Wednesday, February 1, 2012

My 2 cents on "Touch"

I've been watching some negative posts and comments coming across autism sites and blogs about Fox's new show "Touch" which features a boy who (although they don't come right out and say it in the show) has Autism. Most of the negative reaction has been speaking to the media's tendency to show people with Autism as having some mystical, magical powers which for those of us in the trenches of Autism....we know this isn't the case. I DVR'd this show last week and after hearing my husband say "You have GOT to watch that show", I finally saw it last night. My reaction....Awesome! Wow! I think the creators of the show absolutely nailed it! While they do show this boy as having some kind of a magical way to link people and events by connecting numbers together before the events happen....they also totally nail many of the emotions and occurances within the lives of many families living with someone with Autism.
-You see a dad struggling to find some way to communicate with his son. You can tell he knows there is far more to his son than what you see on the outside, but can't find a way to connect.
-I saw the same panic and frustration in the dad's face that we recently experienced when he hears that his son has run away from school for the 3rd time and climbed a cell tower. Constant fear for the safety of your child, constantly feeling like they aren't safe unless you are the one watching them. Yep, I can relate.
-The dad has a "conversation" with his son where he comments, "You know, the doctor says your going to be bigger than me someday. What are we going to do then?" Thinking too far ahead is a scary thing, but we all do it. Will he be able to live independently? Will he be able to have a job? Will he be able to hold a conversation? What am I going to do when he is too big for me to pick him up and get him to safety when he enters a place/situation that isn't safe? What will happen to him when we're gone? All questions that are frightening to any parent of a child with Autism.
-I loved the scene where the dad is sitting in the car with his son, then gazes over to a school bus full of "typical kids". He doesn't say anything, but you can see it in his face. Every parent of a child with Autism has had that moment when you think....why did God have to make my kid so different?
-A social worker comes into their lives who thinks she knows what is best for this child. She actually askedthe father, "Do you think he even knows who you are?" I admit, this made me want to smack her, but she later redeems herself and appears to become an advocate for the father and son. I remember reading one of Jenny McCarthy's books shortly after Wyatt was first diagnosed. She details a conversation she had with a doctor who was evaluating her son. He asked her as part of a long list of questions you are asked during the diagnostic phase something to the effect of, "Does your son tell you he loves you". To which she says, "The love he shows me is louder than words". I vividly remember sobbing and sobbing and sobbing after reading that passage because she is so right. Your child doesn't have to be able to say "I love you" in order to show love to you, your child doesn't have to make eye contact with you to know you are there for them.
All things considered, it's a great show. I'm hooked after one episode. I know it glamorizes some of the compulsion that many with autism have for order, organization, and numbers. But it also makes a good point that kids and adults with Autism do have special ways to contribute to society, they are valuable, and they are capable of love (in their own way), communication ( in their own way), and productivity (in their own way). WE as their parents, teachers, and as a society just need to figure out how their minds work and to figure out how to help them connect between their own internal world and our world. I have no doubt that in doing so we will enable them to be able to be productive members of society. In fact, I have no doubt that many with Autism will emerge as some of the brightest and most innovative minds of this century!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

"I want pod"



Wyatt is dangerously close to becoming an Ipad/Itouch addict. But I love that he has something he wants bad enough to verbally request it!



Monday, August 8, 2011

Wyatt's favorite activity





Talk about cheap fun, nothing brings a smile to Wyatt's face more than getting to blow out a candle. Who needs toys anyway? :)


Another question answered





This is another question he can answer for a few of the things he loves most...tickles, chips, candy, drink, and candle (yep, he loves blowing out candles).

Wyatt's new skills...

Answering questions!! This may not seem like a big deal, but it is a BIG DEAL!!!!! You can hear him just repeat "chips" back to me at first, but then realizes he need to answer yes or no and says, "yes"! Check it out!



Friday, April 8, 2011

Wyatt Riding Ozzy Bear




Thank goodness this dog is very tolerant!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

For the Davis's :)



You have made this Mickey-loving boy VERY HAPPY!!!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Day at the Pumpkin Patch

Wyatt picking out his pumpkin

The girls picking out their pumpkins

Tractor ride into the pumpkin patch





Who knew a pile of hay could be so much fun to play on!




Angelina petting the goats.






In front of the chickens







Homecoming Parade




I love living in a small town. When an event like homecoming happens, the ENTIRE town shows up! You can be walking down the parade route and see your kids' teachers, dance instructor, sunday school teacher, neighbor, etc all within a few steps of each other.


We had a lot of fun at the parade!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Little boys are so creative!

Wyatt likes his toys clean. He often slips his toys into a running washing machine, a running dishwasher, or the toilet bowl to get them good and clean. On this day, he wanted to make certain that his elephant was shiny and clean, so he took a more "hands on" approach.

A few other random August pictures :)

Playing at the Park



Angelina, Saige, Ozzy Bear, and Azalea at the park

Angelina's First day of school!!!


A few new members of our household







THEN, on the third day of school, we added two new members to our household! Welcome Angelina and Azalea. Two very sweet, very beautiful little girls! I don't know how we keep getting so lucky to have such sweet, cute sisters join our family each time we open up our home. It had been 8 months since our last kiddos left, and we were definitely feeling that void. So many people ask us how we are able to do foster care, hearing so many sad stories, opening our hearts then saying goodbye......I think these pictures answer that question rather well. Look at these sweet, happy, innocent faces! These pictures were taken on their very first day in our home. I can't even imagine all the feelings they were having on the inside that day, but look how they are glowing on the outside! It is so worth it! :)