinacy in my case. And yes, that glint is a twinkle of pride in his eye.




What a lucky combination!



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p.s. I amended 'Peanut Butter Bumpkins to include the recipe.'

Magic Marker Monday

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From the little girl:-




And the big girl:-









See more "here" or have a go at the competition yourself, "here."
It's on my 'to do' list.

Cheers dears

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Peanut Butter Bumpkins



Stage one

We make them together, although she has the impression of independence.

Her creation would fail most nutritional examinations but it a triumph of visual delight.

Stage two

She reveals her handiwork to the boys for their approval.

We have already discussed her presentation in advance. On no account should the ‘trigger word,’ peanut butter be mentioned.

“Ta dah!” she beams!
“Dey are being pumpkins?”
“No they’re candy. I made em for ya! All by myself!
“You are being dah awesome chef.”
“You’re gonna love em. They’re made of….....….food colouring, frosting, butter and…........confectioner’s sugar. Mostly sugar really. A whole tonne of sugar.”
“Sugar! I am love the affectionate sugars.”

Stages three and up

Touch, smell, lick…….. well, you know the drill.



Addendum - Recipe and book review



The recipe comes from this book which I would wholeheartedly recommend as it has lots of fun ideas, especially if you’re a foreigner and not very good at Halloween. The Book is called “The Big Book of Halloween – Creative & Creepy Projects for Revellers of all Ages by Laura Dover Doran. It is thoroughly suitable for children as there are ‘easy’ projects too. I think I could have done with this book a few years ago. I think we will be able to use it again next year.

I love all hobbies and crafts but I’m in the minority around here. It is attractively illustrated without too many surplus words, or rather there are lots of surplus words but they’re arranged in such a manner that you can tune out the full page of text and concentrate on the insert box, the main event. The instructions are simple and numbered. There are several unusual, home made and cheap costumes too. The models are ordinary, friendly, pleasant people rather than intimidating super models. It is well organized into easily recognizable chapters.

Peanut butter Pumpkins

Combine 115 grammes / four ounces or 1 stick of melted butter with 340 grammes / 12 ounces of peanut butter and 454 grammes / 16 ounces of icing sugar / powdered sugar / confectioners sugar. [see how tricky it is to translate these things!] Smoosh everything together. I would add the sugar gradually as it’s a stiff work out for the muscle challenged. Add the orange food colouring early and it will lighten the more sugar you add. It’s really hard to add the food colouring at the end as the dough is like cement. You do have to add all the sugar or otherwise your pumpkins won’t hold their form [too soft]. Roll the mixture into little balls. You can mark the sides to make them look like pumpkins but leave that step out if cocktail sticks are lethal weapons. Add a trail or stalk of livid green icing / frosting to complete. They taste better after chilling for an hour. The recipe says that the yield is 15 to 20 pumpkins but we had 34! So ours must have been considerably smaller. My daughter ate two and said that was more than enough to last her the next 24 hours as they’re very rich.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Don’t be so snotty!

Slurping Life



I chat to my eldest daughter in the kitchen surrounded by devastation, evidence of a successful play date.

“Blimey! What a mess!”
“Yes I know. I’m just having a quick breather whilst I decide where to start.”
“No fights?”
“A couple of near misses, but all in all, I’d say that they all had fun.”
“Eeeow. What’s that on your shirt?”
“Where? Oh tomato puree, a few smears of peanut butter…....the usual.”
“No. There!”
“Oh….....I must have missed that bit. I’ll just get a tissue.”
“Is it snot?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Eeow, you are slipping.”
“It’s not mine. It’s his.”
“Eeeow gross! That’s even more disgusting.”
“Hmm…. I didn’t know you were so squeamish considering how you’re willing to handle Banana Slugs! I must have missed it during the bathroom debacle.”






“Bathroom debacle?”
“Three people cannot use one toilet at the same time, even if they all happen to be boys.”
“Sounds like a new rule?”
“Verily.”
“You’ll have to start a new campaign. A snot campaign. You can’t become the snot repository.”
“Actually the snot campaign has been on-going for some while now. This is actually evidence of great progress, the culmination of months of hard work.”
“Pull the other one, it’s got bells on!”
“No really. Before they’d just wipe it on whatever happened to be handy, walls, furniture, anything that removed it from their persons and parked it somewhere else.”
“Vile. So how is this progress then?”
“Well they come to me, theoretically to tell me that they need help.”
“Couldn’t you train them to just go and get a tissue?”
“I tried that but somewhere in-between the realizing that they needed one, a tissue, and locating the tissues, they’d come into contact with something else. This is sort of my pre-emptive strike, intervention, so that I can them take them off to the tissue box to practice sterile nasal practices.”
“So?”
“Well sometimes I’m not quick enough in the ‘anticipation department’ and sometimes they’re a little slow in the ‘explanation in words department.”
“So as the words are coming out, they’re physically in the act of using you as a hankerchief.”
“Hmm……......like I said, it’s work in progress.”
“I know! Hang on a minute…………………………..There you go! That should fix it!”
“Ooo I could patent that you know!”
“Yet another new fashion trend!”






“Maybe not. I think it’s already been invented.”
“What?”
“The "pinny.”


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Thursday, September 25, 2008

Road Trip



From a couple of balmy weeks ago
Glorious Summer Holidays


If I do not go to the shop today we shall all starve.

But that’s the real trouble with holidays. If push comes to shove, and it might, I may be able to drag something out of the freezer, kicking and screaming. But if they won’t eat the defrosted victim, I shall be no further forwarder. What good are hot dogs without any buns?

No.

A trip to the shops is a must. A trip to the shops with all my lovely children, and Nonna will be a bust.

There are the usual calculations to be made. Interesting shop where I might be able to contain them or boring shop where everyone will run away. A shop with electric doors will ensure that I’ll be able to find one escapee. A shop without strip lighting, as the flickers lead to fleeting. A shop with no freezer section because the buzz drives one batty.

Then there’s timing. Sufficiently after breakfast so that they’re not too hungry. Not too late in the morning, so as to have a better chance at a curb side parking slot, to minimize the chance of death by traffic.

One list for each child. One list with three essential and preferred items each. Ensure that my handwriting will pass muster for the perfectionist. If it’s cursive, make sure it is sufficiently curly not zig zaggy. Who in their right mind would hold a piece of paper with those jagged angled zags?

I really need an aide memoire, a little check list pinned to the door for all essentials. Mustn’t forget the huge blanket this time. I certainly won’t make that mistake again, the fire dance in the car park! 20 minutes shopping with the car parked outside in the heat. A toasty little furnace. A metal box absorbing heat atoms. At the height of summer, in California, in America, airless and still. How could we survive without a thick fleece blanket? Not only do I need to remember to take it, I need to remember to cover the seats.

Forget the dogs:- no-one wants hot buns!


Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Thursday 13


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

5 Minutes for Special Needs


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."

 
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