So, this afternoon, we made a routine stop at the pharmacy for meds. Rachel has come home the last 2 days early from school, with headaches/seizures.... Just one of those weeks, I guess...
But, as usual, there is always something to make me smile when Rachel is around. We were in our usual position...I was standing, waiting "patiently" for her medications & she was sprawled out in the massage chair at the pharmacy. She finally got her coordination together enough to awkwardly walk to the counter with me, without help.
There was one of those photo card displays by the register. And there was an attractive young blond girl in a blue dress on one of them. Rachel said "I think I know her"....Of course I responded with "Who is she?". She said the girl looked like "Allison". So my mind is racing to all the Allisons I could think of. I asked if it was Allison S. from church...."no". How 'bout my cousin Allison, that is "hanging" on our fridge? "NO!" I have to back out of this guessing game & ask directly who Allison is.
And, silly, silly me was not expecting her "obvious" answer..."She's Allison Wonderland!".
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
The Obvious (but what is NOT for an Aspie?)
This morning started off in typical form. Getting showers, medications, readying for school...Routines are so important. Even changing the order of Rachel's medication can throw the entire day off! She was excited about turning her 4th grade Social Studies' Project in today.
We got in our car and started to school. We listen to the same morning radio program each day on the way. Our station has a daily "DQ"- "Darned Question".
Rachel always has the obvious answer & today was no exception. Here's the question: "You change your undies everyday, your oil every 3 months, your smoke detector batteries, 2 times a year...What should you change once a year?". Hmmm. There were several guesses, such as your password on your computer... Rachel couldn't believe no one could figure out the clearly obvious answer. Without even a blink, she said: "you change the number of candles on your birthday cake"...then, her eyes got really big as she said: "that is a trick question, because you also should change your calender once a year".
I tried calling in with her answer(s), but fortunately for me, the line was busy. But I did send an e-mail to the morning DJ, Leslye on Magic 107.7, regarding her funny, but true answer. They actually read it on the air & enjoyed her simplistic observation. I wish she had still been in the car to hear it. FYI- the eventual "correct" answer was to change your ATM pin number once a year. (Kind of glad she wasn't in the car to hear that answer, as that would have led to an endless conversation, that would never have been understood.)
Thought, you, too might enjoy a smile with this Rachelism! Have a great weekend!
We got in our car and started to school. We listen to the same morning radio program each day on the way. Our station has a daily "DQ"- "Darned Question".
Rachel always has the obvious answer & today was no exception. Here's the question: "You change your undies everyday, your oil every 3 months, your smoke detector batteries, 2 times a year...What should you change once a year?". Hmmm. There were several guesses, such as your password on your computer... Rachel couldn't believe no one could figure out the clearly obvious answer. Without even a blink, she said: "you change the number of candles on your birthday cake"...then, her eyes got really big as she said: "that is a trick question, because you also should change your calender once a year".
I tried calling in with her answer(s), but fortunately for me, the line was busy. But I did send an e-mail to the morning DJ, Leslye on Magic 107.7, regarding her funny, but true answer. They actually read it on the air & enjoyed her simplistic observation. I wish she had still been in the car to hear it. FYI- the eventual "correct" answer was to change your ATM pin number once a year. (Kind of glad she wasn't in the car to hear that answer, as that would have led to an endless conversation, that would never have been understood.)
Thought, you, too might enjoy a smile with this Rachelism! Have a great weekend!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine -a must read
Wanted to share with you an exceptional book! I was recently at the beloved Davis-Kidd bookstore closing sale in Nashville. Above the many treasures I found heavily discounted, was a recommendation by the lady checking my piles of books out. She noticed several books on special needs/ Autism... And out of the blue, asked me if I had read Mockingbird, yet. After telling her I had not even heard of it, she informed me it was about a young girl with Asperger's, and continued on, telling me how much it changed the way she understood Asperger's and differences in thinking. That was enough for me.
They were already sold out, but as soon as I got back to Florida, I went to Barnes & Noble & found this treasure! If you are interested in a good read, this is one! (it is currently on sale at Barnes & Noble on-line) I read it in an afternoon. Could not put it down until I finished it! Although it is fictional, the author did a lot of research on Asperger's & completely nailed it! I felt like I knew this little girl, Caitlin. And I also realized I'm not alone in raising an Aspie. Although there are a wide range of characteristics, some things are just "black and white"! I am sharing a quote from the author's website regarding/introducing the book.
