We use vaccines but it pains me. I always read the warnings and potential side affects and wonder why we do this. Then I cringe and want to cry as my baby loses his or her innocence from such a direct betrayal by me. The giggly, smiling child suddenly transformed into an agonized, tortured being red faced with a silent scream and tears trailing down his or her face. I hate it. But I accept the initial ones. However, my family does not get the flu vaccination neither shot nor mist and never will. Knock on wood, for the 8 years sincce we made the decision to quit the flu vaccine, we have seen less sickness in this household particularly in flu season. Yes vaccinations concerns me! Momversation asks Are You Concerned About Vaccinations?
Archive for the ‘Health’ Category
Are You Concerned About Vaccinations?
Wednesday, April 8th, 2009Tommy’s Last Ride
Saturday, August 2nd, 2008Tommy rode in his last STAR horse show today. He received 2nd place in two categories and 5th place in another. He is very unhappy that he did not receive a first place ribbon. He rode the Intermediate level against some well seasoned riders. He was on an unfamiliar horse, Virgil, which was acting up so badly that a volunteer had to run beside the horse but was not leading the horse. Tommy could handle the acting up and could have done without the volunteer but I understand their safety concerns. The problem with the volunteer is that Tommy, albeit possibly subconsciously, sees the volunteer as a crutch and does not ride his best. He and I also had a rough morning and I am sure that a combination of the sidewalker (volunteer), his mood from our arguing, and the quality of the other riders all contributed to his performance. None-the-less, he placed well! He should be proud. I know I am!
[n.b. My dates may be off a little.] After being on a waiting list for 3 years, Tommy entered the STAR program in 2002 and rode every session for six years including six competitive horse shows. I believe strongly that STAR helped Tommy progress in self-control, kindness, social skills, agility, dexterity, critical thinking, and led him to a desire to pursue a career in the veterinary sciences. During his time at STAR he faced losing the ability to participate when he went through a period of rudeness to the volunteers and, although not abusive, unkindness to the animals. Around the same time, one medicine sent his weight skyrocketing above the programs weight limit. STAR did not give up on Tommy. His weight decreased, his attitude and manners changed, and his progress as a rider was notably better. Tommy today is a skilled rider who is leaving the program at Shangri-la Therapeutic Academy of Riding (STAR) to pursue a degree in Veterinary Technology at Lincoln Memorial University. Thank you Lynn Petr! Thanks to your staff of wonderful teachers! Thanks to your volunteers! Thank you to the contributors who made STAR possible! And thank you for this exceptional program!
Note: Technically Tommy has one last ride on Tuesday as a make-up class. I will return to STAR to volunteer when I can.
Autism Awareness Day
Thursday, April 3rd, 2008Rockin His World
Thursday, August 2nd, 2007Parents of Aspies have learned that it is healthy to shake up their routine. Rearranging their furniture can totally through them off. But life is full of stuff that does not follow our rules. Life has surprises and unexpected turns. We have become complacent in allowing Tommy to fall into a regimented routine of non-activity and primarily days on end of World of Warcraft. Today I forced him off the machines and, along with a friend, dropped him at our local Frisbee disc golf course. He was visibly shaken at the suggestion that he do something involving walking around in the hot sun. No sooner had I arrived home and started to settle into work, the phone rang, "we are out of water and dehydrating. Please come pick up us." When I refused telling them to finish 9 more holes then call me I got a another call, "we found a friend to bring us home" which got a sharp, "no" returned from me. Yes, it is so much easier just to let them have their routines and hide like hermits in their darkened rooms!
Missing Knowledge – Boiling Point
Monday, December 11th, 2006As I remember my teen years I recall seeking independence, never wanting to show weakness, and touting knowledge where I had none. So, this morning I ask Tommy to boil some water for me and 15 minutes later or so it occurs to me that I still had no boiling water. Upon inspecting the stove I found the tea kettle on a burner on medium heat. Our knobs are labeled 1 to 10 with 1 being low and 10 being high. Tommy chose 5.
Tommy loves to cook and does a very good job. He particularly likes baking cookies. He has been in the kitchen enough to know his way around.
When we label someone, Asperger for instance, we create an outlet to funnel excuses. "He does that because of his Aspergers." This is ok because the child does have Aspergers and the parent needs a coping mechanism to deal with the child’s behavior. Unfortunately for the child, and the parent, the funnel is sometimes too large and sucks normal things into it; our children fall under a huge microscope. Where an undiagnosed child many do something, like set the burner to 5 to boil water, we laugh it off and declare it "cute" but with a labeled child we sigh and feel the need to teach, counsel, and tutor the child over something normal.
Today may have been the first time Tommy has boiled water. Perhaps he was not fully awake and turned the burner to the commonly used medium heat. Maybe he simply did not have the knowledge and like any other teen would rather risk being wrong than show weakness by asking for help.
A couple of years ago we took all the children to Harry Potter’s birthday party, or maybe it was a book release. I took a moment to objectively look at the coward. I saw my family not as my family but just as other people in the bookstore. My children were having fun but each of them exhibited more discipline and better behavior than many of the other children. It was at that point that I realized the techniques, fights, disciplines, and micromanaging of Tommy over the years had trickled down through all the children. I had to ask myself if we had been overbearing parents and I honestly answered no; they are simply well adjusted, happy children with good manners. However, I did come to the realization at that point that Tommy had succeeded where many people thought he would fail. And we as parents could lighten up and not assume every little behavior is related to Aspergers. For instance, there is nothing in our DNA that inherently makes us know that you boil water on high.