All in a Day's Quirks

StompClapClapClapStompStompClap!

What's more exhilarating than echoes in the hallway?

After a long day of M-STEP-ing, G kicks up his heels to the rhythm of his singing sibs at their High School Spring Concert...

...in the hallway with 40 feet + 2 sets of blessed soundproofed doors between proud families and his Happy Feet.

Anxious for another day of standardized state testing, G was a bundle of energy and nerves. He jumped around in his seat, unable to get comfy. He followed me around (and in front - edit!) while I shot pix for the Choir department. I had to rouse Dad from his post-hectic-workday-music-appreciation-reverie to jump in for duty. Energy drink in hand, Dad took him out to the car during crowded intermission period, played hand games in their "way far back" seats, bought goodies, kept him on the inside seat (though G squeezed to the aisle 67 times to shadow my volunteer pursuits). Funny word, shadow. Perhaps highlight?

Please don't mind the Pesky Photo Mom and her Photo-Bomber.

Coaching whispers:

watch where you're walking

bend over, you're in their way

don't stand so close to them

don't touch the camera

no electronics now

it'll be over soon

do you have to go potty - you're so jumpy!

yes, I saw that too

I can't talk right now

WHISPER!

Teamwork, tag team...we made it work. Today: Day 2, Breakfast in bed to power up for my EXTREME test anxiety kiddo. Go G!

Fun night! Applause and shout out to my awesome teen singers. Lovely M sang in a small Chamber group - surprise, Mom! N was busy Stage Assisting as usual, sang in several difficult pieces with his esteemed Choral group.
Loud and PROUD!

The kids request a pic with a respected friend who joined the choir for the alumni invitational finale. I was lucky to work with this gentle soul as a ParaPro. A fun reunion for all.

G's obsessed with campfires. We have them several times a week from spring till fall. I've gotten talented at finding dry wood; we even have campfires in the rain. I have to watch G constantly, for safety. Thus, I've made a nice little firepit area in the packed dirt that used to be under a pool in the backyard.

A generous neighbor recently gifted us with a beautiful chiminea that they no longer use. I decided to put it front and center next to a sweet bistro table in the front yard. This way we could have 2 areas - a private spot and a second to interact with neighbors, and watch G unobtrusively without following him up and down the block to his friends.
We gave our new area a try. I was excited at the prospect of socializing with walking neighbors. Spring, sunshine, kids, bikes, dogs, lawn mowers...weeds. I began picking weeds as G poked the fire. I had the grand idea of burning them, trying to entertain the boys and save our garden. Stuffing them down, they caused a plume of smoke that threatened to put out the fire. 

G was inspired to break into song,
"We're smokin'
WEEDs
every day!"

Teen broski didnt even know the song. YouTube? I had to look it up, turns out its a song by Snoop Dogg. Yikes! 

So much for wanting to socialize with neighbors...really I have no idea how he knows this song. Ah, the joys of inappropriate scripting. Proud moments.

I snorted with laughter and giggled for days. We're loving the new campfire spot. Spreading awareness and giggles even when we're gardening.

Monday Blues?
Alter your filter.
Don your rosy specs,
see(k) a fresh purple-spective.
Purplicious!

ROCKIN' G sings his heart out to synthesized creations at the Imagination Station Science Museum in Toledo, OH.

"Can't Stop" infamous final line rings true:

This life is more 

than just a

read-through.

Live LOUD. Love LOUDER. 

Lyrics/Music: 

Can't Stop, Red Hot Chili Peppers, RHCP

Michael Balzary, Flea

Wise words to love, live, sing. 

https://rockhall.com/inductees/red-hot-chili-peppers/bio/

https://youtu.be/BfOdWSiyWoc

Happy World Autism Awareness Day!

Celebrating my miracle bio-baby today! You work so hard, your abilities are taking off, SuperStar!

Morning silliness sends G off to school in perky spirits. Crabby, uncooperative, slow? Just add laughs to spark a happy note.

He asked for a bowl of cereal... :)

Because he wanted to see the gizmo that made the robot blink on his lunchbox.

The best part is G's patch job.
Did he think Mom wouldn't notice? :)

Online shopping for an overpriced lunchbox in March...

Say Cheese
Snow Day 2015, G's idea of a super snow day pose. 
Hot cocoa and bath followed. :)

Mr. BIGSTUFF:
Who do you think you are?

ASD can be frustrating.
Tiny issues get blown into cyclones of distress. At times, everything is BIGSTUFF.

