What is a child to do when she is just about to have a birthday and KNOWS that birthday presents are being snuck into a bedroom to be hidden. Combine this combination to a child with Autism and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and one just HAS to know what is hidden where.
Well, this is exactly what happened and the drive to know has created not only tears but disapointment and the loss of a suprise. Not only is the suprise gone but now the birthday girl knows she has a special gift, what that special gift is, and it is eating at her that she can't touch or see it until her birthday party. The thrill of the suprise is also gone for the big sister who worked SO hard to find the perfect gift.
We have now had several conversations about what it means to have autism (again) and now autism combined with OCD. We have also had to talk about what OCD is, why this was NOT brought up before now, and why this is something to learn to manage as it is just a part of of who our wonderful daughter is and what makes her so unique.
How do you explain to children that just because they are made different does not mean they are broken, or wrong, or unwanted, or have no potential. Everyone thought Einstein or Hellen Keller would amount to nothing. If you expect nothing from your child they give you nothing. If you expect the world, they give you world.
Children with autism and OCD are very much like remote control toys. Some are only wired to move in one direction. Others in two directions. While others a few more directions, then some can move in any direction imaginable. Does this mean the toys moving only forward are broken and therefore should be discarded?
Of course not. We learn to adjust our dreams and dream new dreams for our wonderful children. We learn to teach our children that everyone who desires can become an Einstein. Our job is to find the one thing that our children excel at and help them continue to move forward a little more each day.
While for the normal or neurotypical child the smaller world the child with autism fits into is difficult to understand, they with time will learn to help their sibling continue to move forward as well. These worlds will clash many times throughout their lives. These children will become adults one day. Yet, their childhood experiences hopefully will teach everyone the coping and communication neccessary to break down the barriers when the worlds do clash.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Halloween 2010
I just realized I never posted about the kids Halloween adventures this year. We went as stick figures. I do not have many pictures at the moment as my laptop with all the pictures has been dropped and broken and I am waiting until I can get it in to be fixed. I am PRAYING the pictures are still there when it comes back...
The kids had fun trick-or-treating this year. Everytime someone asked them what they were they had a silly little chant they created and said together.
Were so cool!
Stick figures rule!
Neon by day!
Glow by night!
The best part was the fact that their outfits were glowing at night.
After the military party we left for the the church Halloween party. The kids had fun and were so excited to brng their stick figure dad they had created. They worked so hard to make their posterboard dad, so he could go trick or treating with them.
New Couch
So we got a futon couch to replace the broken down, falling apart, stinky stained couches we had. I think the part the kids were most excited about was the fact that was literally tore apart the old discusting couches and placed the pieces into large yard trash bags.
One of the best things that came out the destruction of the couches is Celidah's wallet we have been looking for, for several months now had fallen into an odd crack in the couch. had we NOT torn apart the small couch her wallet and just over $120.00 would have gone with it.
Once the couches were gone and the mess cleaned up, the floors nice and clean again we layed out the pieces to the futon and started assembling the futon. Once we had the base pieces and the springs were ready to attach it was time for the kids to each have a turn with the tools. At first everyone thought the process was going to be so easy. This was the biggest surprise to them. What a daunting task this proved to be. Zach and Ellie could barely move the hex wrench but they managed a few turns. Jairon struggled but completed his turn. Corbyn did a tad better, as did Jade and Celidah. However, each child realized the tools were NOT easy to get the bolts into the locking nuts.
As soon as one side was done we flipped the couch onto the other arm and the kids now had skinny wimpy wrench that was provided. This tool proved a bit harder then the hex wrench as it did not fit into the bolt, but fit over the nut and flipped off easily.
Finally, 5-6 hours after starting we were able to toss the mattress on the futon, sit and relax.
The kids LOVE having the futon couch as we can either all sit on the couch, or I can lay at the front of the bed portion and they sit back against the wall with pillows and everyone is comfy and snuggly while watching movies.
The most exciting thing for them now is we have a place to put our Christmas tree in the front room!
One of the best things that came out the destruction of the couches is Celidah's wallet we have been looking for, for several months now had fallen into an odd crack in the couch. had we NOT torn apart the small couch her wallet and just over $120.00 would have gone with it.
Once the couches were gone and the mess cleaned up, the floors nice and clean again we layed out the pieces to the futon and started assembling the futon. Once we had the base pieces and the springs were ready to attach it was time for the kids to each have a turn with the tools. At first everyone thought the process was going to be so easy. This was the biggest surprise to them. What a daunting task this proved to be. Zach and Ellie could barely move the hex wrench but they managed a few turns. Jairon struggled but completed his turn. Corbyn did a tad better, as did Jade and Celidah. However, each child realized the tools were NOT easy to get the bolts into the locking nuts.
As soon as one side was done we flipped the couch onto the other arm and the kids now had skinny wimpy wrench that was provided. This tool proved a bit harder then the hex wrench as it did not fit into the bolt, but fit over the nut and flipped off easily.
Finally, 5-6 hours after starting we were able to toss the mattress on the futon, sit and relax.
The kids LOVE having the futon couch as we can either all sit on the couch, or I can lay at the front of the bed portion and they sit back against the wall with pillows and everyone is comfy and snuggly while watching movies.
The most exciting thing for them now is we have a place to put our Christmas tree in the front room!
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