Gus has been home sick for the majority of this week, and this morning he had a low grade fever, so I'm taking him to the doctor. He's really sluggish and not doing what he needs to do. So while he was sitting down to eat breakfast, his mind was sort of wandering and this conversation came up between him and his sister...
Gus: I think I'm gonna be seasick...Why would anyone get sick of C's? Too many C's...
MM: No, you mean seasick. When you get sick in a boat. You get Na-chis.
Gus: What??
MM: Nachis! Nachis!
Gus: Nachos? (Giggling)
MM: No! Nachis...when you feel sick!
Gus: You mean nauseous.
MM: What's naw-shus?
Gus: When you feel like you have to throw up.
They then (how I don't know) got into a discussion of garbage.
A bit of Friday morning silliness to ward off the lingering effects of a week-long sickness (but not seasickness because we are actually running low on C's at the moment).
Have a great weekend.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Homework fun
"Six minus one?"
"Nothing."
"Six minus one?"
"Nothing."
Repeat ten times.
"I'm going to say it until you get tired of hearing it and give me the answer."
Sigh. "Five!"
"Great! Three minus three?"
Silence. Yeah, wise guy, gotcha now! He smirks, knowing he's caught.
"Uh...three." We both laugh and he gives me the right answer.
Earlier in the homework adventures...
"Okay, write your name and try to keep your letters on the line." Of course the letters start to float above the line, a weak escape attempt. "Oh no! Where are those letters going? They're flying away!" Giggles. We erase, try again, and get the first name on the line. Soon, the letters of the last name start to drift up. "Hey! Those letters are flying without a license! Get them down from there!"
Gus draws a little circle next to the last letter. "That's their ticket!"
This is going to be a fun year.
"Nothing."
"Six minus one?"
"Nothing."
Repeat ten times.
"I'm going to say it until you get tired of hearing it and give me the answer."
Sigh. "Five!"
"Great! Three minus three?"
Silence. Yeah, wise guy, gotcha now! He smirks, knowing he's caught.
"Uh...three." We both laugh and he gives me the right answer.
Earlier in the homework adventures...
"Okay, write your name and try to keep your letters on the line." Of course the letters start to float above the line, a weak escape attempt. "Oh no! Where are those letters going? They're flying away!" Giggles. We erase, try again, and get the first name on the line. Soon, the letters of the last name start to drift up. "Hey! Those letters are flying without a license! Get them down from there!"
Gus draws a little circle next to the last letter. "That's their ticket!"
This is going to be a fun year.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
The First Week
I don't want to get too excited, but the first week back went well. Gus's teacher reported that he was fine even if a little distracted by the afternoons. She gave him reading time at the end of the day, which helped. I'm happy to see that she's pretty adaptable, at least so far. We're going to target a few areas to work on with him: keeping his hands to himself and off of other people's things; keeping his internal dialog to himself are two that I'm thinking of. Hopefully we can work out some strategies that will help him self-regulate.
I've been reading a book called Positive Discipline, and while I'm still working my way through it, I do feel that the approach will leave a child feeling more empowered than the alternative discipline models. So far, I've seen better cooperation from MM and Gus has needed minimal redirection. They're both taking more responsibility in the house and are adhering to the new school-time routines. Maybe I can share what I'm learning with Gus's teacher for a better outcome than last year. By the end of the year, his self-worth seemed to have decreased (in my opinion), his anxiety had increased, and he ended up on medication. I am not interested in going that route again. If they can't meet his needs without making him feel down on himself, then perhaps it's time to give homeschooling a try. I don't know if I can do it, but I'd rather try than have my son feel unsuccessful because other people are frustrated from having to redirect him so much. That's what he's there for-his IEP even says so!
Anyway, I don't want to get into a rant. I'm going to stay positive as long as I can and hope for the best. How is the school year shaping up for you if you've got school-aged kids?
