We’re back from a week-plus away from home, first at a family event and then for a week down the Shore. (As anyone with children will remind you – when you have kids, it’s not a vacation but a trip.) Which means it’s time for me to get back into the swing of things, especially as the Monster returns to school this morning.
But having ten straight days with the Monster gives me a different view into his life and how he experiences the world.
It’s almost a given, perhaps, that the Monster doesn’t often engage in “appropriate play”. Like many children with Autism, he’s often more fascinated by parts of things, rather than the thing itself. He’s inclined to sort game pieces or toys by type or color or some trait he’s selected as he might be to play with it in a manner that approaches “appropriate”, but… it’s how things are.
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We’re almost to my sport season… and this year may be different…
… because I might try to teach both kids to sport this year.
Yes, yes, I know. One of my former directors at work used to take me aside now and again, put his hand on my shoulder, and say, “[Dad], we are a desert people. We do not do ice sports.” And yet, here we are, dear friends, here we are. Continue reading
Sometimes, there’s nothing to do but to do it, whatever “it” happens to be.
There are a few things that I shy away from doing, since the Monster got his diagnosis – mostly due to what experience has taught me is going to cause a problem – but by and large, I do try to make sure that he’s going to get as many ‘normal’ activities as he can.
This includes going to the playground, to baseball games, out to eat, museums… you name it. And it’s not always with special supports. Continue reading