Zooming, Now!

   So, yesterday, Rachel got in the car after school and told me she had a note.... Hmmm... Then, she reassured me, it was for a field trip.... Hmmm.... Got home, and was handed the yellow sheet of paper.
   Sure enough, it was a permission slip note. She is supposed to go to Hinson Middle School next year. YIKES! We had discussed that's where we are "ZONED" to go. As she handed me the paper, she informed me that the 5th graders were going to visit the middle school that they are "ZOOMED IN" for! Close enough. Starts with a Z!
   Made me smile... and wonder... how will we ever survive middle-school??? FYI: She is certain that it IS zoomed in for, NOT zoned for. Some things are not worth a battle!   ;0)

Aspergirls

Wanted to share with you a favorite quote from the book Aspergirls, by Rudy Simone.

(I enjoyed this book & was given some insights on "Empowering Females with Asperger Syndrome". This book was recommended by Rachel's intervention teacher. Thank you, Jenn!):

"But telling a person with Asperger's to just 'get on with it' is like telling a person in a wheelchair to take the stairs if they want to get to the second floor." (page 57)

Some of the most well-meaning individuals, have guilted me for not "just make her do it; it's not a choice" kind of attitude. Many of these well-meaning people have used these words & let me know how disappointed they are in my parenting skills. It has done nothing positive! Please, if you don't understand and have not walked in these difficult shoes, don't judge and correct! You certainly wouldn't tell someone in a wheelchair to take the stairs, so please don't expect and advise someone with Asperger's to simply change, or speed up, or try harder, or... While they do need encouragement, they (& we parents) don't need your condemnation.

Thanks for letting me release a little frustration. For all you friends that are simply encouraging & helpful on this journey, THANK YOU! You help ease more pain than you know.

I do recommend this book. Especially to learn more about girls (the minority) with Asperger's Syndrome!

Accomplishment... or a Circus????

           So, it's been a while since I've posted anything... not for lack of Rachelisms, experiences, tests, trials, joys, accomplishments... Life happens! Much to get caught up on...
           I recently had surgery, and my wonderful mother came down to Florid,a to tend to Rachel, Rosebug, me & everything else. There were the Aspie-normal challenges, when faced with change. When I was able to come home, apparently I was still under the "influence" of anesthesia and NOT thinking Aspie. This became very obvious one day, while we were gathered together and talking.
          I was sharing some great news about my precious grandson being such a big boy... all potty trained. He got to go to ChuckECheese to celebrate. I was relaying this information to Mom & Rachel, explaining to Rachel why they were celebrating Jakson's "big feat".
          After a small amount of time passed, Rachel said "Mom, it's too bad you don't have any clown feet." WHAT??? It took my Mom to explain the Aspie, clearly obvious, thought. I said, "What are you talking about Clown feet?". Rachel, "You know, Jakson has Big FEET!"  I was happy my mom was here to get me through that "Feet"!
          

Feline Wear Confusion....

OUCH!
    This morning, I was awakened from my sleep by a confused Aspie. She said "I'm mixed-up and need to know something, right NOW!" (3:27 a.m.) I'm usually the one that is baffled, so I figure this must be important.  ;0)
    "WHY, does the Cat in the Hat wear gloves?"
     If she had been any other child, I would have thought it was a riddle... BUT, she's not! And why on earth did that question require me to be rushed to consciousness? Just one of the normal exceptions to "the rules", by a uniquely wired Aspie.
    Once I am alert enough to know, that this is not going to go away shortly, I begin trying to ask the obvious...to me.
    I say "I don't know; why does the Cat in the Hat wear a hat?"  Well, that was really dumb of me not to know!... "He is the Cat in the HAT...he has to wear it. He's NOT the Cat in the Gloves!"....o.k.
    "Well, why does he always wear a red bow tie?"
    Eye roll... "It's just a fancy collar!"...oh... (I was too sleepy to think to ask why/how the Cat speaks, AND speaks in "human English"? instead of Rachel's preferred "catlish") Now...my migraine is making itself known! Ouch... an unwelcomed distraction from the question regarding a cat wearing gloves.
    Do you remember the newspaper column "Dear Abby"?  Oh, how I wish there was a source to turn to, to answer these "earthshaking" questions... Maybe we need a "Dear Aspie" column, during these modern times & challenges...
    Here are some of my guesses and suggestions regarding the Cat in the Hat wearing gloves...
1) He is being considerate and doesn't want to scratch anyone.
2) He just got a manicure.
3) His nails are embarrassingly short.
4) His nails are embarrassingly long.
5) He is allergic to something.
6) He doesn't want to scare anyone.
7) He likes to play dress-up.
8) He is hiding something in his gloves.
9) He has sensory issues.. (something she can understand, but not a good reason for a cat)
10)He is a cartoon.. and cartoons are not nature & never make sense!
...
(At the time, I didn't think to ask her why he only wears them on his front paws?)