"MOCKINGBIRD (National Book Award, 2010)
In Caitlin’s world, everything is black or white. Things are good or bad. Anything in between is confusing. That’s the stuff Caitlin’s older brother, Devon, has always explained. But now Devon’s dead, and her father cries a lot. Caitlin wants to get over it, but as an eleven-year-old girl with Asperger’s, she doesn’t know how. When she reads the definition of “closure” in the dictionary, she realizes that is what she and her father need. In her search for Closure, Caitlin discovers that not everything is black and white--the world is full of colors--messy and beautiful, and it is through this discovery that she embarks on a road which leads her to find both healing and Closure."
If you do get the book & read it, I would love to get your take on it. And, if you have any other books that you recommend, please share them with us. Thank you for your support & encouragement!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Confusion at Church
Oh literalism, you have again caused Rachel confusion & me a difficult time, trying to help Rachel understand symbolism.
Rachel's lifelong buddy, Mollie, was recently baptized. It was so very exciting to learn of Mollie's decision & her desire to serve Christ. I was out of town when it occurred, but Mom was here with Rachel & happily went with Rachel to Beville Road Church of Christ to witness & rejoice with Mollie & her family!
Mom had already told me about it, and when I got home, Rachel began sharing a little about it. She kind of dropped the subject (which never happens with Asperger's, as they go on & on..... for hours, days, even weeks & months about things, completely obsessing).
I was somewhat relieved that she had shared, but did NOT obsess. Silly me...while I was thinking she had moved on to other current events, I was suddenly made aware that she was still pondering Mollie's decision. Rachel, finally, one day said: "I think it would be good to be a Christian, but I don't want to eat a person."!
How do you explain that the Lord's Supper is "symbolic" to someone who does not understand or think in symbolic terms? All this time, at church, & she thought we were cannibals. After a long talk, I still am not sure she understands the symbolic/substitute factor. All of this I'm sharing to let you understand how many of the things we take for granted, can be so baffling to an Aspie!
While I'm on the subject of church...I am reminided of how many terms, adjectives, etc. I need to use when describing things to Rachel. After several people that were greatly loved passed, the subject of heaven came up, time after time. Rachel knew that it is going to be beautiful, perfect, great, happy...But one day, she caught me by surprise, when she asked me if "heaven was a good place?". After I reassured her & we talked a while, she informed me, that no one had ever said "heaven is good". She was needing to hear it worded like that. I'm just thankful that she asked me, instead of continuing to think it was not good, simply because she had not heard anyone state it with the word "good". Words are important to everyone & I have been reminded, there is no way to overclarify with an Aspie!
Rachel's lifelong buddy, Mollie, was recently baptized. It was so very exciting to learn of Mollie's decision & her desire to serve Christ. I was out of town when it occurred, but Mom was here with Rachel & happily went with Rachel to Beville Road Church of Christ to witness & rejoice with Mollie & her family!
Mom had already told me about it, and when I got home, Rachel began sharing a little about it. She kind of dropped the subject (which never happens with Asperger's, as they go on & on..... for hours, days, even weeks & months about things, completely obsessing).
I was somewhat relieved that she had shared, but did NOT obsess. Silly me...while I was thinking she had moved on to other current events, I was suddenly made aware that she was still pondering Mollie's decision. Rachel, finally, one day said: "I think it would be good to be a Christian, but I don't want to eat a person."!
How do you explain that the Lord's Supper is "symbolic" to someone who does not understand or think in symbolic terms? All this time, at church, & she thought we were cannibals. After a long talk, I still am not sure she understands the symbolic/substitute factor. All of this I'm sharing to let you understand how many of the things we take for granted, can be so baffling to an Aspie!
While I'm on the subject of church...I am reminided of how many terms, adjectives, etc. I need to use when describing things to Rachel. After several people that were greatly loved passed, the subject of heaven came up, time after time. Rachel knew that it is going to be beautiful, perfect, great, happy...But one day, she caught me by surprise, when she asked me if "heaven was a good place?". After I reassured her & we talked a while, she informed me, that no one had ever said "heaven is good". She was needing to hear it worded like that. I'm just thankful that she asked me, instead of continuing to think it was not good, simply because she had not heard anyone state it with the word "good". Words are important to everyone & I have been reminded, there is no way to overclarify with an Aspie!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
"Gross"...Harry Potter?
Oprah was on last Friday, at our house. She was doing an interview with the one & only J.K. Rowling. She is the tremendously successful author of the Harry Potter series (fyi- for the possible 1 person on the planet unaware...). Rachel happened to be walking through the room, when she said "Yes, Harry Potter IS gross.".
