Musings and What-not

The people who are criticizing the "Autism Schmautism" chapter in my new book "Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid" clearly have not read it. Or if they have, they missed the sections I thought made my feelings about autism very clear: that I not only support the current rational approaches to the diagnoses and treatment of real autism but have witnessed it firsthand while watching very dear old friends raise a functioning autistic child. Okay, Denis.  You got me.  I didn't read your book.  I saw the comment, put on my armor, and was prepared to battle... major battle! Do I owe you an apology?  I'll concede.  I do.  I should have done what I normally do, and that's to get the facts BEFORE I react. But you see, I wasn't only reacting for myself.  I was reacting for my son who does not and would not understand that those few lines were "teasers" to something "meaningful". Does this mean that I will g...

I befriended an amazing woman today over at Families of Autistic Kids . While reading her comments, the tune, that is my subject line, filled my mind.  It wasn't until we spoke, did I discover just how hard her road on this path, also known as autism, has been, and how fitting the song was. She's a single mother.  I've been there, I know what all that entails.  However, her situation is far different than mine. She knew much earlier than me that there was something "different" about her son.  She knew during pregnancy which I found fascinating. Her son is HFA like Nicholas, but there are significant differences between the two (don'tcha just love the spectrum?).  One of those differences is her son has been mainstreamed since pre-school, whereas, Nicholas would still require one-on-one attention. She's fortunate that she knew enough to fight with her son's doctors when they said "nothing was wrong". She's fortunate that her son can commun...

It's the law of nature, I suppose.  You write about something, and next thing you know, the exact opposite occurs. Yesterday, I wrote about how my son doesn't experience many meltdowns.  Well, today wasn't that day.  The storm clouds rolled in, shortly after we left home, and it took nearly 40 minutes for them to roll on out. Of course, my husband and I are to blame for the meltdown. You see, we were at Home Depot, shopping for potters.  We found one, and noticed there was a second (and last one) situated deep on the shelf that only my prince could retrieve. Now, I made the attempt to get it, but my hips got the best of me. My husband tried, but he's bigger than I am, and didn't make it far. He was the skinniest of the crew.  We didn't think much about it. So, the only one left was little man.  We pointed to what we wanted, and he went for it.  I think the confusion set in when we told him to bring it out with him. Once he was out... the tears started. Our enthu...

Today was a good day.  The sun beamed bright in the sky, and filled our day with warmth.  It was hard to believe that it was autumn. Although, the weather was nice that isn't the reason for my opening statement. Today was a good day, because we didn't experience any meltdowns.  Of course, meltdowns aren't something we experience very often. There was something else magical about the day.  Nicholas didn't bring his Doodle Pro when we left home.  You already know that he takes it everywhere . So, here we were venturing from one hot spot to another, and he did very well.  I was very proud of him. My first gift was the beautiful smile that lit up my son's face when he looked at me and said, "Good morning, Mommy". My second gift was the laughter that left his precious body and filled the air around us. The gifts that followed were priceless. I don't wonder what tomorrow will bring... for I am still relishing in the gifts I received today. Today was a good ...

I didn't think much about why my son, then an infant, had to carry his foam "W" wherever we went.  I didn't  think much about the tantrum that ensued once we lost it during one of our outings.  I didn't think much about it.  I figured it was his security blanket.  He was a thumb-sucker, so I figured his 'obsession' with the letter wasn't any big deal. Nowadays, he no longer carries a letter, but his Fischer Price Doodle Pro goes everywhere we go. I purchased his first one in 2006 because I noticed he liked to draw; he was going through drawing pads like crazy.  I figured I could help save the environment while getting him something that would offer instant gratification and not be as wasteful. In 2007, he managed to go through 7 Doodle Pros.  Not because he was rough on them, but because he used them all day, every day.  Fischer Price owes me some moolah; I'm sure I had something to do with the rise in their stock during '07! What is the correl...

I stumbled upon this website in July, and boy, am I glad I did. Even with pop-up blockers, I'm always concerned about the gunk that will find its way to my son's monitor.  With ZAC Browser, I no longer have those concerns. My son quickly figured out how to maneuver his way around, and I have become the developer's #1 fan! "Welcome to ZAC Browser - Zone for Autistic Children You have found the best environment on the Internet for your autistic child. ZAC is the first web browser developed specifically for children with autism, and autism spectrum disorders such as Asperger syndrome, pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), and PDD-NOS. We have made this browser for the children - for their enjoyment, enrichment, and freedom. Children touch it, use it, play it, interact with it, and experience independence through ZAC. ZAC is the zone that will permit your child to interact directly with games (a LOT of games) and activities (focused on MANY interests) that cater spec...

What an amazing concept this is. This way-cool mom from VA started this organization this summer, and she's already seeing some of the fruits of her labor. For parents interested in biomedicines but are deterred by the costs, Lend4Health may be the answer for you. "Lend4Health combines health-related fundraising with Kiva's online microlending concept to help parents recover their children from autism. A loan helps parents pay for part of the child's autism recovery then is paid back. Lenders then have the option of re-loaning their money to another child." {source: IdeaBlob.com } Cast your vote today for Lend4Health !

