Don't like this gig :(

I don't like this gig of being a teacher and a mum of the same school. (Yes, I will have to "suck it up princess", as at this stage I have no intention to change as it is just so convenient to have us at the same school)

Firstly, it makes it far too easy for people to tell me about the naughty/bad/inappropriate things my little man does. It is also far too easy for little people to do the same thing.  Take for instance the little girl who this afternoon propped herself down on the grass where I was sitting watching Callum at Auskick. She proceeded to tell me what a naughty boy Callum was, how he was always hurting his friends in class. She wanted to know where he was, as if checking that he might hear her. (He did come up and ask me why I was talking to her.)

Then there is the problem of seeing children treat your child in a way that makes your blood boil. Callum was on the football field, having a moment, when two boys (one in yr 4 & one in yr 5) thought it would be funny to jump over him, but give him a kick as they went. Not once, but at least three times. Knowing full well that I was sitting there, in my uniform just as they were in their school uniform. I know the two boys, so they know I am a teacher at the school.

It makes my blood boil because it's an after school activity on the school grounds. I'm in a tricky position - can I really reprimand kids for what I think is inappropriate behaviour towards my kid as a parent or as a teacher. I'd already reprimanded one of them for his use of inappropriate language - perhaps that's why he took it out on my kid?? Also, being a teacher at the school and knowing these children, I also know of their parents. They would have no problem making a complaint about me speaking to their child - as either a parent or a teacher.

I'm sure there will be many more times that I will feel like this. It's just another thing to add to my list of things I need to let go to the keeper!

Hypochondria at its best

Little man was unwell over the weekend and led to him having 2 days off school this week.  On Monday, we had a doctor's appointment to just check that we were doing all we could to get well again.

Luckily we were able to see our family doctor, who has been Callum's doctor since he was 5 months old.  Dr Chris came out and called Callum's name. As he walked in to the office, Callum announces "I not feeling well." He takes the chair closest to the table (he usually makes a beeline for the toy box and the train in it). It went something like this.

Dr Chris: So you're not feeling well?
Callum: No I have a bad belly.
Dr: What about your ears? Any sore ears?
C: No, but this one on the other side is sore.
Dr: Ok well I can check that. (Looking over at me, 1st I'd heard of it) What about your throat?
C: Yes my throat is sore too. (Again Dr looking at me, shaking my head, gives a knowing wink)
Dr: Ok, let's take your temperature first.
C: Yes I very hot. (temp normal)
Dr: Let's check your ears. (all clear)  And your throat - say ah! Yep stick your tongue out. (all clear, no redness)  Ok, can you hop up on the table so I can check your tummy?
C: Ok. (leaps up on table)
Dr: I'm just going to lift your t-shirt and feel your belly. (Callum is in fits of laughter) Are you ticklish?
C: Yes (imagine child trying to lie very still, he looks stiff with his hands by his side but absolutely giggling his head off)

Absolutely hilarious watching Callum giggle and try and stay still, tummy all feels normal.

Dr: You can hop down now. (still giggling madly, practically falls off table)
C: Hey, that table was up too high

As Dr Chris and I sum up what to do, Callum decides to introduce his imaginary penguin friend who "beaks" Dr Chris. More fits of laughter.

I love that we have been able to have the same doctor for so long for Callum. When he was little we had to police grip him for the doctor to do anything. Now he likes to have all the possible medical tests he can - ears, throat and chest.

Very happy with his visit, Callum waved goodbye to Dr Chris, walks out to the waiting room and loudly announces "I all better now."  As we move to the counter, one gentleman replies "I want that doctor."

That's not living!

It is a good thing that little man is so cute! His one liners are certainly keeping the staff entertained at school.  I learned a little story about him during the week, I would have just died of embarrassment but his teacher thinks he was cute. The class was sitting on the carpet going through their morning routine, when Callum announced (rather loudly) "Not this again! This isn't living, I want to live!!"

He really doesn't watch a lot of TV, but the little he does watch sticks with him. He is quoting a scene in "Wall-E". Wall-E must have made quite an impression on him. Just before school started this year, Callum began saying "What the?".  It was never followed by another word (thankfully) and we wondered where it had come from. Then watching Wall-E over the holidays, we heard it - when Mary's hover chair gets switched off and she sees the actual ship.

