11 years ago, on October 17th, in the wee hours of the morning you were born. Four hours start to finish, you were in a bit of a hurry. Barely time for the epidural, no time to find a sitter for your big sister (almost two years old then) who was there for the whole thing. Afterwards, she looked at her new baby brother, said "Awww. Can I hab a cookie now Daddy? Pwease?"
She got her cookie and we all got an amazing addition to our family. Barely 6.5 pounds, you were all torso and legs (you still are). Like your sisters, you have your Dad's round upper features and my pointy elf chin.
You were a good baby, within a month you slept through the night.
We had no issues nursing.
You hit all the milestones for an infant/toddler on time.
You had no major illnesses.
You loved your Classic Pooh, Gund Piglet and your fleecy dinosaur blanket from Plymouth, NH (you still sleep with both).
You were a happy baby. You are a happy boy.
You have Aspergers.
You are amazing.
You are funny.
You are smart.
You are loved.
We wouldn't want you any other way.
You define your Autism, it does not define you.
Happy birthday, Jonah...what an honor it is, to be your Mom and Dad.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
No Chore Modifications
Our son may receive modifications via is IEP for school related work - but not at home. After school, he is expected to start his homework and finish it - we help if its needed and always look over his work. Instead of giving him the answers, we show him how to find them in the material he has at his disposal.
After homework, he has his "rest" time. This usually means playing with his dominoes in his room. He uses them to role play Revolutionary or Civil War battles of his own imaging. They have been a favorite "spectrum" toy of his since we bought his first set at around age 4. He used to just line them up and knock them down. Then, he started incorporating them into his imaginary play (as he grew older, his imaginary play matured - but it still is very centered around his especially intense interests).
Other times, he will compose a Calvin and Hobbes inspired comic - his original comic "odes" to Bill Waterson's creation, are becoming more witty and unique, as he becomes more confident about putting his own sense humor to paper.
He has chores now - manly ones, we like to call them. Helping Mom, by bringing the filled dirty laundry basket downstairs. Checking the dryer and bringing any clean ones upstairs. Cleaning up after the dog in the yard - he is both disgusted and delighted by this task - listening to his exclamations as he picks up poo, is hysterical (This one is HUGE!!). Then, there are the expected chores - making his bed, cleaning up his floor before bedtime and putting his own clothes away.
As he gets older, our expectations of him both at home and at school continue to increase. The world outside of school, does not have an IEP. There are no modifications for what real life throws at you. A special parking spot, will not prepare him to pay his own bills, hold down a job or live independently as an adult. So we start now, in small ways, here and there to prepare him.
It might mean having him redo a spelling test at home, that he did poorly on at school.
Re-writing that lower case "a" a dozen times, until it looks more like an "a" and less like some wonky doodle (same for lower case "d" and "b").
Practicing "give and take" conversations in the car. Especially in being conscientious of what the other person is speaking about.
Constantly re-directing him to look at person who his speaking to him (he has no issue with eye contact, the other way around).
Giving him places he can freely flap in with no one asking him to tone it down (home, mostly his room. Outdoors. The YMCA.).
Privileges for something well done, without being asked.
Consequences for something he shouldn't have done (and sticking with our decision).
In all honesty, at the end of the day, all I can hope is that we've continued to do our best by him. The biggest dream I have for my son, is for him to be happy - as it is for all my children.
After homework, he has his "rest" time. This usually means playing with his dominoes in his room. He uses them to role play Revolutionary or Civil War battles of his own imaging. They have been a favorite "spectrum" toy of his since we bought his first set at around age 4. He used to just line them up and knock them down. Then, he started incorporating them into his imaginary play (as he grew older, his imaginary play matured - but it still is very centered around his especially intense interests).
Other times, he will compose a Calvin and Hobbes inspired comic - his original comic "odes" to Bill Waterson's creation, are becoming more witty and unique, as he becomes more confident about putting his own sense humor to paper.
He has chores now - manly ones, we like to call them. Helping Mom, by bringing the filled dirty laundry basket downstairs. Checking the dryer and bringing any clean ones upstairs. Cleaning up after the dog in the yard - he is both disgusted and delighted by this task - listening to his exclamations as he picks up poo, is hysterical (This one is HUGE!!). Then, there are the expected chores - making his bed, cleaning up his floor before bedtime and putting his own clothes away.
As he gets older, our expectations of him both at home and at school continue to increase. The world outside of school, does not have an IEP. There are no modifications for what real life throws at you. A special parking spot, will not prepare him to pay his own bills, hold down a job or live independently as an adult. So we start now, in small ways, here and there to prepare him.
It might mean having him redo a spelling test at home, that he did poorly on at school.
Re-writing that lower case "a" a dozen times, until it looks more like an "a" and less like some wonky doodle (same for lower case "d" and "b").
Practicing "give and take" conversations in the car. Especially in being conscientious of what the other person is speaking about.
Constantly re-directing him to look at person who his speaking to him (he has no issue with eye contact, the other way around).
Giving him places he can freely flap in with no one asking him to tone it down (home, mostly his room. Outdoors. The YMCA.).
Privileges for something well done, without being asked.
Consequences for something he shouldn't have done (and sticking with our decision).
In all honesty, at the end of the day, all I can hope is that we've continued to do our best by him. The biggest dream I have for my son, is for him to be happy - as it is for all my children.
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