My sweet kiddo tries so hard; a tender loving heart. Infinitely heartbreaking to watch anxiety color his days.

New specs. Mid-winter break.
G's ready for a fresh outlook.
Let's focus on the smallstuff. 

Better yet, don't sweat any "stuff"

Focus on ability, love, acceptance, hope.

Color me in! :D

Put your socks on!
Put your socks on!
Put your socks on!
It's cold outside!
Put your socks on!
Put your socks on!
Put your socks on!
It's cold inside!
Put your socks on!
Put your socks on!
Put your socks on!

Shower time:
Take off your socks!
Take off your socks!
Take off your socks!
Take off your socks!

Um...really?
He found a use for his socks.

Oof! Got a laugh at my sanctimonious self last night. Feeling fine using my official lint safety tools to protect my family. Laundry flowing, getting things DONE after 2 extra snowdays filled the household with glee and wet snowgear. I tidy up, pick lint off my shirt - only to spy my shirt is backwards. For the past 16 hours. 

ASD PARENT FLYING FAIL!
Ahh, those hasty mornings when my focus is 110% G-centered. I likely grabbed it out of the dryer and changed in the laundry room while finding socks for G that morning, listening carefully to G's morning dialogue, carrying misc. items which likely were forgotten, texting my teens, etc.

Funniest part? The only one awake so late with me to share this goof with wouldn't get the full meaning. G would simply add it to the Mom-ism File.

I know I've done better. 

I choose to laugh at the things which I cannot change. Acceptance? Daily, with zeal and passion.

Should I start a new ASD awareness campaign? Forget ice buckets, ribbons, colors -  show your flaws/hacks for ASD!
Selfie bad hair day, spills, routine fails, etc. Share a giggle with yourself. Remember that you once had it together. Picture yourself on your most impressive day. Delight in the differences.

Joyful morning "welcome to bus stop!" chat with a new neighbor, I attempted to look casual in my acronym maelstrom. 

Through our frosty car windows, across G - in full Michigan snow gear, plus foot deep backpack - shihtzu Cookie scratching to jump out...

Eeeeeeeeeeee! Verbal squeak phase. ASD ADHD oral sensory, check.

Carb Crave CSI Catastrophe, location of Swedish Fish stash comprimised. Asperger's/OCD, check.

Swimming wiggling Swedish Fish out in the frigid air. ADHD, check.

Sharky devouring of schools of them. ASD oral carb crave smashing sensory, check.

Ceaselessly citing fish facts. ASD + OCD, check.

Teasing the dog out the window with said fish. OCD, check.

Getting his stim on. ASD, check.

Sputtering "hello" to neighbor on command through gummy red hot mess. Sensory ick, check.

Forgetting gloves. ADD, check.

Being so overloaded he can't verbalize his need. Anxiety, check.

Using his eyes to guide me to his gloves. Tools, check.

Flagging down the driver who missed him. Tools in high gear, check.

Ready for school? Yikes!

Dear kind laughing neighbor, amazingly cool bus driver, G's busmates, schoolmates, Awesome Au-some teacher extraordinaire, and my G:

You rock! Breakfast dessert of champions, not. Blame me. I  made my choice in our morning panic (while smiling, asking neighbor about their newborn, wishing I wasn't wearing my teen's ski hat). G hunted out my sugar stash and chomped away (really only about 3, Chewy = slow BONUS!)

"ASD Eyes", our parental ASD filtering system, see all.

Sometimes we must pick our fish to fry. :/ Better to send G off with a happy flappy Swedish Fishface than an angry frustrated Stinkface. 

Good Luck! ♡

Love,
De-fish-ent ASD Parent
w/sense of humor

P.S. New neighbor, welcome to the hood! You're in for an education by default. :)

Not. Just. Another Manic Panic Monday.
Transition to reality. Sigh. Groan. Screech! Most weeks, school routine/schedule gets off to a rocky start for our ASD kiddos. G frets about Monday all day Sunday, often Saturday.

G had a wonderful start and a perfect transition this Monday.

I'm learning: plenty of sleep, prep* and enough time to dance, sing and laugh. G loves to mimic Pitbull's "Fireball", just the one word, sung in raspy low key. Love it! I love to "wigglewigglewigglewiggle" while of course, wiggling.
:D

*Shout out to Big Broski for helping Mom's Manic Panic Monday. My neatnik laid out all of G's school prep items. Wowza! My kids rock my world! I'm blessed!

Wake up all your senses, little Fireball!