Today my evaluation team, which includes a licensed psychologist, sat down with some parents and informed them that their child has a mild form of Autism. We've done this so many times, and it's not always easy, but today it really hit me hard!
How do you tell a family that no matter how hard they work, their child will always probably struggle socially? And how do you explain that so many things that we learn naturally through situations, like knowing when someone is being sarcastic, or using an expression and it's not to be taken literally, won't be learned unless it's explained---and even then might not be completely understood. How do you tell a father that looks forward to watching their child grow up and play sports, that their child isn't as coordinated as most children? How do you explain to parents that it's nothing they did, that they did everything right, but their child is always going to be a little different?
I guess when it all comes down to it, our differences are what makes us unique individuals. I just wish it didn't ever have to be a difference that may be dibilitating.
That's all I got...
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Trapped
I think I've discovered something quite profound about myself this evening! I feel like I am a 50 year old woman trapped in a 30 year old body. All I really want to be doing is staying at home, watching a movie, cooking dinner, playing cards or simply discussing events of the day with a significant other. Instead, I'm forced to go on awkward first dates that may or may not move on to a second, or perhaps a third if I'm lucky! This is where a critical, slightly jaded and snide remark could be inserted, but I'll choose to take the high road!
I wonder what my life would be like if my best friend or family member took me aside, blindfolded me, put a wedding dress on me and sent me down the aisle to wed Mr. Unknown. Instead of having an awkward first date, it would just be an awkward first year. It might provide for some really good blogs, at the very least. But I wonder if I'd feel trapped in that situation, too! Hmm...
On a side note, next Monday begins a new adventure in my life in the form of indoor soccer! I've joined a winter indoor women's soccer league! Next up? Spring co-ed kickball (no lie)!
I wonder what my life would be like if my best friend or family member took me aside, blindfolded me, put a wedding dress on me and sent me down the aisle to wed Mr. Unknown. Instead of having an awkward first date, it would just be an awkward first year. It might provide for some really good blogs, at the very least. But I wonder if I'd feel trapped in that situation, too! Hmm...
On a side note, next Monday begins a new adventure in my life in the form of indoor soccer! I've joined a winter indoor women's soccer league! Next up? Spring co-ed kickball (no lie)!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
You Wanna Pet My Heifer?
My parents and I spent Friday on a little field trip. The afternoon started out at the Kimball Arts Museum in Fort Worth where we went to see the current exhibit on the oldest Christian artifacts. It was pretty cool. There were signet rings dated from the 3rd century, and elaborately carved sarcophagi that depicted stories of the Bible. But the highlight of the afternoon was when we were looking at a stone carving Jonah and the "sea monster" and apparently my dad got a little too close for comfort and was reprimanded by the elderly gentleman employee. All in all, it was a good exhibit and I recommend it to anyone wanting to make a trip to Fort Worth.
Next on our day of culture, we went to the Stockshow and Rodeo. We were walking through the stockshow buildings and this 10 or 11 year old kid comes up to me and asks with a southern drawl, "You wanna pet my heifer?" I didn't really want to! But he was so excited about his heifer that I couldn't say no. So, he spends about 10 minutes telling me about how he has to show her for the competition on Sunday. As he's talking to me, this cattle owner is quickly prodding his cow along in the narrow aisle behind me. When the cow is directly behind me she decides that she needed to do her business---a lot---several times. I was praying it wouldn't splatter up on me or I was going to smell like poop for the rest of the evening.
The evening was completed by watching grown men rope calves, get on a horse for it to buck them off, and ride a very angry bull. If that's not entertainment folks, I don't know what is!
Next on our day of culture, we went to the Stockshow and Rodeo. We were walking through the stockshow buildings and this 10 or 11 year old kid comes up to me and asks with a southern drawl, "You wanna pet my heifer?" I didn't really want to! But he was so excited about his heifer that I couldn't say no. So, he spends about 10 minutes telling me about how he has to show her for the competition on Sunday. As he's talking to me, this cattle owner is quickly prodding his cow along in the narrow aisle behind me. When the cow is directly behind me she decides that she needed to do her business---a lot---several times. I was praying it wouldn't splatter up on me or I was going to smell like poop for the rest of the evening.