I first learned of Jenny McCarthy's story when she and Evan were featured in People .  After I had finished reading it, I wasn't really sure how I was supposed to feel. Then I remembered a conversation I had with my friend (and my son's godmother).  She talked about her trials as a mom of a child who had PPD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified).  For those of you who don't know what PPD-NOS is it's a catch-all diagnosis for people on The Spectrum that have many but not all of the typical autism signs and symptoms. We spoke of our frustration of how the media only listens when a celebrity has something to say about an issue like autism. Why was it that the "regular, everyday moms" weren't being interviewed by the masses? Why didn't the media answer our letters of outrage? With nothing to sell, why didn't someone want to listen to us ? I was angry with Jenny, but that anger was misplaced. I should have been angry at t...

I've heard a lot about what music therapy can do for a child on The Spectrum.  I've heard that a child on The Spectrum has perfect pitch because they hear music differently than the rest of us.  I've heard music therapy "brings a child out of autism". With so many positives being spoken about music therapy, I do not understand why it isn't available in every state so that every child has access to it. I once lived in very progressive states (i.e. Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island). I had access to every possible therapy and state resource. I moved and those resources feel by the wayside. I've since stopped kicking myself for moving. I know live in a state that's been playing catch up for a while. It has well over a 3-year wait list for much-needed services. 3 years! Do you realize how much valuable therapeutic time a child loses? They lose 3 years... if not more. I don't know when exactly autism became a household name. It's sad...

This was the headline from a post I read on another site. It's challenging enough to explain this big, big world to a child on The Spectrum but sexual orientation?!?!?!? I don't even know where I would begin. My son loves the ladies, but what would I do if he switched teams? Love him unconditionally... DUH! I'm not talking about that. I'm just trying to fathom that conversation. The world is already full of intolerance, bigotry, and ignorance. He'll already experience this through autism. But to add more? You know what? I'll cross that sexuality bridge when I get there. I don't know why I'm tripping over it now. :)

Another week is upon us. I guess I don't dread Mondays like some.  I'm in a fortunate position where I don't have to drag myself out of bed at some ungodly hour, only to rush off to participate in a twisted game of your-butt's-mine-for-the-next-8-hours. I get to stay home and hang out with my favorite person, my son. I'm not writing this to be all in-your-face- or be all nanny-nanny boo-boo. I'm just writing to clear my head and find peace in my thoughts and actions. Today is just another day where I'm h ealing with my guilt. Today is just another day where I get to tell myself that I didn't do this to my son. Today is just another day, and I am grateful for it. My first thought, as I listened to the rain, was how wonderful that sound. And the smell is so crisp and clean. Unfortunately, my next thought wasn't so crunchy. I couldn't help but think that I haven't been doing all I can for my son. I haven't been focusing on his needs as much ...

Today, I read a very interesting article at one of my favorite online pit stops, Age of Autism .  It really got me thinking.  If this mother can recover her child from autism, naturally (through raw foods, energy healing, etc.), then why isn't this information widely available? I know of the supplements, the bio-chemical therapies, and the like that can benefit my son, but I'm more interested in sticking to the recovery path that is as natural as possible. Having fully transitioned into the holistic (green) lifestyle a little over a year ago, I'm done putting junk into my family's environment (internal and external). Lately, the media has been comparing one mother's choice (Jenny McCarthy) over another's (Amanda Peet). It is conflicts like this that keep the "judging" eyes on holistic parents and our decisions. Parents choosing to not vaccinate their children is nothing new. We've all heard of the 60s! We're just the new generation of informed...

Contact Author at: Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC 127 East Trade Center Terrace Mustang, OK 73064 (405) 376-4900 Adonya Wong, a Tulsa-based, stay-at-home, homeschooling, community-serving mother of 1, never thought she'd see the day when one of her stories would be published by one of Oklahoma's top book publishing companies . Adonya began writing at a young age, but only recently took it seriously. "It was just something I did to pass the time", she said. "In My Mind: The World Through the Eyes of Autism" is her first book and was inspired by her young son who is autistic. It is an endearing tale about how a child with autism sees the world and how the world sees him. The book was pre-released on October 1, 2008 and is set to officially release on January 6, 2009. It is currently available through Tate Publishing or visit the author's site at www.throughtheeyesofautism.com to order! It is Adonya's intention, through her book, for the read...

While eating at one of our favorite restaurants, my friend and our waitress, asked me this question after she'd finished proofing my book.  It was a question I had never been asked before, and one I had no experience in answering. How do you explain autism to someone who is not "affected" by it? How could I convey my experiences in such a way that she would walk away more informed or gain a deeper understanding and sense of compassion for those "different" than her? So, I did what anyone else would have done had they been standing in my shoes. I took a breath, and said, "I can't tell you what it means to you, but I can tell you what it means to me." It's been over 4 years since I heard the words, "Nicholas displays autistic-like behaviors". Since I didn't know anything about autism, I felt like I had been punched in the gut with a sledgehammer. I had been raising Nicholas alone since birth, and I thought I could handle anything....