He complained today,
"Camp is killing my summer,"
he'd rather be home.
His cough has faded
during the daytime at least ...
Back to camp he goes!
Just one more week there
One full week of just half days
Does it help or hurt?
When I read too much
I wonder if it hurts him,
Pressure to conform.
Yet I survived it;
Part of life is adapting
where you don't fit in,
Until you can find
the people and places that
accept who you are.
Happy Haiku Friday!
If you need a pick-me-up, I recommend "Mamma Mia." Pierce Brosnan can't sing, but he gets points for trying.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Imaginary Friends
What does it mean when a child says his imaginary friends are bothering him?
When I picked up DuckyBoy from school/camp today, he told me the Nothings had been bothering him.
The Nothings are a passel of invisible critters shaped like ... shapes. Circles, squares, triangles, rectangles and, I think, hexagons. If I remember correctly, they are all purple. Whole families. Some hatch from eggs and other are mammals, and they switch with each generation -- so the Nothings that hatched from eggs bear live young, and so on.
But today they were hitting, kicking, and pinching -- though I opined that it must be hard to tell those actions apart since the Nothings have no arms, legs, hands, etc.
Sometimes Ducky, his other imaginary friend, up and moves to New Zealand with no warning and we have to call Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends and get things straightened out with the powers that be (which we have, of course, imagined -- we never speak to any particular character from the show; nor does this idea exactly fit the concept of the show).
But today was different. DB told me to talk to the Nothings and to threaten to shut down the Nothing Day Care Center -- which is what we played on Thursday afternoon I think -- and then DB even invented a time machine to transport them all to another time so they could taste life without him.
All but one; the tiniest Nothing baby stayed behind and rode on the steering wheel until DB invented a return time machine and brought everyone else back. (All this took place in the car on the way to gymnastics.)
They were much chastened, I guess, since they said and did no more.
I think he was upset with someone and just couldn't quite deal with the reality.
When I picked up DuckyBoy from school/camp today, he told me the Nothings had been bothering him.
The Nothings are a passel of invisible critters shaped like ... shapes. Circles, squares, triangles, rectangles and, I think, hexagons. If I remember correctly, they are all purple. Whole families. Some hatch from eggs and other are mammals, and they switch with each generation -- so the Nothings that hatched from eggs bear live young, and so on.
But today they were hitting, kicking, and pinching -- though I opined that it must be hard to tell those actions apart since the Nothings have no arms, legs, hands, etc.
Sometimes Ducky, his other imaginary friend, up and moves to New Zealand with no warning and we have to call Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends and get things straightened out with the powers that be (which we have, of course, imagined -- we never speak to any particular character from the show; nor does this idea exactly fit the concept of the show).
But today was different. DB told me to talk to the Nothings and to threaten to shut down the Nothing Day Care Center -- which is what we played on Thursday afternoon I think -- and then DB even invented a time machine to transport them all to another time so they could taste life without him.
All but one; the tiniest Nothing baby stayed behind and rode on the steering wheel until DB invented a return time machine and brought everyone else back. (All this took place in the car on the way to gymnastics.)
They were much chastened, I guess, since they said and did no more.
I think he was upset with someone and just couldn't quite deal with the reality.
Friday, July 18, 2008
What Do Police Medals, a Chicken Cutlet, and the R Train Have in Common?
Answer: DuckyBoy today.
We had a great time at the NYC Police Museum today.
More accurately, we had a great time taking the subway to the Police Museum, walking several interesting blocks through downtown Manhattan to the museum, racing through the museum, checking out the gift shop, getting something to eat, and taking the subway home.
I could have spent longer looking at every photo and placard, but that's me; DB's dad has taught me not everyone likes to do that, so we usually compromise somewhere in between. Since he wasn't with us, I made DB compromise just a bit.
I never know what will pique his interest -- he was the most interested in the Medal of Honor on display in the 9.11 exhibit, awarded to the police officers who died that day. And all the badges. And he could relate to the exhibit about the School Safety officers since he sees one at school every day. He was interested in all the different divisions of the NYPD.
The pretend jail cell freaked him out because of the super-squeaky door. Whatever it takes, right?? So don't go to jail and the doors will never be that squeaky, yah!
The "getting something to eat" was a big deal, a big success: We ate at a deli, just a standard NY deli, but a good one -- one with yummy chicken cutlets -- which DB deemed nuggets and promptly ate enough that I was satisfied he ate enough! It's a good thing to drag the kid on the subway and through a (small) museum before he gets to eat. Come to think of it, maybe that's why he was in a hurry... no, he didn't mention being hungry till we left the museum.
The subway ride was nice on the way home; today was 94 degress or some such crazy number, so DB was pretty tired out. he actually put his head on my lap and closed his eyes, more than once! He never does that!
