Back Again

May 17, 2003

Hi e,

My younger daughter is in a classroom which isn't strictly TEACCH but is run

roughly along those lines. It does have clearly defined areas for work and

play. They also use visual timetables etc.

She works well in this environment. Last year she was having a lot of

meltdowns - this was before they made the class very clearly delineated. She

had a lot less meltdowns as soon as the class was sorted out.

Back Again

I've been pretty horrible at writing or coming in here on a regular

basis. But here I am once again. I'm a PPCD (preschool program for

children with disabilities) teacher here in Texas. I have 4 autistic

students that I serve now. Next year I have been told that I will be

the teacher of an " engineered classroom " . Basically it's a classroom

with visuals for everything, doing the things that autistic kids

need. I reckon it will be formatted exactly like the TEACCH program

classrooms complete with workjobs and all.

Anyone in here teach this kind of class? Or anyone in here have a

child in that kind of class?

May 17, 2003

I'm glad to hear that your child is doing well in that setting. I am

a little apprehensive about taking this class on. I've only been

teaching for a little over a year but the administration seems to

think that I am the best one for this classroom. I'm glad they think

of me that highly but do I have enough experience to work in this

very important job? *sigh* I'll find that out soon enough. How old is

your daughter?

May 17, 2003

Re: Back Again

I'm glad to hear that your child is doing well in that setting. I am

a little apprehensive about taking this class on. I've only been

teaching for a little over a year but the administration seems to

think that I am the best one for this classroom. I'm glad they think

of me that highly but do I have enough experience to work in this

very important job? *sigh* I'll find that out soon enough. How old is

your daughter?

May 17, 2003

Oops - the computer sometimes replies for me, but before i have done any

typing....

is 6 and is pretty much nonverbal. There is another little boy in her

class, also ASD, who is about the same age and is slightly less verbal than

she is. They are there most of the week. Another two children join in with

the class, but for less time because they are nursery age. One has a dx of

CP, the other Downs. I don't like referring to the children by their

diagnostic labels but I am conscious of confidentiality and also that it

gives you an idea of the makeup of the class.

They all seem to enjoy being in the class and work well together. They have

a good morning song and a goodbye song, using a stick which they take turns

to wave, which they use to start and end the day. It works well to integrate

the comings and goings of the different children and also reinforces things

like turn taking, signing, replying to greetings and answering to their

names. I don't know if this is already part of your daily structure but if

not it is worth thinking of this if you have younger children. If your class

is a bit older in age and don't have major learning difficulties they might

find this a bit beneath them.

Feel free to ask more about how the class works. I don't know if you have

looked at the TEACCH website or not but I found that a very good source of

information on their rationale.

Re: Back Again

I'm glad to hear that your child is doing well in that setting. I am

a little apprehensive about taking this class on. I've only been

teaching for a little over a year but the administration seems to

think that I am the best one for this classroom. I'm glad they think

of me that highly but do I have enough experience to work in this

very important job? *sigh* I'll find that out soon enough. How old is

your daughter?

September 11, 2008

Toni,

Having gone through a similar loss in the past, you shouldn't put any

pressure on yourself for not being " perfect. " The loss of your mother has

rocked your world down to the foundation, and all you can do is work through

it as best you can. Everybody handles the situation differently - for

example, I quickly got annoyed by all the sympathy I was getting from my

co-workers. There was no rationale to it, there is nothing rational about

the situation.

So just relax and grieve as you feel is necessary. And don't be surprised if

something really odd sets you off again. For me it was buying grapes in the

grocery store almost a year after she passed. Just take things one step at a

time, and go easy on yourself.

