Saturday, April 24, 2010

Deep Thoughts

Today, Nathan was at a birthday party. Daddy took him since it was at a skate rink and helped him work on skating. As they are going around the rink, Nathan was concentrating hard.

About halfway around the rink, Sean asked him what he thought (wondering what he thought about skating). Nathan answered, "I have a silly question."

Dad says, "Ok, shoot."

Nathan says, "Did Jesus have Jesus in His heart?"

Ummm....wow, what a deep question. Anyone have a good answer for the 8 year old??

Sean responded with, "Do you have you in your heart? (Nathan nodded yes.) Well, I think everyone has themself in their own heart, so Jesus had Jesus in his heart. It's just important for us to ask Jesus to come into our hearts to join us there."

Nice job, Dad! And seriously, you wonder why we parents of 2E kids look frazzled all the time. We ask our kids about skating and instead of being focused on balance, feet or listening to the music, they are in the midst of a deep theological debate. Phew! Glad Dad was there to take that one.

Hope that gave you a smile for today!

Friday, April 9, 2010

A morning in the life of a 2E...

Ever have one of 'those' mornings? I'm sure you can relate. I think we all have days where it seems like it would have been a better idea to turn off the alarm, pull the covers over our head and ignore the rest of the world. While yesterday started out to be a great morning (and eventually ended as a great morning), there was one of 'those' moments sprinkled in. With it being Autism Awareness month, I wanted to give a little insight into what this mama goes through from time to time.

Andrew usually gets himself up around 6:15 so he can have computer time without anyone bugging him. I get up at 6:40 and push him to finish online, get dressed, get any missing homework items together and we shoot him out the door at 7am. Nathan usually wakes up between 7-7:10 and Rebekah gets up between 7:20-7:30. I help get both of them ready to go and Nathan has to be out the door between 8:20-8:30.

Yesterday, as I'm shooing Andrew down the stairs at 6:55, I hear crying. LOUD crying...more like broken hearted sobbing. At first I thought Rebekah woke up early. If she hears Andrew leaving and doesn't get to kiss him goodbye, her day starts by screaming down the house and waking everyone up. Peeked in her room, still sleeping. Went to the boys' room to find Nathan huddled in his bed sobbing. What's wrong? He tells me he doesn't want to talk about it and resumes his crying. I tell him he has to be quiet until I get back so he won't wake Daddy and Rebekah. He calms down enough so it's quiet sniffles and tears while I tear back downstairs to get Andrew to the carpool on time.




I go back upstairs to find out what is wrong with Nathan. Finally, he tells me he started crying at first because he thought the clock said 7:55 (when it read 6:55). He was upset because he always sleeps to the 50's and never has time to do what he wants to do in the morning before he leaves for school. OK--now you know it's only 7am instead of 8am. Let's get up and have a good day. More sobbing and tears---I can't because NOW I'm upset that I read the clock wrong.


That's how my morning began. Luckily, I had purchased doughnuts the day before and that was enough distraction to calm him down and start his day on a cheerful note.


First of all, I tell you this because it's a funny story. I laughed after the fact and hope you'll giggle with me. I'm crying because I overslept and then I'm crying because I didn't oversleep and just misread a clock. Really--only a 2E would give you that kind of logic. The other reason I share this is because those issues we had were only a blip on the radar of our lives. Most of you would have really rotten days if your child or children started it like this. I rejoice because he turned it around and got happy before school.


With April being Autism Awareness month, I want to try to highlight some of the issues we deal with in our home. Our crying jag yesterday is absolutely nothing compared to the entire year that he was four years old. I'll put it into another post, but that year we would be awakened each morning to him sobbing and telling me that nobody loved him. Four years old and he thought nobody loved him.

I share this to give you hope. Maybe your bad mornings aren't so bad after all. If I can learn to laugh at these quirky experiences, I hope you can learn to laugh even if you overslept, forgot to buy milk for cereal, have to rearrange appointments, etc.
When life happens, I hope you'll learn to laugh...and remember, at least you don't cry because you misread the clock.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

I posted this on my other blog earlier this week. I felt it really bears repeating on this blog!

The Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon is the most recognized symbol of the autism community in the world. Autism prevalence is now one in every 110 children in America - that’s 13 million families and growing who live with autism today. Show your support for people with autism by wearing the Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon this month – as a pin on your shirt, a magnet on your car, a badge on your blog, or even your Facebook profile picture - and educate folks on the potential of people with autism! For suggestions and resources, visit www.autism-society.org/ribbon.


Make a difference. There are several important bills moving through Congress that will have important effects on the autism community – safer educational settings (Keeping All Students Safe Act), better autism services (Autism Treatment Acceleration Act), greater financial independence (Achieving a Better Life Experience Act), better protection against toxic chemicals (Toxic Substances Control Act Reform, introduction anticipated soon), and more. For more information about this legislation and to take action to support it, visit http://www.vote4autism.org/.


Connect with your neighborhood. The Autism Society and inflatable playground franchise Pump It Up are bouncing again with “Bounce for Autism” – over 100 community-based fundraising events that combine family fun with raising awareness and support for autism in locations nationwide that welcome children on the autism spectrum. Many Autism Society local chapters also put on events in the community through the month of April. But if you can’t find an event that suits you just right, create your own! 1Power4Autism is an online tool that makes it easy to mobilize friends and family and help make a difference.
* Bounce for Autism: http://www.bounceforautism.org/
* Autism Society chapters: www.autism-society.org/chapters
* 1Power4Autism: http://www.1power4autism.org/


Watch a movie. Did you know that something that seems as simple as going to the movies is not an option for many families affected by autism? The Autism Society is working with AMC entertainment to bring special-needs families “Sensory Friendly Films” every month. Our special showing of How to Train Your Dragon is coming to a theatre near you on April 10. Or, you could see a movie about autism itself - the Autism Society is partnering with the Independent Television Service (ITVS) to support 70 community screenings of the new movie The Horse Boy, based on the memoir of the same name. In the film, Rupert Isaacson shares the inspiring story of how he and his wife learned to think of their son’s autism as an adventure rather than a curse, a beginning rather than an end. Find participating locations for both events at:
* Sensory Friendly Films:
www.autism-society.org/sensoryfilms
* The Horse Boy: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/horse-boy/

On a personal note, please help support Team NATHAN for the Autism Puzzle Walk. The Autism Society has been a source of constant support and guidance for us this past year. We want to give back in a big way. Funds raised at the Puzzle Walk impact the programs and support offered. Please consider giving a gift of any size. Even $1 will help. Go to Nathan's Page to donate or click on the box at the top right of the blog main page.


Please remember that Autism is a huge spectrum. Set aside your preconceived notions. I recently heard this quote and it has really stuck with me.



If you've met one person with autism...
you've met ONE person with autism.
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