I've been reading a book called Positive Discipline, and while I'm still working my way through it, I do feel that the approach will leave a child feeling more empowered than the alternative discipline models. So far, I've seen better cooperation from MM and Gus has needed minimal redirection. They're both taking more responsibility in the house and are adhering to the new school-time routines. Maybe I can share what I'm learning with Gus's teacher for a better outcome than last year. By the end of the year, his self-worth seemed to have decreased (in my opinion), his anxiety had increased, and he ended up on medication. I am not interested in going that route again. If they can't meet his needs without making him feel down on himself, then perhaps it's time to give homeschooling a try. I don't know if I can do it, but I'd rather try than have my son feel unsuccessful because other people are frustrated from having to redirect him so much. That's what he's there for-his IEP even says so!
Anyway, I don't want to get into a rant. I'm going to stay positive as long as I can and hope for the best. How is the school year shaping up for you if you've got school-aged kids?
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
First Day Back!
Woo! We are so excited about the first day back to school, Gus was awake at 4:30! He's been asking questions:
What will I learn in second grade?
Will I learn Geography?
Will I learn English?
Will I learn Division?
We're all packed and ready for the school bus half an hour early. We've got lunch and noise-canceling earphones, as well as a note alerting the teacher just how early her eager student was up. Gosh, what most teachers wouldn't give for a student that jazzed about learning new things!
And it's an even bigger first day of school than usual because MM is starting Kindergarten today! She's just as excited about school as her brother is, and he's almost as excited for her as he is for himself.
With all the energy in the house this morning, is it any wonder I'm ready for a nap? Will update on how it all went tomorrow. For those with kids starting or starting back to school today, have a great one!
What will I learn in second grade?
Will I learn Geography?
Will I learn English?
Will I learn Division?
We're all packed and ready for the school bus half an hour early. We've got lunch and noise-canceling earphones, as well as a note alerting the teacher just how early her eager student was up. Gosh, what most teachers wouldn't give for a student that jazzed about learning new things!
And it's an even bigger first day of school than usual because MM is starting Kindergarten today! She's just as excited about school as her brother is, and he's almost as excited for her as he is for himself.
With all the energy in the house this morning, is it any wonder I'm ready for a nap? Will update on how it all went tomorrow. For those with kids starting or starting back to school today, have a great one!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Not Crazy, Different
Yesterday we were out playing with the one other boy Gus's age in the neighborhood. They don't play together often because they're about as different as a bull and a butterfly. He's an okay kid, but a little 'type-A' while Gus is...Gus. So, all three kids were climbing a tree, and the boy quietly asked Gus, "Why are you so crazy?" Then he turned to MM and said, "Why's your brother so crazy? Why's he so silly? He's always talking about silly things."
I took many deep breaths. He wasn't trying to be mean, but in light of Gus's proclamation the other night about being odd, it broke my heart a little.
Gus didn't answer, but I could tell he heard and was thinking about it. I said to the boy, "He's not crazy, he's different. He thinks about things differently than you."
"But why does he talk about silly things?"
"Are you silly sometimes?"
"Yeah," he said with a sheepish smile.
"Well, so is he and so am I and everyone else, too."
That seemed good enough, but I had to get out of there. I took the kids for a walk, and then home for a chat, some reassurances, some ideas about how to handle questions like that. Don't know if I handled the situation correctly, but it was the best I could come up with. I guess we weren't going to stay in this polite little bubble forever.
I took many deep breaths. He wasn't trying to be mean, but in light of Gus's proclamation the other night about being odd, it broke my heart a little.
Gus didn't answer, but I could tell he heard and was thinking about it. I said to the boy, "He's not crazy, he's different. He thinks about things differently than you."
"But why does he talk about silly things?"
"Are you silly sometimes?"
"Yeah," he said with a sheepish smile.
"Well, so is he and so am I and everyone else, too."
That seemed good enough, but I had to get out of there. I took the kids for a walk, and then home for a chat, some reassurances, some ideas about how to handle questions like that. Don't know if I handled the situation correctly, but it was the best I could come up with. I guess we weren't going to stay in this polite little bubble forever.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Six Miles on a Bike?
