We ALL love Tara's caramel corn!!!!!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Fake it til you make it
It's something we all do.
At different times in our lives.
Just differing circumstances.
But some days I don't want to fake it any longer. It's exhausting for all of us.
Here's a sampling:
Many Aspies with their above average IQs can sail through grammar school, and yet hit academic problems in middle and high school. They now have to deal with four to six teachers, instead of just one. The likelihood that at least one teacher will be indifferent or even hostile toward making special accommodations is certain. The Aspie student now has to face a series of classroom environments with different classmates, odors, distractions and noise levels, and sets of expectations.
Social Isolation.
In the teenage world where everyone feels insecure, teens that appear different are voted off the island. Aspies often have odd mannerisms. One teen talks in a loud voice, avoids eye contact, interrupts others, violates their physical space, and steers the conversation to her favorite odd topic. Another appears willful, selfish and aloof, mostly because he is unable to share his thoughts and feelings with others.
Many Aspie teens are stiff and rule-oriented and act like little adults, which is a deadly trait in any teenage popularity contest. Friendship and all its nuances of reciprocity can be exhausting for an Aspie, even though he wants it more than anything else.
Inability to "Be a Teen." An Aspie typically does not care about teen fads and clothing styles -- concerns that obsess everyone else in their peer group. Aspies may neglect their hygiene and wear the same haircut for years.
Some Aspies remain stuck in a grammar school clothes and hobbies such as unicorns and Legos, instead of moving into adolescent concerns like MySpace and dating. Aspie boys often have no motor coordination. This leaves them out of high school sports, typically an essential area of male bonding and friendship.
The teenage years are more emotional for everyone. Yet the hormonal changes of adolescence coupled with the problems outlined above might mean that an Aspie teen becomes emotionally overwhelmed. Childish tantrums reappear. They may experience "melt down" at home after another day filled with harassment, bullying, pressure to conform, and rejection. Suicide and drug addiction become real concerns.
REFERENCES:
Bashe, Patricia and Barbara Kirby. The Oasis Guide to Asperger Syndrome.
Kennedy, Diane. ADHD Autism Connection.
Myles, Brenda and Jack Southwick. Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments.
Autism Asperger Publishing,Powers, Michael. Children with Autism.
Sohn, Alan and Cathy Grayson. Parenting Your Asperger Child.
At different times in our lives.
Just differing circumstances.
But some days I don't want to fake it any longer. It's exhausting for all of us.
Here's a sampling:
Many Aspies with their above average IQs can sail through grammar school, and yet hit academic problems in middle and high school. They now have to deal with four to six teachers, instead of just one. The likelihood that at least one teacher will be indifferent or even hostile toward making special accommodations is certain. The Aspie student now has to face a series of classroom environments with different classmates, odors, distractions and noise levels, and sets of expectations.
Social Isolation.
In the teenage world where everyone feels insecure, teens that appear different are voted off the island. Aspies often have odd mannerisms. One teen talks in a loud voice, avoids eye contact, interrupts others, violates their physical space, and steers the conversation to her favorite odd topic. Another appears willful, selfish and aloof, mostly because he is unable to share his thoughts and feelings with others.
Many Aspie teens are stiff and rule-oriented and act like little adults, which is a deadly trait in any teenage popularity contest. Friendship and all its nuances of reciprocity can be exhausting for an Aspie, even though he wants it more than anything else.
Inability to "Be a Teen." An Aspie typically does not care about teen fads and clothing styles -- concerns that obsess everyone else in their peer group. Aspies may neglect their hygiene and wear the same haircut for years.
Some Aspies remain stuck in a grammar school clothes and hobbies such as unicorns and Legos, instead of moving into adolescent concerns like MySpace and dating. Aspie boys often have no motor coordination. This leaves them out of high school sports, typically an essential area of male bonding and friendship.
The teenage years are more emotional for everyone. Yet the hormonal changes of adolescence coupled with the problems outlined above might mean that an Aspie teen becomes emotionally overwhelmed. Childish tantrums reappear. They may experience "melt down" at home after another day filled with harassment, bullying, pressure to conform, and rejection. Suicide and drug addiction become real concerns.
REFERENCES:
Bashe, Patricia and Barbara Kirby. The Oasis Guide to Asperger Syndrome.
Kennedy, Diane. ADHD Autism Connection.
Myles, Brenda and Jack Southwick. Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments.
Autism Asperger Publishing,Powers, Michael. Children with Autism.
Sohn, Alan and Cathy Grayson. Parenting Your Asperger Child.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
red rice, or half and half?
On most Fridays Dave's cell phone will ring about 3:30. The conversation goes something like this
Dad: Hello
Madison: Dad, when are you coming home?