The evening was completed by watching grown men rope calves, get on a horse for it to buck them off, and ride a very angry bull. If that's not entertainment folks, I don't know what is!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Boredom ensues
Yes, it's true! I'm the most boring pet owner around! Gilbert, I cannot throw your rope every minute of every day! I'm sorry! I have too many things to do---like watch Deal Or No Deal and The Amazing Race. And Dot, you cannot possibly be hungry! I JUST fed you 3o minutes ago. Quit chasing me into the laundry room as if every time I go in there I'm there to quench your hunger! In fact, that's just about the only time I see you run!Stop looking at me like that! Seriously! Stop it!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Uninvited
I thought I was going to have something so great to post about today, but as it turns out, I don't! I thought I was going to have this great--yet somewhat exhausting day (I'll explain later) out at Texas Stadium watching the Dallas Cowboys hopefully beat the New York Giants. But instead, I'm forced to watch in my own home!
It all started when my friend, Mike (the Saturn guy,) asked me if I was interested in going to the Cowboys game. I assured him that I was, but monetarily speaking, it wouldn't be a good choice. So he dropped the subject and then called me yesterday and said he was bidding on tickets and wanted me to go as his guest! I quickly accepted. However I did have some reservations because his friends like to tailgate ALL day! They wanted to get there at 10:00 and then after the game go to the bar at the stadium and party some more! But--I didn't let him know my reservations!
When he called to inform me that he got the tickets I responded with excitement and asked him what the plan was. He told me that he would come pick me up at 8:45, where we would go pick up everyone else! Well, I am training again and I told him that I needed to run in the morning and that I would take an hour to run at 6:45 AM. Plenty of time to get ready, right? Well, our conversation was cut short because I arrived at my destination where he told me to call him when I left.
When I did leave, there was a text message that read "I thought you would be a little more excited to go to a Cowboys home playoff game..Your jog sounds like it was more important, so plan on jogging..."
I then responded that that was crazy. He then said, "Well...I guess I felt that you didn't want to go, so I don't want to go with you. Call me crazy but we shouldn't go together." A couple of more texts were exchanged, but essentially I was uninvited due to a misinterpretation of something I said. Keep in mind that the whole time we were texting, I was trying to call him and he wouldn't answer the phone.
This guy is so manic and I have dealt with his depression, but I really wasn't prepared for this at all! So this morning I woke up and texted him and said "Am I still uninvited?" to which there was no response! What a baby! I'm done with Mike the Saturn guy (who I was not dating anyway).
It all started when my friend, Mike (the Saturn guy,) asked me if I was interested in going to the Cowboys game. I assured him that I was, but monetarily speaking, it wouldn't be a good choice. So he dropped the subject and then called me yesterday and said he was bidding on tickets and wanted me to go as his guest! I quickly accepted. However I did have some reservations because his friends like to tailgate ALL day! They wanted to get there at 10:00 and then after the game go to the bar at the stadium and party some more! But--I didn't let him know my reservations!
When he called to inform me that he got the tickets I responded with excitement and asked him what the plan was. He told me that he would come pick me up at 8:45, where we would go pick up everyone else! Well, I am training again and I told him that I needed to run in the morning and that I would take an hour to run at 6:45 AM. Plenty of time to get ready, right? Well, our conversation was cut short because I arrived at my destination where he told me to call him when I left.
When I did leave, there was a text message that read "I thought you would be a little more excited to go to a Cowboys home playoff game..Your jog sounds like it was more important, so plan on jogging..."
I then responded that that was crazy. He then said, "Well...I guess I felt that you didn't want to go, so I don't want to go with you. Call me crazy but we shouldn't go together." A couple of more texts were exchanged, but essentially I was uninvited due to a misinterpretation of something I said. Keep in mind that the whole time we were texting, I was trying to call him and he wouldn't answer the phone.
This guy is so manic and I have dealt with his depression, but I really wasn't prepared for this at all! So this morning I woke up and texted him and said "Am I still uninvited?" to which there was no response! What a baby! I'm done with Mike the Saturn guy (who I was not dating anyway).
Saturday, January 12, 2008
A Little Change
I was bored today, but wanted a change, so I decided that since my current monetary status is "penniless," I would color my hair on my own. The last time I did this I turned my hair pink. I think it turned out a bit better this time. What do you guys think?
Thursday, January 10, 2008
My Life--the Documentary
The other day I was dining out with some girlfriends and we were talking about whether or not our lives would be interesting to other people. For example, what if my life was a reality TV show? Would it be interesting to anybody? I do have some interesting, yet sometimes embarrassing, things happen to me.
