Social Lessons For Parents

The wife had originally thought of taking the kids to the Zoo today – it seemed to make perfect sense, since (in theory) folks would be in church and we could squeeze in a few hours before it started to rain.  Of course, it was cold all day and started to drizzle, and the baby decided he needed a morning nap, so that went right out the window.  Instead, I took it on myself to try to get at least some of the Monster’s homework done before the wife’s left with it. Continue reading

Herd Mentality

Last night was my latest trip to the dads’ support group – now that my curling is (largely) done for the season, I’ll be going regularly over the summer.

Something that was said last night, which I’ve probably commented on before, was very relavent to me.  We had two new dads, and were talking about how our kids are getting along with their development, and comparing notes on whose child is walking, is talking, is doing X, Y or Z… Continue reading

Your Release

When I started going to the Dads’ Talk support group that I’ve been infrequently attending (infrequent if only due to my own winter schedule), the first thing that they ask new members to talk about is their situation – what’s the situation at home that brought them to the group, what is their home life like… and what do you do for a release? Continue reading

Scaffolding

Last night, for the first time in a few months, I managed to make it to my dads’ support group over at the ARC.

I happen to like going to the group – while it is open to fathers of children with many different kinds of disabilities, the vast majority of our children are on the spectrum.  The group is still somewhat stable on a month-to-month basis at about eight or so, though apparently there’ve been a few dropping in and out like I’ve been doing of late. Continue reading

Falling From Trees, Indeed

I listen to a lot of National Public Radio.  I only have a 15 minute commute between my home and office, and it’s often that or listen to the drivel that passes for morning radio on my way in.  This also means, often, that the radio’s already on my local station when I’m off to evening activities, which means now and again, I catch fascinating articles on All Things Considered.

So, on Thursday, on my way to my evening out, I caught an interview with the author of Far From the Tree, a book by Andrew Solomon.  Mr. Solomon’s work is mostly an assessment of children and parents, and how children are, sometimes, very different than their parents.  Continue reading

Back to School

So last night was the back to school night for the Monster.

I have to admit that I wasn’t ready for this quite yet – I’d figured that we had at least a year, maybe two, before we’d be doing this… but there we were, sitting in the gym of an elementary/middle school listening to the principal and whatnot.  And it felt about as weird as we expected. Continue reading

Going Out

I’ll save any further issues I’m having with the busses for another post.  (I’m still waiting on word from the school district.)

No, sometimes, as I’ve said before, it’s about us.  Autism doesn’t just really affect the person who has it, but the entire family around them. Continue reading

Last Prep Day

We’re on the last day before the school year, and still trying to scramble to get ready.

The Monster’s uniforms arrived on Wednesday, so we had him try them on yesterday to be sure that they fit and everything before he’s expected to wear them on Monday.  The pants need to be hemmed, but the shirts seem just about right.  I’m not so sure that I think preschoolers need to be wearing school uniforms, but hey, what do I know. Continue reading