Month: August 2009

Autism · My world

A child called Noah

darceeLeave a comment

I am reading “A child called Noah” by Josh Greenfeld.   It has been an interesting experience.   The book is basically pulled from Mr Greendfeld’s journal describing his autistic son and how the family’s life is affected by Noah’s autism.  Some parts of it are personally hard.  They are almost perfect reflections of  my own experience; in fact some of the passages might have been ripped right out of my own essays about life with Rachel.

The book has been borrowed from the Multnomah County Library and I am sure it has been read many times but interestingly someone before me decided that all other readers could benefit by their personal additions.  Yes some yahoo went through the book and underlined various “important” passages.   Unfortunately the defacing former reader obviously has an axe to grind (or maybe more).  In the first chapter they wrote “God d*** them” next to an underlined passage about how little help the medical profession had to offer.  Now why in 1969, when doctors knew even less than they do now about learning disabilities in general and autism in particular, the medical profession as a whole was worthy of damnation for not being able to tell the parents of an autistic child how to “fix” their child is beyond me, but there it is.  Well, actually it isn’t anymore.  I have an eraser and have been contentedly removing the underlining and “comments” that bother me as I come across them.

Uncategorized

I think I need a feel good sound track

darcee1 Comment

It is amazing how much a joyful song makes me feel less stessed and more happy.      It doesn’t even have to be particularly up-beat or happy music, just something that moves me out of the now and into the possible.   Which I suppose is a somewhat overly poetic way of saying I enjoy listening to music because it pushes my emotions away from the very unproductive worry and stress and into a more optismitic view.     Not much of a post – I know, but I need to surf around and find some more enjoyable music.

My world

People can be so confusing

darceeLeave a comment

I suppose most homeschooling parents have had this sort of thing happen to them, they will meet someone and the homeschooling thing will come up and the new person will say “Oh, I couldn’t do that — I am just so happy when school starts at the end of summer.”    One of those smile and nod moments.

A while back I was at the grocery store and the four younger ones were helping unload the cart and a woman in the next line turned to her son, who was about my Christopher’s age, and said “Why aren’t you helpful like those kids?”   She said this loud enough for us to hear and the children all looked at me not quite sure if they should say “thank you” for the compliment or what they should do.  I felt sorry for her son.  My children certainly aren’t perfect angels and they have had more than their fair share of “moments” while shopping – but still.
Not sure why I am thinking about this. I tend to over think things quite often.

My world

Returning

darcee3 Comments

So I have been away from blogging for a few weeks.

No crisis, no big revelations, no long vacation.  Just a break.  It is all good.

Of course I have no idea what to write at this point.

We went to the coast this weekend.  This was the typical clan thomason trip – meaning we failed to plan this out at all, sort of did it by the seat of our pants, but still had a good time.

(( my computer absence sort of started with my system being infected with a nasty trojan (rootkit) that caused me endless greif))

Saturday’s trip reminded me yet again that I need check lists.  ((an ipod touch looks sort of neat – really a shuffle would be fine and a nano more than I need))   We didn’t do horrible with the coast trip.  At least we remembered to bring a change of clothing for the children… lunch would have been good to bring to though and a change of clothing for us – swimsuits even better.  The Oregon coast isn’t the nicest place to swim, but there is something about the water that is irresistible.   Just standing hip deep in the water and letting the waves hit you is fun.

(( the children are very excited about going to the pool today))  We love going on our hikes and day trips.  Just need to be sure we plan slightly better.

Yes, a change of clothing for me would have been nice.
Yes, a change of clothing for me would have been nice.