In So Many Words

Sunday Best is a collection of my favorite links from blogs I have read in the past week (or sometimes a bit more if I get behind!) Posts may range from thought-provoking or challenging to instructive or informational, with a dose of fun and light-heartedness thrown in occasionally for good measure.

Tips for Reducing Christmas Break Anxiety by Chynna Laird at Hartley’s Life With 3 Boys – This is a common topic on a number of blogs this time of year, and guest poster Chynna shares a lot of great tips in this article. I especially liked her description of how her daughter Jamie is involved in planning the activities they will do during Christmas break. You may have to adapt this for your child based on his or her level of communication and planning ability, but I can see how it would be helpful for a lot of families.

Autism Night Before Christmas – I have been noticing a lot of hits on a post of mine from December of 2008. It is a poem by Cindy Waeltermann of AutismLink and was reprinted with her permission. Just thought I’d mention it here for any of you that haven’t seen it – enjoy!

Last week, I mentioned the new blog carnival being hosted at Help! S-O-S for Parents. Well the first round is up at Carnival of S-O-S, Edition 1: Autism and Treatment Options, and I would encourage you to check out the submissions.

Please feel free to share your favorites from the week in the comments – I’ll be sure to check them out!

This poem was sent out via AutismLink and was written by Cindy Waeltermann, who is the founder of that organization. It is reprinted here with her permission.

Autism Night Before Christmas
by Cindy Waeltermann

Twas the Night Before Christmas
And all through the house
The creatures were stirring
Yes, even the mouse

We tried melatonin
And gave a hot bath
But the holiday jitters
They always distract

The children were finally
All nestled in bed
When nightmares of terror
Ran through my OWN head

Did I get the right gift
The right color
And style
Would there be a tantrum
Or even, maybe, a smile?

Our relatives come
But they don’t understand
The pleasure he gets
Just from flapping his hands.

“He needs discipline,” they say
“Just a well-needed smack,
You must learn to parent…”
And on goes the attack

We smile and nod
Because we know deep inside
The argument is moot
Let them all take a side

We know what it’s like
To live with the spectrum
The struggles and triumphs
Achievements, regressions…

But what they don’t know
And what they don’t see
Is the joy that we feel
Over simplicity

He said “hello”
He ate something green!
He told his first lie!
He did not cause a scene!

He peed on the potty
Who cares if he’s ten,
He stopped saying the same thing
Again and again!

Others don’t realize
Just how we can cope
How we bravely hang on
At the end of our rope

But what they don’t see
Is the joy we can’t hide
When our children with autism
Make the tiniest stride

We may look at others
Without the problems we face
With jealousy, hatred
Or even distaste,

But what they don’t know
Nor sometimes do we
Is that children with autism
Bring simplicity.

We don’t get excited
Over expensive things
We jump for joy
With the progress work brings

Children with autism
Try hard every day
That they make us proud
More than words can say.

They work even harder
Than you or I
To achieve something small
To reach a star in the sky

So to those who don’t get it
Or can’t get a clue
Take a walk in my shoes
And I’ll assure you

That even 10 minutes
Into the walk
You’ll look at me
With respect, even shock.

You will realize
What it is I go through
And the next time you judge
I can assure you

That you won’t say a thing
You’ll be quiet and learn,
Like the years that I did
When the tables were turned…….

Merry Christmas Eve, Everyone! I hope that each of you will be blessed with joy during this holiday season.

Hope everybody is ready for Thanksgiving! We are blessed with a family that is large enough not to be able to celebrate at our house (how’s that for being thankful for a small home!), so we will be traveling to State College tomorrow for our holiday.

Today while the TSS is here, I am going to get our Christmas decorations down from the attic so they are ready to go this weekend. I can’t really do it while I am alone with Michael because I can’t trust him not to follow me up the ladder into the attic, so this should work out well.

Here’s a few fun links for your Wednesday morning – hope you enjoy!

HE’S A POET!

Donna at Amazed By His Grace has shared her son Jonathan’s poem that was published in the first issue of GLIMPSE, a new publication from ICDL. His poem, I Love Butterflies, is very good (see page 12), and I also really liked Please Listen To My Heart by Roy Bedward on page 16.

MAKE IT FROM SCRATCH

So, I mentioned the other day that I was Twittering again. Well, I saw a Tweet from @feelslikehome asking for posts on homemade items to feature in a carnival she was hosting. I sent over my Macaroni and Cheese recipe, and she included it!

Check out all the great recipes, craft ideas, and other homemade tips in the Make It From Scratch Carnival #91. What’s really funny about this whole internet/blogging thing is she lives in my town but I don’t know her.

MORE TWITTER FUN

Also on the Twitter front, Bonnie at Autism Family Adventures is planning Autism Twitter Day to promote positive autism awareness. Visit her to find out more details.

TRAVEL TIPS

If you’re getting ready to travel with young children or children who have special needs, take a look at these Travel Tips from Danette at Everyday Adventures. You’ll be glad you did!

Picture courtesy of Hammer51012

I have heard this phrase used in response to the question, “Why me?”, when I would want to ask why we have to deal with the challenges autism brings to our lives, why our son has had to work so hard to get where he is today.

Then last week, I heard this phrase in a completely different context, at a women’s ministry class at church on the topic of Identity. So many people play down their talents and abilities instead of celebrating the gifts they have been given, but this poem by Marianne Williamson casts a new light on the topic:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is out light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous.
Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won’t feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us – it’s in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

So, why not me? Why not you?