I much prefer his scripting of Wall-E. We got "Mr Popper's Penguins" for Christmas. He loves to script the scene where the penguin comes out of the bathroom it has been swimming in, and poops on Jim Carey's character.

What is it about boys and toilet humor??!!

It's gonna be a long year

It's amazing that out of 700 odd kids in a shed for assembly, I can recognise one voice! Mind you, everyone else was pretty quiet when that one little voice decided to yell out. I can't even remember what he was yelling out, such was my embarrassment that all my colleagues would recognise that one voice too.
It's going to take a while for me to be able to sit at the back of the assembly, I just can't drag myself away yet to not be able to see him. (I sit on the other side of the shed, so that's a start!) It's going to take me a long time (let's be honest, I will NEVER achieve this) to not worry about what other people think, particularly about my son.  In his short time on this planet (and my relatively short time as a mother) we have already had to deal with our fair share of people's uneducated opinions about our child - about how they think they are observing a naughty child and how we should raise him.
So not only is it going to be a huge learning curve for my boy, but one for me also. Letting him be his own person and realising that these things will happen as they make up the beautiful person he is.
I spoke to my husband about assembly this arvo - I wish I could have his outlook on life. I told him all about my embarrassment and how he had to be spoken to a few times. My husband's response - "Did he stand up and expose himself?"  Me - "God NO!"  Husband - "Well he doesn't take after his father, nothing to worry about."  WHAT?? I've been married to this man for 22 years, it's the first I've heard of it! Lord help me, if that ever happens, I'll not only be down the back of the shed, I'll probably be half way down the road, and I won't know a single thing about what anyone else thinks! Bahahahahaha! :)

What a week!

So last week, like so many other children across Queensland, my little man started Prep.  He was so excited, we were so excited.  Callum completed a 'Prep for Prep' course just two weeks before school started. (He blitzed that).  He wasn't too keen on photos before we went to school, but he relented and let us get a few. He just wanted to get going.
He had packed a lovely gift box for his teacher - full of teacher essentials - hair ties for little girls, clips to hold pages of work, pens, bandaids for those little emergencies, post it notes (the heart shaped ones because he LOVES his teacher) and flavoured coffee. We had to deliver that straight away.
A little wait in Mum's classroom and then it was time to go and line up.  Callum took off straight away with his teacher and left his parents behind. He put all his things away and then went to the carpet to read a book. Not a tear in sight.
He continues to happily leave his mother far behind when he walks to his class in the morning, completes all his jobs and sends me on my way. There are a few little people who are upset when their parents drop them off in the morning. Callum asks me why they aren't excited to be at big school like he is.
He received two playground awards in the first week. We were thrilled. And then on Saturday I checked my work emails. There, staring back at me from the screen was an email from his teacher sent Friday afternoon. Apparently little man has been lashing out when sitting on the carpet, pushing, laying on the classmates around him. I wondered why he walked out with a beanbag cube the other day when I picked him up at home time. Apparently he has been given the cube to try and keep his hands busy and to himself, so far it hadn't been working.
My week was crushed! We've had a discussion, told little man that he needs to use his words and ask to use his rolling pin or big smash cushions when he needs that extra sensory input. He is also under threat of losing his iPad for the weekend if I get another email like that this Friday. (So far, he tells me - 2 days - that he has been using the cube and being a good boy.)
But, apart from that hiccup, it was a great first week. He is still so excited to go and comes home excited about his day. We have a challenge at our school to ask our children "What did you learn today?" I ask this of Callum and his response is - "I learned lots of stuff." So then I have to ask him to be more specific and choose one thing that he can tell me about. According to Callum the only work he does is trains. (I sure hope that isn't true, he used to say the same thing about Kindy and I was assured that he did lots of other stuff.)

I have an email to write!

supermarket gingerbread train                                        

LEGO monster train

We went shopping tonight, you know just the essentials - milk and bread, but those shopping giants are clever. Right there at the front door on a huge table, with big "Special $4" signs were the gingerbread Ghost Train kits.

