Comments on: The Funk http://teenautism.com/2009/10/22/the-funk/ Beyond ABA, after OT . . . what now? Sat, 31 Jul 2010 05:12:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Michelle S http://teenautism.com/2009/10/22/the-funk/#comment-15519 Michelle S Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:27:22 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=361#comment-15519 You ARE a great mother and writer! I've missed reading you. My life has been so crazy I'm behind on the blogging. It's funny because Daniel was the "perfect baby" quiet, "easy" and now that you look at it "too easy"....Zachary (who has no autism whatsoever was the crier from 2 months on and went until 1, when we got his food together. (his tummy was a mess from allergies) I hate the vaccine thing. I've avoided it with Daniel because he is so scared of them it's beyond ridiculous. He's way behind on them, but I don't really feel it's my "choice" so for now, I'm following his lead. You ARE a great mother and writer! I’ve missed reading you. My life has been so crazy I’m behind on the blogging. It’s funny because Daniel was the “perfect baby” quiet, “easy” and now that you look at it “too easy”….Zachary (who has no autism whatsoever was the crier from 2 months on and went until 1, when we got his food together. (his tummy was a mess from allergies) I hate the vaccine thing. I’ve avoided it with Daniel because he is so scared of them it’s beyond ridiculous. He’s way behind on them, but I don’t really feel it’s my “choice” so for now, I’m following his lead.

]]> By: Teen Autism » Blog Archive » The Talk http://teenautism.com/2009/10/22/the-funk/#comment-15449 Teen Autism » Blog Archive » The Talk Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:16:25 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=361#comment-15449 [...] expected that question to be part of the equation. No stranger to being put on the spot, I remember Mama Edge’s comment and quickly come up with a plan. I tell him that he needs to demonstrate three things to me [...] [...] expected that question to be part of the equation. No stranger to being put on the spot, I remember Mama Edge’s comment and quickly come up with a plan. I tell him that he needs to demonstrate three things to me [...]

]]> By: Tera http://teenautism.com/2009/10/22/the-funk/#comment-15425 Tera Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:16:35 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=361#comment-15425 Tanya, I hope this might make you laugh. You really just need an 8-year-old straightforward brother to make it easier on you. Kaeden was talking about driving when we were all in the car one day. He was explaining how he can get his license whenhe's 18 (thank you for being 18 over here!). Jari blurts out, " Kaeden, ahem, you are autistic. Autistic people aren't allowed to drive." Now, some people may take this the wrong way, but at the time it was very funny. Kaeden responded by asking, "Is that true mom? Can't autistic people drive?" I answered by telling him that some can and some can't (adding JARI's name after) and that we'll have to see if he's ready when he's old enough. But now, when he speaks about driving, Kaeden always says "We'll see if I'm ready to drive when I'm old enough, huh mom?" So, though Jari is a bit of a mis-informed smartass, he did help me out in what could be a very difficult situation. Wanna borrow him for a few days? :-) Tanya,

I hope this might make you laugh. You really just need an 8-year-old straightforward brother to make it easier on you. Kaeden was talking about driving when we were all in the car one day. He was explaining how he can get his license whenhe’s 18 (thank you for being 18 over here!). Jari blurts out, ” Kaeden, ahem, you are autistic. Autistic people aren’t allowed to drive.” Now, some people may take this the wrong way, but at the time it was very funny. Kaeden responded by asking, “Is that true mom? Can’t autistic people drive?” I answered by telling him that some can and some can’t (adding JARI’s name after) and that we’ll have to see if he’s ready when he’s old enough. But now, when he speaks about driving, Kaeden always says “We’ll see if I’m ready to drive when I’m old enough, huh mom?”

So, though Jari is a bit of a mis-informed smartass, he did help me out in what could be a very difficult situation. Wanna borrow him for a few days? :-)

]]> By: rhemashope http://teenautism.com/2009/10/22/the-funk/#comment-15293 rhemashope Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:37:14 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=361#comment-15293 rhema was the EXACT same way as a baby and it did not start until she was 2 months!!! (i was amazed when i read that). things that make you go hhhmmmmm.... love you, tanya. rhema was the EXACT same way as a baby and it did not start until she was 2 months!!! (i was amazed when i read that). things that make you go hhhmmmmm….

love you, tanya.

]]> By: Alicia http://teenautism.com/2009/10/22/the-funk/#comment-15291 Alicia Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:17:03 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=361#comment-15291 oh it made me tear up when you said he was blowing kisses afer you left the room! so sweet. ive almost emerged from my funk. i dont like funks. they make me feel funky. oh it made me tear up when you said he was blowing kisses afer you left the room! so sweet.

ive almost emerged from my funk. i dont like funks. they make me feel funky.

