Thursday chat

FrisbyPI

Deb, are you serving hurricanes in honor of Irene?

Damn straight !!!

Hurricane Cocktail

 

1-1/2 ounces light rum
1-1/2 ounces dark rum
1 ounce fresh orange juice
1 ounce fresh lime juice
2 ounces passion fruit syrup
1 teaspoon of real pomegranate grenadine

Shake with ice and strain into an ice-filled Hurricane glass or tiki glass. Garnish with a “flag” made of an orange slice and a cherry on a cocktail pick.

morning all! I've spent the day so far making up Social Stories for Young Master Elias. They've been a lot of fun to do. I hope they can help him make some sense out of why things are the way they are and what people expect when they interact with him.

It's RC's birthday as I posted elsewhere so I made her the traditional Birthday Omlette with canadian bacon and cheese. She definitely approved...Cleo was hanging out in the kitchen looking pitiful but I told her in no uncertain terms..."Tough...it's not your birthday!".

Hugs to all that need them today!

rwbeagles

I've spent the day so far making up Social Stories for Young Master Elias

What are these?  I mean what do you do?  Examples?  Maybe something like that would help Riley understand things/everyday things better and put them to words/communication.

Well you tell a story, based around the child themselves...containing a situation they have trouble with. For example the one I made for one of Elias's big issues, freaking out in a store when he's told no...

In whatever word processing programme you use, I put

I am a kid named Eli

*picture of Eli looking VERY happy*

I like to have fun and watch TV

*clipart of a TV*

I like to go to the store with my family

*clipart of a storefront*

When I am in the store I stay close to my family. I talk in a normal voice

*clipary of a family all standing together smiling*

If I want something I can ask. BUT if my family says "No Eli" I should not yell or cry, because I am 8 years old. Not a small baby that cries a lot.

*clipart of a baby being held*

If I get upset in a store, I can ask one of my family to take me outside so I can calm down. They will help me.

*clipart of a man and boy holding hands and walking*

If I stay calm and tell someone when I need to go outside to calm down, we can all have fun at the store.

I printed the above out, and stapled it like a book.

From what I understand, for autistic kids, and those with adhd and other challenges...it alieviates some of the anxiety of NOT knowing how to react or what to say or do in a given situation. I did one for playing with friends, answering questions, looking at faces when someone talks to you, and the one above. All these are things Elias has trouble with. Try to find picture or clip art that is simple and especially those that show facial expression. You can even use your own drawings/stick figures/faces to really convey not just how the child feels at that time...but how the OTHER person feels and what they expect. He is old enough to read these himself, but I will read it to him the first time...then let him keep them. He tends to like to look thru things alone in his room, and he will process them a lot that way, I think.

It's important not just to highlight the the improper response is that the child may be doing...but also give them a proper response that will create a postive outcome. You can also go into why these things work if the child is older or keep it simple "looking at someone when they talk makes them happy because they know you are listening".

They're actually quite fun to do LOL! I am considering doing one for the husband about mowing the lawn...

rwbeagles

I am considering doing one for the husband about mowing the lawn...

LOL Gina. 

I think you're one of the most awesome moms I know and doing these stories is just another example

You guys are busy this morning!  lol 

Tina, survived.  Glenda got socked in the eye by a giant spider and has a black eye.  Ginger is a cow whisperer. Riley is a play doh artist.  Paige is drinking and mad at someone. Barb, Deb, Jan, Buddy and Jamison are planning a make out party with booze.  Courtney's engaged.  Karen saved a cat from certain death.  Gina's helping Eli and celebrating RC's bday.I guess I've still got a few brain cells left.

forgot what I was going to say. Bye for now!

cakana

think you're one of the most awesome moms I know and doing these stories is just another example

aww shucks Cathy...thank you. I'm just trying to understand the wee man a bit better and make it easier for him. :)

Cita - CONGRATS!

Paige, cut back on the caffeine

Gina, awesome idea

Deb, I'll be the DD because, well, someone has to. 

ETA: instead of a hurricane, pass me one of Riley's cupcakes! 

We just had Carol Gray, the developer of Social Stories, on campus for two day workshop for us. She is amazing! The Stories are a great tool to help people with autism and other communication disorders receive accurate information about social situations. Here is a link to the Gray Center's page on Social Stories:

http://www.thegraycenter.org/social-stories

Carol has another web site coming online this fall that is totally dedicated to Social Stories.

Thanks Gina - that is great.  Definitely going to start making a list of situations that she has a hard time dealing with.  Her biggest challenge is understanding what is going on around her and how to respond.  Once she knows/comprehends what's happening she gets much less frantic.

PawMaid

I grab their collars, slap on their new blinky lights and hand them off to hubby to put on.

Grab the leashes ( he go outside with the dogs) and put on my shoes.

I go outside and he’s in the shop again … then I notice Magnus has no collar. Where is Magnus’s collar I ask.

Hubby says: I don’t know I put it on him. You sure? I ask. Yes he replies. So we spend 20 mins or more looking for the collar.

I keep asking if he is sure he put it on , He keeps saying yes.

Finally I notice Boadicea has on 2 collars !

So they got a shorter walk and we got to use the bilnky lights.

That made me laugh, so thank you for sharing. I think we could all compile funny stories like that and create a book "life with dogs"...sounds familiar though, so maybe it's been done? Oh well, I enjoy the funny stories here.

I'm off to get my hair done. I wish I could just drop it off, go do something else and pick it up a couple hours later.

OMG, that story of both collars on  the same dog is so funny!

Cathy, I'm glad it was just a leaky blanket. Who would have ever thought of something like that?

Lisa, I think that cake is incredibly realistic looking for a kid Riley's age to have put together.  I'm thinking she has a special artistic ability.

Gina, those books you're making sound totally awesome!!

Courtney, Congrats!!!

Joyce

rwbeagles

answering questions, looking at faces when someone talks to you,

Hannah *really* struggles with these two.  Most esp. the answering questions one.  My only worry is if the story gives any sort of answer that will be the answer she gives next time there is a question. That (repeating answers given previously) is one of the steps we go through *every*single*time* we ask a question.

Gina, would you mind sharing or PMing my your question story?  Maybe I can make something similar.

I definitely think she needs help w/ some social skills, but I seem to be the only one concerned about it, so I could be way off base.  Since I've not been around kids much I can't do much comparisons.

*Edited b/c I didn't proofread .

We got some showers and maybe still some more coming. :)  It won't change our drought situation but I can just hear all the plants and wildlife saying "awwwwww". 

Amy, are you sure our husbands aren't brothers? lol 

Cathy, I need to get my hair cut too.  What a good idea to drop it off and pick up later.  The stitching of the scalp back on might be painful.  Glad Buffy wasn't throwing up greasy stuff but I know her problems aren't gone.  Continued good vibes for her and for you.

I can't catch up at work so better get back at it.

We sure do have some wonderful moms on this forum.  :) 

Kate, meant to say yesterday that I'm relieved for your sake that your parents agreed to visit an uncle (?) if the hurricane comes your way. 

OK, now I'm really going this time. lol