Autism and Cyberspace (#373)
Ever since we moved into my in-laws’ house a few weeks ago Jim and I have been internet vagabonds, speeding off to our offices or the library to answer email (and, of course, post here and on Autism Vox). Across from Charlie’s bed (strewn with squishy toys and his faithful Daddy b’ue b’ankett) is my … Continue reading
Shared Memories Are Sweet (#372)
“Giff, phone!” Said Charlie when my cell phone rang. “Bye bye!” And, when I put my hand in my bag to give Jim a quick report about what a good day Charlie had yesterday at school and during his ABA session, Charlie—-who had just been splashing up a storm amid the other kids in the … Continue reading
Vital Signs (#371)
When I was a child and complained of not feeling well, my parents responded with a litany of questions: “Is it your stomach? Is it a grinding pain or some other kind of pain? Did you eat anything acidic? Did you take your asthma medicine? Are you coughing anything up?” Now I am a mother … Continue reading
In His Shoes (#370)
If it were up to Charlie, I think he would just wear the same black slip-on shoes everywhere—school, beach, pool. He is agreeable about wearing different shoes, but needs a reminder (or me showing him: “Here’s your sandals!”) So I was pleased when, just before 11am this morning, Charlie ran to put on his “san-dohs” … Continue reading
C-Fish (#369)
Seeing that J-Mac has been nominated for an ESPY (along with the likes of Kobe Bryant), I think it may be time to give Charlie a special “sports moniker” for his athletic pursuits. Like “C-Fish” for the boy who, on a rainy gray day, was the sole swimmer in the pool. (Charlie’s full name is … Continue reading
A Love Supreme (#368)
We were on the road, literally, at 7.30am today, headed for Philadelphia where I gave a presentation on teaching classical Greek and other foreign languages at the annual meeting of the American Classical League. Jim has been noting Charlie’s sitting-on-the-edge-of-the-back-seat interest to certain CDs: Don Sugarcane Harris, blues violonist. John Coltrane, on the saxophone. Jimi … Continue reading
The Now: Imperfective Time (#367)
In English, we tend to speak of three main tenses of verbs as past, present, and future: Something happened, something is happening, something will happen. In our Autismland household, I am acutely aware of those three basic states of time, the then, the now, and the “wlater,” as Charlie puts it. Notions of time are … Continue reading
Sweet Rocky Road (#366)
There was an end of the year party in Charlie’s classroom today—-I was the last parent there after having to double-back to get the lavendar plant Charlie and I had bought yesterday for his teachers. Charlie was busy working a 60-piece puzzle (he favors those from the Ravensburger company), an instructor by his side. His … Continue reading
Sticky (#365)
The gooey, icky, sticky, melting rubber marshmallow slimey sensation of a fistful of, well, goo, with soft spikes—- That’s the sensation I suspect Charlie likes to fell in his hands, and the inside out ball surely provides this. And all the more if the favored ball has been mushed around in Charlie’s nervous, fidgeting fingers … Continue reading
The Kingfish Jumps Again (#364)
Charlie must have jumped off the diving board 20 times yesterday evening. He has a new jumping style: He crouches down a bit and does some tiny mini-jumps then offffffffffffffff and a bit up he launches himself, arms stiff at his sides and the beginning of a smile, into the air and splaaaaaaaaash. But that’s … Continue reading
We Go With Him by kristina chew 