]]> By: cathy http://teenautism.com/2009/10/22/the-funk/#comment-15282 cathy Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:01:54 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=361#comment-15282 i hate, hate being in funks. both our sons are fully vaccinated, but it was such a stressful decision to do so i hate, hate being in funks. both our sons are fully vaccinated, but it was such a stressful decision to do so

]]> By: Anonymom http://teenautism.com/2009/10/22/the-funk/#comment-15252 Anonymom Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:41:22 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=361#comment-15252 The funk will pass. Its hard to remember when I'm in the middle of it; but I try to remember the last funk, and the one before that. They passed, so the odds are good that this one will, too. I've also found that the anticipation of doing something I fear (i.e. telling Elmer there won't be time for him to go flying with Uncle R) is worse than actually doing it. Hang in there. This will pass. The funk will pass. Its hard to remember when I’m in the middle of it; but I try to remember the last funk, and the one before that. They passed, so the odds are good that this one will, too. I’ve also found that the anticipation of doing something I fear (i.e. telling Elmer there won’t be time for him to go flying with Uncle R) is worse than actually doing it. Hang in there. This will pass.

]]> By: Brenda http://teenautism.com/2009/10/22/the-funk/#comment-15248 Brenda Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:01:49 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=361#comment-15248 Big hugs to you, Tanya. Sorry you're going through this funk. And can you believe, Jack just asked this week when he would be old enough to drive. And he's five!! Hugs. Big hugs to you, Tanya. Sorry you’re going through this funk. And can you believe, Jack just asked this week when he would be old enough to drive. And he’s five!! Hugs.

]]> By: Meg http://teenautism.com/2009/10/22/the-funk/#comment-15236 Meg Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:56:30 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=361#comment-15236 No words of wisdom, but wanted to send a hug. I'm sure once you have that conversation, some of the funk will lift. Hang in there, those boys know you love them more than anything. No words of wisdom, but wanted to send a hug. I’m sure once you have that conversation, some of the funk will lift. Hang in there, those boys know you love them more than anything.

]]> By: Nicki http://teenautism.com/2009/10/22/the-funk/#comment-15224 Nicki Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:01:46 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=361#comment-15224 I didn't get my driver's license until I was 21... but it was easier for me because I KNEW I wasn't ready and chose not to do it. It is definitely a hard thing though, especially because in our society the driver's license is really one of the only major rites of passage for kids. People make a huge deal out of it. When they find out you're 15 or 16 they automatically start asking you if you're in driver's ed and if you'll be driving soon, and its emberassing to say "No" and have to explain why. I think it will definitely be important to make sure Nigel understands you're not saying, "No, you'll never be able to drive," but that you're saying, "You're not ready to drive JUST YET." You COULD let him get his driver's permit but tell him you'll be taking it slowly. When I was sixteen my mom started teaching me to drive by taking me to an empty parking lot at the community college on Sundays and letting me drive around randomly, just so I'd get used to how it feels to control the car. Nigel could work on how stepping on the gas pedal with different amounts of pressure makes it go faster and slower (make sure to tell him to step on it very gently at first), how to work the turn signals and windshield wipers and defrost buttons and all that, how to make smooth turns, etc. That way he would at least feel like he's participating in his rite of passage, even if he is most likely not going to get his driver's license as quickly as other kids! (I hope that was helpful...) I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was 21… but it was easier for me because I KNEW I wasn’t ready and chose not to do it. It is definitely a hard thing though, especially because in our society the driver’s license is really one of the only major rites of passage for kids. People make a huge deal out of it. When they find out you’re 15 or 16 they automatically start asking you if you’re in driver’s ed and if you’ll be driving soon, and its emberassing to say “No” and have to explain why.
I think it will definitely be important to make sure Nigel understands you’re not saying, “No, you’ll never be able to drive,” but that you’re saying, “You’re not ready to drive JUST YET.”
You COULD let him get his driver’s permit but tell him you’ll be taking it slowly. When I was sixteen my mom started teaching me to drive by taking me to an empty parking lot at the community college on Sundays and letting me drive around randomly, just so I’d get used to how it feels to control the car. Nigel could work on how stepping on the gas pedal with different amounts of pressure makes it go faster and slower (make sure to tell him to step on it very gently at first), how to work the turn signals and windshield wipers and defrost buttons and all that, how to make smooth turns, etc. That way he would at least feel like he’s participating in his rite of passage, even if he is most likely not going to get his driver’s license as quickly as other kids!
(I hope that was helpful…)

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