More #TalesFromTheDayProgram

I read a note in DC's "Talk Book" on Thursday...

"DC was a little bit upset this morning" ... that went on to explain how upset he was, what he did and that they did not know what it was all about.

Now, if this had been the morning before after two random meltdowns, I would have understood, but that morning he was just fine when he left for work.

I read the note as soon as I got home from work. DC was still out with his staff so I texted his driver to see if anything had set him off on the way.
He told me that DC was perfectly happy when he got out of the car.

If you have been here for any length of time, you already know that communication is difficult.
I can't ask too many questions or he will shut down.
I have to be careful not to ask leading questions because he will just give me a random answer.
I have to be careful about how many times I ask the same question because he will think he's gotten the answer wrong and change it.

I asked him if he could tell me why he was so upset at work that morning.

After all of the "Not upset", "Happy", "Nothing wrong" replies that I usually get when I try to figure out what is going on, I did finally get a few clues.

Usually when he gives me these random clues, I can, at times figure out what happened. It takes a lot of thought about things that may not have been noticeable or seemed relevant at the time, but for some reason stuck with DC.

But I wasn't there, so the information meant nothing to me. I could only come up with a few guesses at what might have happened.

"Lights were out"
"Door was stuck"
"It was an emergency"
"Bathroom door"
"Raining"
"Running"

I wrote all of this in his talk book with a few guesses as to what may have happened.

Maybe the bathroom light went out or he couldn't get into the bathroom.
Maybe the door to the building was stuck or locked and it was raining.

As I said, I wasn't there but I wrote that maybe they could make some sense of all of this.
I know that usually "Emergency" has something to do with the bathroom.

The reply in his book when he came home on Friday?

"Thank you for the info" and the basic note about what he did at work that day.

Nothing to explain what happened.
Nothing to say that they were able to figure out what happened or even that they were not able to figure out what happened from what he was able to tell me. Nothing, almost as if to tell me "This is what happened. We don't care why it happened. We don't want to know if there is a problem that needs to be addressed. We really don't care as long as he stopped."


Just nothing.

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This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Face book statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time 

A Week (or so) In the Life...

Mind Your Own Business (alternate title: Bite Me):
My kid eats healthier than most people! When were are out, I really don't need to hear how he should be eating his carrots! He eats carrots and snap peas for breakfast at times. He ASKS for carrots at home. But..... in the "DC's rules for life" rules that he has made up in his head, vegetables are for home and not for out to eat! #IDontSeeCarrotsOnYourKidsPlate
FB Status 8/17/19

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Old Age:
As I’m walking around the house complaining about my knee, DC comes over with that concerned look on his face...
“Mom, are you alright?”
I tell him I’m fine; my knee just hurts a little.
He gets 6 inches from my face and again with the concerned but also very serious face...
“Mom, are you old?”
Way to put the pieces together DC.
FB Status 8/22/19

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Heart Melting:

FB Status 8/28/19

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Asked and Answered:
Me: DC, How many times are you going to ask me that?
DC: 50 times.
#HeToldMe #NotForNothingButHeHasReachedAndPassedHisGoal #AskedAndAnswered

FB Status 8/30/19


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Change in Plans:

(People do not always understand that when things get cancelled, even if what gets cancelled has nothing to do with DC other than the fact that he had to get up early - It takes a good long while for him to stop persevering about it.  It made for a 'fun' morning..)

Nothing helps DC’s anxiety from having to get up two hours earlier for no reason as it turned out, on a Saturday than a trip to the cupcake store. He is now, finally a happy camper #FunnyBoneCupcakes

FB Status September 7, 2019

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Pronunciation:

Because his pronunciation is off at times, I always try to verify that he’s actually saying what I think he is saying.
DC: Mom, spell ‘straight’
Me: Like ‘straight up and down’?
DC: No! ‘Straight’!
Me: Like ‘a straight line’?
DC: No! ‘Straight’!
Me: Tell me what you are writing.
DC: “March straight outside and wash”
(Ohhh. He meant THAT ‘Straight’)
#SnowWhite

FB Status - September 8, 2019

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Holidays:
So, you know how DC is forever studying the calendar hunting for holidays just so he can go out to eat? (You might remember Arbor Day when I told him it was a day to walk in the woods, and he hasn't mentioned it since)
He has been talking to me about Grandparents Day all week. I told him it was a Hallmark Holiday and no, we are not going out to eat. That did not work and he is still talking about it...