But he perked up for swimming. The cold pool probably helped.
After that we hooked up with Daddy and DB got a ride on Dad's shoulders the whole rest of the way home. That was a good reward for him to get, he did well today.
That is, once he stopped pushing me! Like, he comes up behind me and SHOVES me! What's with that?! I told him the next time he does it he owes me $1. Now he owes me $6 or $7 because after he forgot and did it again, he didn't believe me about his fine and kept doing it. I told him if he does all my shredding (he's the head shredder anyway but this pile is above and beyond his usual duties) I'll call it even. I just want to make him think.
Finally, bedtime!
Seems like it will never come,
And he drags it out.
What is with this kid,
We spent all day together
Still can't let me go?
Five years I wait for
Him to want to separate;
Still waiting most days.
We had a great time at the NYC Police Museum today.
More accurately, we had a great time taking the subway to the Police Museum, walking several interesting blocks through downtown Manhattan to the museum, racing through the museum, checking out the gift shop, getting something to eat, and taking the subway home.
I could have spent longer looking at every photo and placard, but that's me; DB's dad has taught me not everyone likes to do that, so we usually compromise somewhere in between. Since he wasn't with us, I made DB compromise just a bit.
I never know what will pique his interest -- he was the most interested in the Medal of Honor on display in the 9.11 exhibit, awarded to the police officers who died that day. And all the badges. And he could relate to the exhibit about the School Safety officers since he sees one at school every day. He was interested in all the different divisions of the NYPD.
The pretend jail cell freaked him out because of the super-squeaky door. Whatever it takes, right?? So don't go to jail and the doors will never be that squeaky, yah!
The "getting something to eat" was a big deal, a big success: We ate at a deli, just a standard NY deli, but a good one -- one with yummy chicken cutlets -- which DB deemed nuggets and promptly ate enough that I was satisfied he ate enough! It's a good thing to drag the kid on the subway and through a (small) museum before he gets to eat. Come to think of it, maybe that's why he was in a hurry... no, he didn't mention being hungry till we left the museum.
The subway ride was nice on the way home; today was 94 degress or some such crazy number, so DB was pretty tired out. he actually put his head on my lap and closed his eyes, more than once! He never does that!
But he perked up for swimming. The cold pool probably helped.
After that we hooked up with Daddy and DB got a ride on Dad's shoulders the whole rest of the way home. That was a good reward for him to get, he did well today.
That is, once he stopped pushing me! Like, he comes up behind me and SHOVES me! What's with that?! I told him the next time he does it he owes me $1. Now he owes me $6 or $7 because after he forgot and did it again, he didn't believe me about his fine and kept doing it. I told him if he does all my shredding (he's the head shredder anyway but this pile is above and beyond his usual duties) I'll call it even. I just want to make him think.
Finally, bedtime!
Seems like it will never come,
And he drags it out.
What is with this kid,
We spent all day together
Still can't let me go?
Five years I wait for
Him to want to separate;
Still waiting most days.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Haiku Friday, With Minutes to Spare
Tummy full sushi
Hancock was a good movie
$7 dollars left
Cheap weekend ahead!
But that's OK, it's date night
First month with budget
Thinking good thoughts now
For Christina studying --
You will pass this test!
DuckyBoy and I had a great time today, we went to the Museum of Natural History with our friends, he did well with his classmate and it was good for both of us to have someone else to interact with.
The most interesting thing for me was when he wanted to sketch one of the dinosaurs -- my friend's idea, thanks, M! -- and he sketched one of the bones plus the band holding it to the other bones.
That just confirms something I already know -- he really notices details! It made sense later when he was kind of running into people on the sidewalk, not getting out of their way -- I realized, he is looking at so many small details that interest him, like in a store window, the font on an advertising sign, or whatever, he probably simply doesn't see the big blobs (the people).
Hancock was a good movie
$7 dollars left
Cheap weekend ahead!
But that's OK, it's date night
First month with budget
Thinking good thoughts now
For Christina studying --
You will pass this test!
DuckyBoy and I had a great time today, we went to the Museum of Natural History with our friends, he did well with his classmate and it was good for both of us to have someone else to interact with.
The most interesting thing for me was when he wanted to sketch one of the dinosaurs -- my friend's idea, thanks, M! -- and he sketched one of the bones plus the band holding it to the other bones.
That just confirms something I already know -- he really notices details! It made sense later when he was kind of running into people on the sidewalk, not getting out of their way -- I realized, he is looking at so many small details that interest him, like in a store window, the font on an advertising sign, or whatever, he probably simply doesn't see the big blobs (the people).
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Family Frisbee
Yesterday we drove 2 hrs (almost) to an extended family gathering -- my family, for once!! Yeah!! -- upstate. Great to see cousins and even my Uncle Mike, whose name isn't really Mike.
