Living with Autism

Special Needs Swim Camp at Newpark Pool in Blackrock

Every year Newpark offer 1-1 swimming lessons every day for a number of weeks in the summer.

Boo is extremely water confident, thanks to daily swimming in the Glenview . However, he lacks technique as you can see in this picture - this is his "swimming" pose.
Every day for the last 2 weeks a young man called Stephen has been trying to get Boo to stop kicking like a paddle steamer and move across (as opposed to under) the water. 2 more weeks to go. There are places available in Week 4 - click on the Newpark link VERY QUICKLY, to book.


Coffee with Autie Mummy Friends - that's Michelle and Claire

As you may know I run a facebook network for parents and carers of kids with autism. We are there for each other at all the odd times that folks like me might get a chance to chat, and since we cover a few timezones and continents - this means all the time.

Going for an actual coffee (or 4) with some of these wonderful ladies was a rea…

Yet more noodles with Boo yesterday


A long long time ago, I joined A.A. (Autism Acceptance) and began writing the 12 Steps to Becoming a Special Parent

Go here for Step 1, Step 2, Step 3 and Step 4.
(That's as far as I got. I should also be a member of ADD - A obviously - as my attention wavered at that point and I never got back to it)

This weekend while reflecting on the fact that I still hadn't started my secret project; I realised what it is that has held me back. And how I can again draw on the analogy of A.A. to get over this.

You see, the original A.A. or Alcoholics Anonymous, works on the premise that every member and every sponsor is an Alcoholic. There is no impartial social worker or psychologist standing in judgement over the group.

So everyone who supports you has actually "been there" - to rock bottom and back and now feels able to offer you a hand up in support.

And that is where my little secret comes in.

I have never really felt qualified to put what I wr…

Well, I hit the 30,000 today.

30,000 views of my blog thankyou very much and not all of them were me flicking back and forth editing. So thankyou to all of you who have been so loyal, particularly during my recent hiatus while I tended to the work blog.

I finished my official job on Friday, and while I will continue to volunteer to update the Work Blog, Facebook and Twitter; I will be spending a lot more time over here in Hammieland which includes visiting all your beautiful blogs.

I'm sorry for not visiting and commenting. I must admit I have found it really tough to get the work/life balance thing right. I mean, it's really hard for me to do anything lightly - the other morning I noticed that my hair tongs actually have a choice of settings, and I was confounded by the concept of doing anything to the "minimum".

So I am taking this next month to enjoy summer, while the kids are still in school, and charge my batteries for August which is always the tenth level of hell…

Boo watching Sushi TV in "Yo! we make crappy Sushi but great noodles"
And yes, he did make a grab for gold hello kitty after I took photograph. Staff not impressed but not as bad as the day he played with Ganesha in Mila's.
(Waiter speaking in Apu voice "Please do not play with my god"

Boo absolutely loving the little water taps at each station.
Believe it or not he went for the Tempura crab claws.
Eating the claw then the flesh, but leaving the batter!


Some of you may wonder why I like to put pictures of my kids out and around Dublin; on my blog so often.

It is not, as you may suspect: a really good way to fill a post and get comments on how good looking they both are (true) - but a way of communicating that being out and proud with a pair of very autistic small people is not only possible, but fun!

And while I would like to say it is my way of trying to push the envelope for acceptance of diversity in our society. Truth be told it is just too hard for me to be hous…

My little lady is on a cycle of waking up at between 3 and 4am, every night. We don't know what causes it so I don't know what to change to fix it.
All I can do is go into her room with my quilt and pillow and lay down beside her and try to encourage her to lie still and go back to sleep.
Ignoring her just leads to an extremely energetic session of bed jumping (note to self: get 3 new slats for bed) and squealing along to Elmo in Grouchland.

Thanks to our recent attic conversion* we rearranged the bedrooms so that Bratski now has the room furthest from everyone else. So I have attempted some control over her behavior as her screaming doesn't have as much power as it did when she was in the box room next to our horrible neighbors.
But there are limits to one's behavioural analysis techniques at 4 o'clock in the morning, and until David Coleman takes up my invitation to sleep over; Going into her room and falling asleep to the sound of Elmo and Huxley, is the "plan&…

Pouring Rain this weekend. So a lot of fugging around in my dressing gown while Mr Hammie took Bratty to McDonalds, Tesco and then home.

She wanted the beach but the waves are about 6 feet, so I compromised with a swim at the Glenview.

My otter in the baby pool. She can swim in the big pool too.


Then into town for the usual while Bratty stayed with Angel at home.
(Wagamama)
ebi kare lomen, ebi Katsu x 12 and terriyaki steak soba


And now Bratty has plans for this. She can say it as she points to the picture on the iPhone,
which is very powerful. But it is bucketing down.... so I am prevaricating.






I have been talking about this promotion on my work blog. I would be much obliged if you could share the link or logo via your blogs or tweets. And if you are in Ireland and in the market for a smart phone - well this one is pretty sweet. And ten euros from each one sold goes directly to autism groups around the country. That is every phone sold, whether you get it free on a plan or pay as you go.

80…

Forgive the delay in blogging;

I had all this planned for last Monday and a whole day to do it. Then when I was coming OUT of the school AFTER drop off, two cars crashed in front of me and one of them richocheted off my front bonnet.

I was fine, but one of the drivers of the other car had a dodgy back so was taken away in an ambulance and then we all had to wait for the Guards (police)

Then I wasn't fine, because the other driver (at fault, perhaps mentally unstable) decided to leave the scene before the cops arrived (illegal in the event of an injury) and did I mention he was a Pikey with a Pikey son who was very aggressive?

So for once I just rang my Mr Hammie and said "please come and help me" and then had a little cry behind my Jacqui O's.

There were two lovely witnesses who were passing at the time of the accident, who waited with me for almost an hour, just to tell the guards whose fault it was, (we formed a gang) and my car was driveable at least.

Eventually a moto…