FB Status - September 8, 2019

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Introductions:

DC does a lot of “introductions” to no one.
Out of the clear blue sky (as he did just a minute ago in the kitchen).... “
“and this is MY mother, Vickie ‘Lastname’”
or sometimes
“this is my son, DC”
- as he will also introduce himself.
Earlier today, he walked into the living room and said
“This is my husband, ‘His Father’s name’”.
After I finished laughing I had to explain that he is not my husband anymore. He was a very long time ago, but not any more.
DC was 3 or so when we were divorced and his life (other than location) really did not change that much so I guess it never occurred to him. He has never asked and other than drawing me a wedding cake that one time, he has never mentioned anything about a husband.
I don’t know if he just connected it all in his head or what but he never fails to surprise me.
#autism

FB Status September 8, 2019

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This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Face book statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time 

Making Father's Day All About Him :)

Happy Father's Day to all of the Dad's Out there.

From Father's Day 2017

It's Father's Day and DC's Dad just came home last week from his Fall and Winter in Florida. This will only be the second time DC has seen him since he came home (maybe the 3rd?).

Before DC left for his Dad's he kept repeating, "I have to ask him" - which always means he has something he wants to do in mind. 

Me: What do you have to ask Dad? I already told you that he is taking you to visit Grandma and Grandpa because it is Father's Day.
DC: Go to the bookstore.
Me: No, I don't think so. It's Father's Day and you have to do what Dad wants to do.
DC: Go to Texas Roadhouse (the gift card he had picked out for his Dad was of course all about DC as well).
Me: The card does not mean you are going there today.
DC: (Looking a little shocked that this was not all about him)
But I want - I have to ask HIM
Me: I'm sure you are going to Grandma and Grandpa's. It is Father's Day and you have to do what Dad wants, not what DC wants.
DC: (not looking very thrilled about the conversation) "What Dad wants".....

Now if this set of rules would work on Mother's Day.......... that'd be great.

Happy Father's Day!

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This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Face book statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time 

Just a Little Story about Coats and Jackets

DC has a jacket from his Winter Guard team that he LOVES. He insists on wearing it everywhere. He also has the newer version of the jacket which he likes but it does not come close to the older version; windbreaker, lined with hood. The thing is OLD and is falling apart. Since he won't give it up and they don't order this type anymore, I found some sort or repair patch for the giant hole along the hood line... 
I told him I was going to fix it and he needed to leave it alone for two days while the patch set. No Problem..
This morning I told him he could wear his jacket again.
"I don't want to wear it"
sigh..... Did I ruin it by fixing it?
I can't get an answer.
#AwarenessMonth  - FaceBook Status 4/10/19

Later:

Coat/Jacket Update:
DC's refusal to wear his favorite Winter Guard Jacket was due to the expectation of it being cold out (it isn't) and wearing his other Jacket./Coat obsession... The Dreaded Brown Corduroy Jacket. 
Let me tell you about THIS jacket:
It is OLD. It is ratty looking. The lining no longer looks clean after washing. He Loves it. It is his in-between season coat. It is warm enough for mild winter days and the colder part of spring and fall.
Years ago DC had a brown corduroy jacket that he was very attached to. He was getting small and a little worse for wear, but I could not get him to part with it.
One day about 8 years ago, he went out for the day with his friend BB and BB's mother. DC left the jacket where ever they were. I was happy, but BB's mother insisted on replacing it. I told her that I was glad it was gone, but she insisted and 8 years later, I am still trying to get him to give it up.
So I did not "ruin" his Winter Guard Coat by fixing it - he just has something else in mind.
The Brown Coat is going away for the season and he opted happily for his Winter Guard coat.
#Awareness #ClothingIssues - Facebook Status 4/10/19



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This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Face book statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time 

Snowvee, Miss Snap, Teacher, Good Time ..... Anyone?