Gus has been doing really well on his bike since taking off the training wheels. He's gotten better at starting himself off and isn't crashing into things to stop himself as much. So my husband and I have talked about maybe joining a local cycling club and possibly joining them for a family ride in September.
The ride would be six miles along a trail, no traffic. Since it is family-centered, I doubt it will be very hilly. I'm pretty sure that Gus could handle it. I remember a few years ago when he was around three, we did an autism walk that was two miles. He ran the last quarter mile and then went on to spend the rest of the afternoon in a bouncy castle. I think he's got the energy and stamina to go six miles on a bike.
My one concern would be the other riders. He's not always mindful of his surroundings and has difficulty navigating others' personal space (part of the sensory difficulties), but I think I may have a strategy brewing. If the four of us ride, if we ride behind the kids with them single file, each of use can flank each of them. I'll have to contact the organization and ask some questions about the expected number of participants and so forth, but if he was able to do a walk among thousands of people at three, I'm confident that he can handle this. And I think he'd enjoy it in addition to it providing him with something to feel good about.
He needs something to feel good about, especially now when it seems he's starting to notice his differences. I was reading Gus a story the other night and the phrase 'odd man out' was mentioned. He asked me what odd meant. I was a little apprehensive about the question, but I answered, explaining that it could have to do with numbers that didn't divide evenly or it could mean different or unusual.
His response: "I'm odd."
I replied that everyone is different and that he was awesome. He wasn't exactly upset, just a sort of resigned. But he went to sleep and was fine the next morning. So I think now would be a great time for him to feel capable and successful. Maybe a bike ride will go a little way toward that end.
The ride would be six miles along a trail, no traffic. Since it is family-centered, I doubt it will be very hilly. I'm pretty sure that Gus could handle it. I remember a few years ago when he was around three, we did an autism walk that was two miles. He ran the last quarter mile and then went on to spend the rest of the afternoon in a bouncy castle. I think he's got the energy and stamina to go six miles on a bike.
My one concern would be the other riders. He's not always mindful of his surroundings and has difficulty navigating others' personal space (part of the sensory difficulties), but I think I may have a strategy brewing. If the four of us ride, if we ride behind the kids with them single file, each of use can flank each of them. I'll have to contact the organization and ask some questions about the expected number of participants and so forth, but if he was able to do a walk among thousands of people at three, I'm confident that he can handle this. And I think he'd enjoy it in addition to it providing him with something to feel good about.
He needs something to feel good about, especially now when it seems he's starting to notice his differences. I was reading Gus a story the other night and the phrase 'odd man out' was mentioned. He asked me what odd meant. I was a little apprehensive about the question, but I answered, explaining that it could have to do with numbers that didn't divide evenly or it could mean different or unusual.
His response: "I'm odd."
I replied that everyone is different and that he was awesome. He wasn't exactly upset, just a sort of resigned. But he went to sleep and was fine the next morning. So I think now would be a great time for him to feel capable and successful. Maybe a bike ride will go a little way toward that end.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
He sure told me
Burgers and mashed potatoes for dinner, one of his favorites. A little too favorite on this night.
"Please stop putting the potatoes on your back."
A look of pure pity and disdain. Gosh, mom, how can you be so dumb? "This is not the future of fashion!" Jeez, woman, what are you thinking?
Clearly, I am not smart enough to realize that potatoes are not clothing, but merely a natural skin cream. Silly me.
P.S. Gus's cycling success motivated his sister to jump on the bandwagon. We are now a training-wheel-free zone! Yippee!
"Please stop putting the potatoes on your back."
A look of pure pity and disdain. Gosh, mom, how can you be so dumb? "This is not the future of fashion!" Jeez, woman, what are you thinking?
Clearly, I am not smart enough to realize that potatoes are not clothing, but merely a natural skin cream. Silly me.
P.S. Gus's cycling success motivated his sister to jump on the bandwagon. We are now a training-wheel-free zone! Yippee!
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