O.K. Under normal circumstances, I would choose to ignore that comment, but when you try to interpret what an Aspie says, it actually made sense. Rachel heard Oprah quoting how much Ms. Rowling had "grossed" from her Harry Potter series. How else could she possibly interpret that? I just laughed quietly; briefly tried to explain the meant meaning & finally, just decided to let that one go. Some things are more trouble to explain, than what the actual difference is, anyway!
(No, she has never read them or seen the movies, but just the movie trailers led her to believe Harry Potter is "gross".)
O.K. Under normal circumstances, I would choose to ignore that comment, but when you try to interpret what an Aspie says, it actually made sense. Rachel heard Oprah quoting how much Ms. Rowling had "grossed" from her Harry Potter series. How else could she possibly interpret that? I just laughed quietly; briefly tried to explain the meant meaning & finally, just decided to let that one go. Some things are more trouble to explain, than what the actual difference is, anyway!
(No, she has never read them or seen the movies, but just the movie trailers led her to believe Harry Potter is "gross".)
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Jesus snored. Really?!?
Well, the Christmas music is playing non-stop at our house! We love the cozy feelings of family, friendships and the holidays (minus the stress)! I've certainly loved Christmas all my life and heard many versions of the holiday songs and carols.
BUT, I was reminded of a Rachel "observation", from last year. We were listening to the "Do you hear what I hear?" song. I was just singing away... After the song was over, Rachel said "Jesus must have snored loudly"....Thinking, thinking....thinking some more...Then I asked why she said that? She reminded me, in the song "Do you hear what I hear? A child, a child, sleeping in the night..."! That's right, the only way we could hear Jesus sleep, was if He was snoring...loudly!
Asperger's....they do have a point! Thought you might enjoy her observation!
BUT, I was reminded of a Rachel "observation", from last year. We were listening to the "Do you hear what I hear?" song. I was just singing away... After the song was over, Rachel said "Jesus must have snored loudly"....Thinking, thinking....thinking some more...Then I asked why she said that? She reminded me, in the song "Do you hear what I hear? A child, a child, sleeping in the night..."! That's right, the only way we could hear Jesus sleep, was if He was snoring...loudly!
Asperger's....they do have a point! Thought you might enjoy her observation!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
You've gotta laugh!
Many times, tooth brushing time is a struggle at our house! I think I have alluded to that before. But to refresh those "charming" memories, with sensory integration problems, it can be a nightmare. The gag reflex, the smell, the touch... you get the picture.. not fun. She sometimes gags just walking into the bathroom, before even touching her toothbrush. I must say, she does not actually throw up much, now! Woo Hoo, that has been such an improvement to the start of our days!
OK, back to the topic...(it's just nice to appreciate the successes at our house)! So, this morning, Rachel was getting ready to brush & Rosebug (our dog) did something silly causing Rachel to laugh. I then started laughing, which caused Rachel to do her "fake" laugh. Of course that only made me laugh harder, because I was remembering back when... Rachel is 10, now, but about a year ago, she suddenly started laughing when she attempted to brush her teeth. I thought it a little odd, but have learned nothing is really odd, living with an Asperger's child!!! This continued for a while & I figured it was better than tears, so didn't think much more about it.
It finally got to be time to head to the dentist again (now THAT, is a real nightmare!). On the way, she let me know what a good job she had been doing with her teeth.....She said she had "laughed" almost everytime she brushed...waiting...waiting....(you do a lot of that, trying to figure where their thoughts & words are going), waiting....FINALLY, she announced, "well, the dentist told me it was important to tickle my gums, everytime I brush!". OH! you guessed it, she "had" to laugh to follow the dentists orders to "tickle" her gums! You've gotta laugh! ;0)
OK, back to the topic...(it's just nice to appreciate the successes at our house)! So, this morning, Rachel was getting ready to brush & Rosebug (our dog) did something silly causing Rachel to laugh. I then started laughing, which caused Rachel to do her "fake" laugh. Of course that only made me laugh harder, because I was remembering back when... Rachel is 10, now, but about a year ago, she suddenly started laughing when she attempted to brush her teeth. I thought it a little odd, but have learned nothing is really odd, living with an Asperger's child!!! This continued for a while & I figured it was better than tears, so didn't think much more about it.
It finally got to be time to head to the dentist again (now THAT, is a real nightmare!). On the way, she let me know what a good job she had been doing with her teeth.....She said she had "laughed" almost everytime she brushed...waiting...waiting....(you do a lot of that, trying to figure where their thoughts & words are going), waiting....FINALLY, she announced, "well, the dentist told me it was important to tickle my gums, everytime I brush!". OH! you guessed it, she "had" to laugh to follow the dentists orders to "tickle" her gums! You've gotta laugh! ;0)
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