CC0 Creative Commons Free for commercial use  No attribution required

Okay. Help! 

DC is looking up something on YouTube.

He asked me how to spell what sounds like “snowvee” (apparently a character). 

Usually if I can’t understand the character’s name to be able to spell it for him, he can come up with something else to help. 

What I have:

Snowvee (sounds like)

Miss Snap (or Slap or something that sounds like either or both)

Good time 

Grandmothers old house (which means that is where he used to watch it - so it’s been 10 years or more - could be as long ago as 25 years) 

(Yes, I tried googling all of the above)

My mother can remember it vaguely but not the name or characters, but she does think that it was about a teacher.

Anybody????

#ThisIsSerious 
#Help

Facebook Status - October 2018

This has not been resolved.

The Number One suggestion was "The Magic School Bus" but he says, NO.

Also in the "No" pile....

Chalkzone 
Scooby 

and a bunch of others I had never heard of.

There is a Miss Snap from "Teachers" which does not fit the time frame but he said "No".

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This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Face book statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time 

Rudolph's Santa???

DC, while purchasing his 16th  copy of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer at his favorite “away for the weekend, day after Thanksgiving store”, turned to me and said

“Santa was not a very nice man”. 

I was a little surprised by that and asked “what do you mean?”

He pointed to his Rudolph book on the counter and said again, “Santa was not a very nice man”. 

And you know what?

DC is correct.

Santa was not a very nice man in his treatment of Rudolph and Hermey, for being different.

In the end, Santa did not really learn anything and it was only because he needed their help that he decided to accept them. 

I was kind of impressed (and sad at the same time) that he recognized this.

It's funny the things we never think about in all of these old Christmas stories.

I kind of felt bad that we've always thought of these stories as classic and  "heartwarming" Christmas tales. Here we are cheering on Santa for finally coming around to common human decency.

We've come a long way over the years, not quite far enough, but here's hoping. .

#Rudolph #SantaDidNotLearnAnything #FeelingDisapointedInSanta


Facebook Status 11/2018

This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Face book statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time 

Mom! I am getting very nervous about this!

The clocks go back one hour on Sunday.

This does not mean I will actually get that extra hour of sleep, but as every year, I will try to be optimistic and look forward to it until it does not happen.

One day I will be surprised and DC will sleep the extra hour.

As the days grow darker and shorter, I can predict exactly what will happen around here besides me not getting to sleep that extra hour -

Oops, I lost that optimism for a minute.

Okay, I am back.

Although DC is getting a little better at reading the clock and telling time, the clock and what time the clock reads does not have much of an effect on him as you might imagine.

He does not get upset if the clock is wrong (as he does when the calendar is not changed immediately)

He will not notice if I forget to change one (again; unlike the calendar).

He will still ride in my car, where the clock is almost always wrong.

This might lead you to believe that I am home free with the whole clock/time change.

Wrong.

Although the actual "clock"  time does not mean all that much to DC; he does have a pretty good internal clock.

It is going to get dark earlier.

He is going to notice.

He will be at the door as soon as he notices that it is getting dark way ahead of his schedule.

He will be convinced there is a storm coming.

Every day.

For weeks.

No amount of explanation ahead of time, keeps this from happening  Every . Single . Year.

No amount of explanation while he is opening and closing the door 20 times every night, will change this.

Mom! I am getting very nervous about this!

We just have to ride it out along with him waking up an hour early until he gets used to it.

I'm not a fan of the time change.

And......... Don't forget to Vote on Tuesday!

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This has been a Finish the Sentence Friday post. This week's prompt "As the days grow darker... "
Finish the Sentence Friday is hosted by Kristi at Finding Ninee  and Kenya at Sporadically Yours 

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This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Face book statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time