Guest guest Posted October 23, 2003 Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 , we have had to give up taking Evan to church at least for the time being. He is at an ackward stage when his size is so much bigger than his mental age and he started screaming for no reason other than to get out and explore. With his dad living with us temporarily, he has been taking care of Evan while we go to church so they have a time of father-son bonding. BETTY ANN-61 yo, probably undx'd bipolargrandma and guardian toANDREW - 12 yo-- Bipolar/ADHD, HomeschooledEVAN - 9 yo-- nonverbal autism DAVID 7 yo Bipolar/ADHDand mother to ANDREA -32 yo, their mom -Bipolar/ADHDwife to BOB - 72 yo, a very patient and tired grandpa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2003 Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 , good for you! I am so impressed that you are homeschooling your children; that is so much better for an autistic child. I wanted so much for Karac's mother to let me homeschool him, but she wouldn't let me. As I said, I have taken Karac to Sunday school and church for 8 years, but I don't take his little brother and sister with us because it has taken all my attention to just train Karac to sit quietly. Karac was a screamer and it took several years to overcome that. I am amazed now that the congregation put up with us! I used the CD player with earphones; color books; Play Doh etc. In the beginning the Play Doh worked the best because I could grab it the minute he screamed and give it back the second that he stopped screaming to take a breath. I explained to people just like you did, and most people were kind and understanding, but I went home crying many Sundays. Was it worth it? He doesn't scream any more; he made two good friends in Sunday school who became his play dates; he has learned how to appropriately respond to people's greetings; the behavior has generalized to older sister's volleyball games; I can sit through worship service with him, and I haven't cried on Sunday in a long time, and the most amazing thing is; I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with my own autistic grandson. I don't think these words can even begin to convey to you how blessed I feel. Karac has taught me so much, and he has brought me into this community of what I believe to be the smartest, strongest mothers on earth. Pat K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2003 Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 , good for you! I am so impressed that you are homeschooling your children; that is so much better for an autistic child. I wanted so much for Karac's mother to let me homeschool him, but she wouldn't let me. As I said, I have taken Karac to Sunday school and church for 8 years, but I don't take his little brother and sister with us because it has taken all my attention to just train Karac to sit quietly. Karac was a screamer and it took several years to overcome that. I am amazed now that the congregation put up with us! I used the CD player with earphones; color books; Play Doh etc. In the beginning the Play Doh worked the best because I could grab it the minute he screamed and give it back the second that he stopped screaming to take a breath. I explained to people just like you did, and most people were kind and understanding, but I went home crying many Sundays. Was it worth it? He doesn't scream any more; he made two good friends in Sunday school who became his play dates; he has learned how to appropriately respond to people's greetings; the behavior has generalized to older sister's volleyball games; I can sit through worship service with him, and I haven't cried on Sunday in a long time, and the most amazing thing is; I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with my own autistic grandson. I don't think these words can even begin to convey to you how blessed I feel. Karac has taught me so much, and he has brought me into this community of what I believe to be the smartest, strongest mothers on earth. Pat K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2003 Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 Betty, thank God for a father who will keep his autistic son and let you go to church. My son will not have anything to do with Karac. Evan is fortunate to have a father who wants to bond with him; that is so important, and you need the spiritual strength to do all that you do. Blessings, Pat K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2003 Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 Betty, thank God for a father who will keep his autistic son and let you go to church. My son will not have anything to do with Karac. Evan is fortunate to have a father who wants to bond with him; that is so important, and you need the spiritual strength to do all that you do. Blessings, Pat K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 I didn't mean to start anything! Our day care provider (up til August) was a retired lady, a " grandma " so to speak, and she was fabulous with . She was watching him pre-diagnosis. I remember when we did get the diagnosis, she knew we had taken him and all, and I was really scared to tell her, for fear that she'd freak over the word and not want to watch him anymore. Her response was " Yeah, we thought that's what it was " . And nothing more was said about it! So she knew all along too, and it didn't bother her, and she had a really good understanding of it. We would still be using her now, except that got physically to big for her to handle, and so there were problems that way. But he was saying " Betty " (or " Bebby " ) when he wasn't even saying Mama yet, and he often showed skills for her that he wouldn't show at home. My mother-in-law freaks about everything, so not much of a surprise really. She freaked initially, then she freaked again when she went to do some reading on autism and read that autistic traits run in families. That's when I got to hear the story about the " wierd cousin " when she was little that " lived in the barn " that " nobody talked about " . Then she freaked when we told her was riding a bus to school (special ed preschool, small bus), I still haven't figured out what the deal is with her and the bus. This place is like a soap opera sometimes, LOL. That's why we have the puter, to stay in touch with the sane! Becky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 Well, CB's granny, that was certainly an enlightening trip for you wasn't it? Is CB verbal? The closest Karac comes to engaging another child is a neighbor boy about his age who lives down the street. Karac will get the basketball and say, "go see Mac." When we get to Mac's, I have taught him to ring the doorbell and say, "play basketball?" If Mac is home, he will come out and take turns shooting baskets with Karac as long as Karac wants to which is only about 5 minutes; then he dribbles his basketball back to the house. By the way, I am Karac's grandmother. From one to another, have a good day. Pat K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 Betty, how big is ? Karac is big; he is 11 and weighs 111 lbs. He put on 30 of those lbs when he started taking Risperdal. He is on Geodon now and has at least stopped gaining. LOL, Pat K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 CB is sorta verbal, when he feels like it.Grandpa and I will pretend to be six today and make him ask to play ie. ride bike, play ball and not respond to pulling or his favorite word which is "help". Only thing we could come up with. CB's Granny ps. Had leg cramps all night LOL, from running in the sand, and here I thought I held up extremely well for a granny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 What a great Granny and Grandfather your grandson has; he is keeping you young! LOL, Pat K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 This is really a job for you. I am so sick and tired of grandmothers telling me that they are worried about their grandchildren being so sick these days. Do SOMETHING with this knowledge! If you know that this is not the way that things are supposed to be - THEN SAY SOMETHING LOUD AND CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC, DOCTORS, CONGRESS, ETC! PLEASE!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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