Compassionately,

Randy

On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 10:52 AM, antoinette0809

wrote:

> I really do not know where to start... My last entry I

> wrote " newbie " ... Since then I have suffered a loss... My Mom passed

> away in August. I am trying to find my way back from that.. I don't

> know how to breathe right now. I found myself in the kitchen this

> morning just standing there eating ice cold lasagna... I WAS NOT

> HUNGRY... My mom was my strength... She has helped me through the most

> difficult times of my life and I didn't really or fully appreciate ti

> or even realized it 'til she was sick... And everything happened in a

> matter of weeks... literally weeks...05/08 she fought pnuemonia;06/08-

> 07/13/08 she was in the hospital, and then we (my sister,my mom, and I)

> found out that Mom had terminal cancer, and 08/12/08, three days after

> my 38th birthday she passed away. Exactly how does one recover from

> such a great loss in such a short time... My 13 year-old son tells me

> his Mom that everything will be alright; as he takes away the fork of

> Lasagna. If any of you guys are in Philly or 19018 zip. let me know if

> I can pull your ears. For those of your working very hard to reach your

> goals " Keep up the hard work " and Congrats on your journey... and those

> who have found the strength to complete or have just about reached your

> goal Congrats on your Success... Toni

>

September 11, 2008

Dear Toni,

I'm so sorry for your loss! I got teary-eyed reading your post and can't imagine

what you must be going through right now. I thought that was so tender of of

your son to take care of you like that and that he actually recognized why you

were standing at the fridge eating. You have an amazing son!!!

It will probably be tough not to turn to the " drug of choice " that you may have

used in the past to numb yourself. (Hopefully I'm not assuming anything here.)

Regardless, food is not going to help you now. I hope you are able to find a

healthy coping mechanism. You know yourself best so use that knowlege to find

things to help you through this. A hobby, a friend, a counselor, a massage, a

hot bubble bath... Take one breath at a time. Even though the loss seems

unbearable I'm sure your mom wouldn't want you to sabatage your goals and

dreams. It may be nearly impossible to remember that in the heat of the moment,

but if you can find her voice somewhere in your mind and heart you'll know what

she'd say to you now.

Love,

Esther

To: insideoutweightloss@...: antoinette0809@...: Thu,

11 Sep 2008 15:52:35 +0000Subject: Back Again

I really do not know where to start... My last entry I wrote " newbie " ... Since

then I have suffered a loss... My Mom passed away in August. I am trying to find

my way back from that.. I don't know how to breathe right now.

My 13 year-old son tells me his Mom that everything will be alright; as he takes

away the fork of Lasagna.

..

_________________________________________________________________

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September 12, 2008

Dear Toni,

My mom passed away on April 11 of this year. I took her to the emergency

room on Dec. 27 and she never came home. It has been like living in a

nightmare that just goes on and on. Watching her suffer and all the

indignities and heartbreak of the treatments that just made her sicker and

eventually killed her has left me feeling absolutely numb, except for the

times I just start crying over the smallest thing. My son is 12 and was

very, very close to 'Mimi'... he is also depressed and having trouble

dealing with the death and seeing her dead, but he is trying to be strong

and we are praying and remembering and working together. It is amazing to

me just how many people have been touched by mom. I am thankful to be a

Christian and have a belief in life-everlasting, and my faith strenghthens

me greatly. However, there is a pain that is huge and a void that can not

be filled, not even with food, although I have been trying! I have gained

15 lbs. since December, on top of the 30 I gained since May 2007 when my

Mother In Law unexpectedly moved in with us. lol talk about trauma! Well

she is still here and won't be going anywhere anytime soon. (and the 30

lbs. isn't because she is such a great cook! pure stress!

And on top of all that, we are in Houston and hurricane Ike is bearing down

on us. I have a tote bin full of junk food and I think hubby bought a case

of wine, so it looks like the hurricane party is on!!! Seriously though, I

am not giving up and I know you aren't either. Please feel free to email me

off list. We have joined a new club, not the one we want, but the key now

is to honor the memory of our Moms by living the best life we can and the

way we do that is by taking care of ourselves first, so we can take care of

those around us.

oxoxox

Patti