   All of which were disregarded as a big "NO"! So, the question is still unanswered to Aspie satisfaction... WHY does the Cat in the Hat wear gloves? Feel free to offer any guesses... PLEASE!

Wanted/Needed Aspie Interpreter

      This morning began as most mornings do around here. Medicine time, first. Rachel did a great job taking hers,this morning. No complaints, no dragging it out, stalling... Smooth starts always make my day better!
      She even promptly began washing the syringes... from her meds. She then said "Can you tell, I'm taking a role call?"   Huh? I didn't know what she was talking about, (per norm), so I just smiled. She then asked again. I guessed maybe "A role call of your meds?". "NO!" Frustration sets in on both sides!
    She finished cleaning up...only to proclaim again: "I did the role call fast." ....Silence...I chose to ignore what I couldn't decipher.
    As I'm cleaning up the rest of the kitchen, she is getting more and more frustrated. When she finally says "I'm roll on."  Hmmm.... Huh? I ask where are you rolling? She says "No, no, no. Can't you see, how fast I took my medicine and cleaned up? I'm roll on!"
    Alas, another Rachelism. I then ask, (after the light bulb flashed above my head), "Oh, so you are on a roll?"...." NO! "I'm roll on, you know, getting things done faster than usual!"
    Ah... Asperger's and the nuances of the English language. Does anyone know of an Aspie Interpreter? I need one!

Fishy Summertime!




Fish Cake - 6/11/11

         When it's book fair time, at school, most kids are picking out the "popular at the moment" books. This year it seems to have been Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, chapter books, the ever popular Harry Potter...(all of which, she has limited interest in, if any). If you want an original selection, take an Aspie to a book fair!

         At Rachel's first book fair, she chose a cookbook. I was not terribly surprised, simply because, not a lot can surprise me any more. What did pleasantly surprise me is the retained interest in this book.

     Last year when she was making her Christmas "list" for Santa, she wanted cookbooks. Well, he fulfilled that wish. We, now, are owners of numerous cookbooks, geared towards interesting children in cooking. Once again, I thought that interest would wane, BUT... this summer I discovered a fun way of using these books to solve more than one need for Rachel:



Some of Rachel's Favorite Cookbooks



    1) Rachel's reading skills, lag behind her peers', so, I'm always looking for ways to sneak in some reading that actually interests her. Cookbooks seem to do that, and have expanded her vocabulary as well, while using up countless patience & energy on my part. Aspie's learn differently. What can I say?

    2)Rachel's had some problems with measurements & the concept of time. I've discovered she's much more willing to work on telling time when she knows our food creation depends on being promptly on time, whether cooking, mixing, chilling, cooling... She is getting a "little" better grasp on how long a segment of time is. (Although she still asks if 15 minutes is a long time....) Cooking is filled with fractions, problem-solving...

    3)Rachel loves to create and plan! If you know her, personally, you know that is an understatement!  ;0)  Well, what better way to actually use some of these obsessions & compulsions than trying to help her learn how to plan, to shop, and to prepare food. (Although, it has been kind of tricky, talking her into a product that has an ounce or two, more or less, than the recipe calls for.)
   4)Rachel loves science, so we are looking at our cooking time as experiments. She has come up with a LOT of hypotheses, steps, conclusions, causes... which she, at times, eagerly records in her notebook!
   5)And the most obvious benefit to me, is we are doing something that is useful, while being creative, and allows us some "fun" time together, creating what I hope will be good memories for a long time!
   
      After all, every one's got to eat!


Spring Veggie Fritata - 6/11

     So, this summer, we have already tried a few new items, including a fish-shaped cake. (Of course, she would not let me call it a goldfish, since it was not golden enough. I resisted the urge to ask her to compare it to the Goldfish brand snack crackers.) You've got to pick your battles, as you all know!  ;0)
     We also made a "Spring Veggie Fritata". I let her cut up the asparagus into 1/4s, etc.... She first measured the lengths of the spears, but I eventually got her to somewhat estimate the cuts, since she was terribly upset that "this one is longer..."
     So far, everything we've attempted has turned out o.k. I don't know how I will handle it, WHEN something falls apart, etc.

       All I CAN say, is, at this point, her original book fair choice has provided much interest and many unforeseen opportunities for "us". I would love to hear about some of the "fun" and helpful activities you have encountered this summer, with your child!