In fact, just today I had somewhat of an out of body experience where in the midst of the event I felt like I was watching myself from a distance wondering, "Hmm...what will Marci do in this situation?"
I was working with a couple of high school students today. We were playing a game and both of these kids are bad losers--just like me. Both of them had already expressed negative emotions when not performing well, but it humors me, so we went on with the game. One of the students was way behind the other, however, he had the opportunity to switch places with his opponent if he just answered the question correctly. Of course he missed the question and I must say I was not prepared for his response. I see his face contort and I thought--"ooh, he's mad." Then he slams his hand on the desk and says "!#$%it!!! I'm sick of this sh#$!" I look at the other student who is looking at me with horror written all over his face, and I look back at the emotional student and calmly said, "I sense you're upset (which was a little difficult to say with a straight face--but I managed)." He then hit the desktop computer, where I responded, "It's okay to be frustrated when things don't go your way. But this is just a game, it's really no big deal and I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't hit my things." After a few minutes he was able to calm down and we were able to finish the game.
I love it when things like that happen! It just makes my day a little bit more interesting. It was also fun telling my mom that story! Tsk! Tsk!
In fact, just today I had somewhat of an out of body experience where in the midst of the event I felt like I was watching myself from a distance wondering, "Hmm...what will Marci do in this situation?"
I was working with a couple of high school students today. We were playing a game and both of these kids are bad losers--just like me. Both of them had already expressed negative emotions when not performing well, but it humors me, so we went on with the game. One of the students was way behind the other, however, he had the opportunity to switch places with his opponent if he just answered the question correctly. Of course he missed the question and I must say I was not prepared for his response. I see his face contort and I thought--"ooh, he's mad." Then he slams his hand on the desk and says "!#$%it!!! I'm sick of this sh#$!" I look at the other student who is looking at me with horror written all over his face, and I look back at the emotional student and calmly said, "I sense you're upset (which was a little difficult to say with a straight face--but I managed)." He then hit the desktop computer, where I responded, "It's okay to be frustrated when things don't go your way. But this is just a game, it's really no big deal and I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't hit my things." After a few minutes he was able to calm down and we were able to finish the game.
I love it when things like that happen! It just makes my day a little bit more interesting. It was also fun telling my mom that story! Tsk! Tsk!
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
In My Head
Do you ever hear someone say something and the image in your head is so hysterical you wonder where it came from? I seriously think that my gift is a result of watching a ridiculous amount of television!
The other day my friend Kelly was telling me about how a parent told her that she was going to bring someone to her ARD meeting--but didn't tell her who she would be bringing! So, Kelly kept referring to the "mystery guest." Well, is it normal that in my head the mystery guest was walking around with a normal body and a block with a question mark on his/her head? Not unlike that of Jack from the fast food restaurant commercials.
Sometimes I think I'm too funny for my britches, while other times I think that no one understands my sense of humor! Just this evening, my own mother didn't recognize that I was being dreadfully sarcastic after she asked me a question with an obvious answer.
The other day my friend Kelly was telling me about how a parent told her that she was going to bring someone to her ARD meeting--but didn't tell her who she would be bringing! So, Kelly kept referring to the "mystery guest." Well, is it normal that in my head the mystery guest was walking around with a normal body and a block with a question mark on his/her head? Not unlike that of Jack from the fast food restaurant commercials.
Sometimes I think I'm too funny for my britches, while other times I think that no one understands my sense of humor! Just this evening, my own mother didn't recognize that I was being dreadfully sarcastic after she asked me a question with an obvious answer.
Monday, January 07, 2008
The Cole Linebarger Turkey Trot
This Thanksgiving my family decided we would rent a little cabin in the woods! We had so much fun! It was nice to get away for a few days where cell phones didn't work, but thankfully, we did have wifi--and cable, too! The highlight of the trip was the Cole Linebarger Turkey Trot (I told my nephew, Cole, that he needed to milk the name for all it's worth!). Before the event, I was determined to win, but just seeing everyone running/walking--grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and dogs--was so comical that in the end, winning didn't really matter anymore! Aren't we a handsome bunch with our Turkey Trot T's?
Little Gracie
Can you believe my little Gracie is 11 years old? As I stare at this picture I have lots of memories flashing through the recesses of my brain! It seems like yesterday that my family was sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner while my sister-in-law was having contractions! Isn't she beautiful?
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