The other very great part was me, DuckyBoy and Husband playing Frisbee in my cousin's backward. A real sporty-type outdoor activity! All 3 of us! It lasted numerous minutes, more rounds than I can count!
And DB was good at it -- he knew (and said) "Gotta point my shoulder where I want it to go." He was open to Husband's coaching to also look where you want the disc to go. He was, point in fact, better than me!
Now, where do you suppose he learned the shoulder thing? I think APE, also known as adaptive phys ed. They only had it this year, and there was some back-and-forth by other moms about whether or not it was helpful, yadda yadda, and the school had trouble finding a place for them to have it -- apparently they were in the hallway at least some of the time. I know they went to the playground, too, which is good.
It's already been cancelled for next year, though -- Round 2 of the experiment. That's OK too, might as well see if he can get used to being in gym with everyone else.
But if he learned to play Frisbee, it was a year well spent!
The other very great part was me, DuckyBoy and Husband playing Frisbee in my cousin's backward. A real sporty-type outdoor activity! All 3 of us! It lasted numerous minutes, more rounds than I can count!
And DB was good at it -- he knew (and said) "Gotta point my shoulder where I want it to go." He was open to Husband's coaching to also look where you want the disc to go. He was, point in fact, better than me!
Now, where do you suppose he learned the shoulder thing? I think APE, also known as adaptive phys ed. They only had it this year, and there was some back-and-forth by other moms about whether or not it was helpful, yadda yadda, and the school had trouble finding a place for them to have it -- apparently they were in the hallway at least some of the time. I know they went to the playground, too, which is good.
It's already been cancelled for next year, though -- Round 2 of the experiment. That's OK too, might as well see if he can get used to being in gym with everyone else.
But if he learned to play Frisbee, it was a year well spent!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Is Tired Legs a Symptom of ASD?
DuckyBoy is sooo tired these days. Three days of half-day "camp" and he's exhausted?
"My legs huuuuurt!" he whined when I told him we'd be going for a walk late this afternoon.
"Why?" he, of course, wanted to know.
So we can buy salmon for my dinner, was my reply. How shocking! Nothing to do with him?! Big step for me.
I can see if M [his sitter/abuela in the building] is available, I offered.
A few minutes later he said, "I don't want to go for a walk, and I don't want to stay with M." Which I thought showed a lot of clarity on his part.
Nevertheless I simply said, Sometimes it's hard to be a kid.
A few minutes later, off we went. He survived. Even got a kick out of looking at all the fish in the fish store, which turned out to be an interesting place to go.
He tolerated my NOT buying the cutesy toy at the cutesy home store we popped into ("for the air conditioning," he said) on the way back and even picked out something for Grandma.
I really pushed it then-- amazing how such a little thing feels like such a win --and we stopped in a THIRD store for some coffee creamer. (Welcome to city living: We are picky AND there is no single store that carries everything we like.) He spied some old-fashioned-style hot dog buns (the kind with squarish corners), which I consented to buy. They're whole-wheat, after all. And I had enough cash.
Surprise surprise, he had enough energy for the playground on the way home. And tolerated NOT being carried home after he got off the swing, and even after he got more wet than he wanted to get in the sprinkler, which is when he reeeeally wanted to be carried.
All in all, a nice walk. We clearly need more of them. Like, daily.
"My legs huuuuurt!" he whined when I told him we'd be going for a walk late this afternoon.
"Why?" he, of course, wanted to know.
So we can buy salmon for my dinner, was my reply. How shocking! Nothing to do with him?! Big step for me.
I can see if M [his sitter/abuela in the building] is available, I offered.
A few minutes later he said, "I don't want to go for a walk, and I don't want to stay with M." Which I thought showed a lot of clarity on his part.
Nevertheless I simply said, Sometimes it's hard to be a kid.
A few minutes later, off we went. He survived. Even got a kick out of looking at all the fish in the fish store, which turned out to be an interesting place to go.
He tolerated my NOT buying the cutesy toy at the cutesy home store we popped into ("for the air conditioning," he said) on the way back and even picked out something for Grandma.
I really pushed it then-- amazing how such a little thing feels like such a win --and we stopped in a THIRD store for some coffee creamer. (Welcome to city living: We are picky AND there is no single store that carries everything we like.) He spied some old-fashioned-style hot dog buns (the kind with squarish corners), which I consented to buy. They're whole-wheat, after all. And I had enough cash.
Surprise surprise, he had enough energy for the playground on the way home. And tolerated NOT being carried home after he got off the swing, and even after he got more wet than he wanted to get in the sprinkler, which is when he reeeeally wanted to be carried.
All in all, a nice walk. We clearly need more of them. Like, daily.