Latest Book Fair Choice



     I'm thankful we have such a variety of cookbooks to choose from. I'm thinking we should not run out of ideas and projects for along time. Which is something I am extremely thankful for, considering her most recent book fair selection! (See picture, posted above!)  
    Have a creative week!







Surfers for Autism- Cocoa Beach Event ROCKED!

Rachel with some of her volunteer surfing helpers at the Cocoa Beach event!  www.surfersforautism.org/

     Have you ever wanted to volunteer, but not sure what would be the best use of your time, talents, energy, spirit...? Do I have a recommendation for YOU! Those of you that personally know me, know that I have  some causes that I adore & enjoy helping however I can. But I have found a new one to recommend. SURFER'S FOR AUTISM! They are on Facebook... but words don't do their efforts, service & love justice! I saw a variety of volunteers, including: many college students, surfing schools, complete families (parents & kids), pro-surfers, self-proclaimed beach bums, folks that traveled hundreds of miles to volunteer...


Rachel: self appointed "Hula-Hoop Champ"!

    Saturday, June 4, 2011 was the third annual "Space Coast Surfers for Autism" at that location, in Cocoa Beach. This group has events at various beaches throughout the year. The atmosphere was wonderful! I had trouble imagining what it would be like, beforehand, knowing there would be 200 Autistic "surfers" in one limited location. Go ahead...take a minute and imagine. The possibilities were endless in my imagination, before the event.


"Got a Butterfly Tattoo! I'll never bathe again!"

     The event is an all day event at the various locations. Official hours are 9am-4pm. Of course the main calling is the opportunity to surf, but it was so much more than just that! They had a variety of tents set up, with opportunities for the kids (although any age is welcomed, for the first 200 pre-registering) including, bean bag tosses, hula-hooping (where we hung out a LOT), snow-cone booths, tattoos, music, smoothies, sun protecting products, balance boards to mimic the surfing balance...live music... It was great! And everything was free for the participants & their families.


Official logo of this year's event!

     When it got to be time for lunch, various restaurants provided a great array of delicious food for every (including picky) food palette there!  They had pizza, hotdogs, fruit, pasta, wraps, wings... yep. Plenty of choices. And let me add, the organization of everything was mind-blowing. It was of course, set up immediately in front of a life-guard station. Everything ran like clockwork, from the way they divided the surfers, before the event even started, to the way the MANY surfboards were laid out, to the vinegar spray for "potential" jellyfish stings, tents for activities, services... Can you tell? We had a great time!


It's ALWAYS time for Rachel to dance! (NO judgements at this event-just encouragement!)

          Two groups went ahead of Rachel's (white-banded) group. She was soooo excited! While we were waiting, she was watching the others, getting excited for her turn. A very nice pro-surfer approached us & asked if we would like him to be our volunteer. He talked with us before they raised Rachel's group's white flag, indicating it was "time"! There were probably 5 or 6 additional helpers for Rachel's assistance. They headed out and suddenly, I saw her jump! Jellyfish sting! She attempted to go out 3 different times after that, but wound up with 4 jellyfish stings. And, of course the volunteers were getting stung, chest to toe. "We" finally decided to wait  & see if the jellies moved out. Unfortunately they were swarming all day, but it didn't cause us to have a bad day. We still had a blast! Rachel danced to the music...etc for over 6 hours! No Judging Day! THANK-YOU SURFERS for AUTISM! And I have never felt better about "our" life. It was wonderful being with other families that know the challenges, but are making the most of every good opportunity. A very encouraging day!


Rachel exiting the surf with her amazing Volunteer, surfing pro! OUCH!

       I would love to hear from you, readers, about any other opportunities, that you have encountered, that might be helpful for others! Any recommendations? And would, certainly, encourage anyone to get involved with this group, whether to volunteer, register a surfer, financially support... It was an amazing opportunity, that we are so appreciative of!
      
     Now, for a few interesting observations: the kids kept the cut-out toss boards, spotless. Some were consumed with making sure NO sand stayed on the boards during the games. Rachel's donation seemed to be sorting and stacking the hula-hoops in order according to size, color, bends in them... She would ONLY use the sparkly solid pink one, that had a slight bend. Some kids would not lay on the surfboards when they were on land, but happily "rode a wave" in the actual surf! Many kids, including Rachel covered their ears with the "loud" live music, all the while she was dancing. We saw many tops of heads, as there was limited eye-contact for some. Some had sensory issues, unique eating habits, some had "inappropriate contact space" difficulties, obvious communication difficulties... For once, Rachel was NOT nearly, the only toe-walker; there were several others. Yes, there were several meltdowns, by some participants, awkward moments, if in the "general" population, but nothing, but acceptance and encouragement & support were available, yesterday. What more could we ask? Thank you, again! We will be back & can't wait for that opportunity!