Dad: Hopefully soon
Madison: Will you bring Jamaican Grill?
Dad: Sure
This week we are officially pathetic....they know Dave's voice, and our order!
All he had to do was say "Hi, I'd like to place an order for take out".
The chicken/rib combo with half red rice half jam.We go here way to much.
Guam Food Guy review
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
A Molly Moment
Molly is a rock star around here.
Everyone she sees (human or otherwise) is absolutely her very best friend.
It doesn't matter if she saw you just two minutes prior or if she's never laid eyes on you.
She just wiggles and squiggles with delight at everybody and everything.
The other canines in the neighborhood aren't as eager to share Molly's enthusiasm.
Here she is with Roxy - who lives next door.
I really need to get a shot of Clarence - a dog who lives a street away.
He just does not get what Molly's all about and starts whining when he spots the fluffball!
Friday, January 2, 2009
A brand new year
A new year always feels a bit like "starting over."
It's a fresh start, a new beginning, a clean slate. It's full of hope and possibilities.
Oh goodness - that's a bit overwhelming!
2009 is filling up.
There's this thing that happens when you are involved in activities, whether they are church, volunteering, or kid related. Events get scheduled, sometimes many months in advance. You are bombarded with pieces of paper and emails that contain important information and DATES YOU CANNOT FORGET! You realize that you can't live without a calendar.
Lucky me, I have a spouse that knows me all too well. I get my new calendar every year under the Christmas tree. And every year I'm amazed at how many blank little boxes the calendar contains. It's so new! So pretty! So unused!
Then you start filling in all those little boxes. First, you neatly use color-coordinated pens, but eventually you end up sloppily filling them in using the wand from an old mascara. The pieces of paper, the emails, and the IMPORTANT DATES are coming at you fast and furious. You make no promises without first consulting your calendar.
Once in a while you imagine losing your calendaring system and the thought sends you into a panic. You know that if you were smart, you would make a back-up calendar - but you don't have time to be smart. Instead you take a large Sharpie and write on the outside "Property of Chantelle Lang. Reward if found!" At least that's what I wrote. You should probably write your own name.
So today I got out the new calendar and filled in various monthly obligations - (bunko, birthdays, meetings, whatnot) While I was at it, I checked out airline prices for the annual Camp Grandma - YIKES, I think my blood sugar just plummeted! (Even prices from Honolulu are jaw dropping)
Anyway, when I came to December 2009 I felt as though I had just lived the entire year. My head hurt and I was pooped from celebrating one-too-many birthdays and anniversaries and from soothing my teen about his fears of flying yet again over the ocean.
So what clarity did my time spent planning out my entire year bring?
I need to bring life down just a tiny notch, maybe do a little less planning.
Learn to love the doing, learn to use the accumulation of time.
"When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we will find we can accomplish magnificent things"
Here's to a memorable and adventurous 2009!
It's a fresh start, a new beginning, a clean slate. It's full of hope and possibilities.
Oh goodness - that's a bit overwhelming!
2009 is filling up.
There's this thing that happens when you are involved in activities, whether they are church, volunteering, or kid related. Events get scheduled, sometimes many months in advance. You are bombarded with pieces of paper and emails that contain important information and DATES YOU CANNOT FORGET! You realize that you can't live without a calendar.
Lucky me, I have a spouse that knows me all too well. I get my new calendar every year under the Christmas tree. And every year I'm amazed at how many blank little boxes the calendar contains. It's so new! So pretty! So unused!
Then you start filling in all those little boxes. First, you neatly use color-coordinated pens, but eventually you end up sloppily filling them in using the wand from an old mascara. The pieces of paper, the emails, and the IMPORTANT DATES are coming at you fast and furious. You make no promises without first consulting your calendar.
Once in a while you imagine losing your calendaring system and the thought sends you into a panic. You know that if you were smart, you would make a back-up calendar - but you don't have time to be smart. Instead you take a large Sharpie and write on the outside "Property of Chantelle Lang. Reward if found!" At least that's what I wrote. You should probably write your own name.
So today I got out the new calendar and filled in various monthly obligations - (bunko, birthdays, meetings, whatnot) While I was at it, I checked out airline prices for the annual Camp Grandma - YIKES, I think my blood sugar just plummeted! (Even prices from Honolulu are jaw dropping)
Anyway, when I came to December 2009 I felt as though I had just lived the entire year. My head hurt and I was pooped from celebrating one-too-many birthdays and anniversaries and from soothing my teen about his fears of flying yet again over the ocean.
So what clarity did my time spent planning out my entire year bring?
I need to bring life down just a tiny notch, maybe do a little less planning.
Learn to love the doing, learn to use the accumulation of time.
"When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we will find we can accomplish magnificent things"
Here's to a memorable and adventurous 2009!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
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