You might recall my previous post about baking and the gingerbread Christmas Train that started it all.

Callum could not go past this stand.  In fact, I was able to go back outside and get a trolley while he stood there, lovingly holding the box and examining every detail. "Please Mummy can we get the Lego Monster Train?" We don't celebrate Halloween in our house, so I was happy that he wanted to make the LEGO train. It does look similar.

"We have to wait until it is dark Mummy, it's the scary night." Nothing gets past this kid. We have settled that we will make it tomorrow, when we have more time. We have read through all the instructions and are pretty impressed that this kit comes with a tray to help keep the gingerbread pieces in the right position. Something that the Christmas train kit did not.

I have an email to send to the Create a Treat company. They don't even have this train on their website in the Halloween section (it wasn't in Valentine, Christmas, Easter or Frosted Cookies either!). We know about the Christmas train, but I need to let them know, that for the train obsessed Junior Master Chef, we need a train to cover all the special days.

They could just have a plain train and we could decorate it ourselves for each holiday. January - Australia Day, February - Valentine's Day, March - St Patrick's Day, April - Easter, September - birthday, October - Monster Lego, December - Christmas!

I could become their best customer!

What a cutie!

What wonderful friends I have who have been so supportive (and a little outraged as well) about my last post.

When we return from Kindy our first stop is always the Library station. I love that he loves books. We usually read a few then select one to borrow. (That might be the next staff complaint - usually the students are limited to a set number of books they can borrow, Callum borrows lots of books, far more than the specified limit) He found a penguin one straight away "How did that get there?" at the top of his lungs - he returned it at his library lesson this week. Then he read a dinosaur book, he couldn't borrow that one - too scary. He settled on a train book - surprise, surprise.

We then moved on to the DP's office where little man put on quite a performance. He happily chortled away about trains, when a friend told him that her brother drives a train he replied with "I don't believe it!" (It really is hard to convey the way he says these things in printed word - just know it was cute)

He had already had his marshmallows (weekly treat) and had also scored a lolly ring. When he was offered another sweet treat, he replied " I think I had enough." He enjoyed looking through the treats to see what was available, but didn't want anymore.

He asked to look at trains on the computer. He happily stood and watched (little arms moving like the chugging of big engine wheels) and then happily sat and watched in the chair when it was offered to him.

He then sat in my lap, happily announcing "Mummy I love you."

He is such a cutie!!

Building Resilience

What a week for building resilience my little one has had!  I think he has handled it really well.

First - he can't go into the staffroom at work anymore. He loved going in there to sit at the table and have his afternoon tea. He also visited one of the Deputy Principals and got a tasty treat. Such is teaching, I do not finish work when the kids go home. I still have work to do, so Callum often comes to my room while I work, then on our way out to various therapy appointments, we would stop and have a quick afternoon snack in the staffroom (it's where the fridge is, I don't have one in my room).
He would also go to the ladies toilet with me before we left.

Someone at work complained, so now he is not allowed in there. I can understand that it is a teacher's space, but it wasn't crowded and I certainly didn't do it when social gatherings were being held. I wasn't ready to send him off to the toilets on his own (he'd have to use the older kids toilet and I'm not ready for the teasing and comments about the weird boy who acts like a train. I'm sure there would be a complaint if I went into the boy's toilet with him, and if he went into the girls toilet.)

So he has had to wait outside the staffroom. He did get teary and upset, but it didn't last long. Luckily the Deputy Principal is very understanding and she came outside to him.

His second resilience lesson was on the weekend. We went away for the weekend, our sole purpose really was to go on a steam train. Callum has a very clever daddy who decided that we would go into the town where the steam train was, to check that we knew where we were going the following morning. We went to the local information centre, who informed us, that the steam train was not currently operating on account that they hadn't completed the necessary government paperwork on time. (We did ring a fortnight earlier to check that it was still on, yes we always run was the reply!) Imagine if we had shown up Sunday morning, complete in our train engineer costume that we had packed?? Endless questions about why the train was broken, but other than that, he handled it very well. "We can come back another time, when it's not broken."

The third lesson was his show and share on Monday. He has daycare and school on Monday. Callum thought he had his show and share (a pamphlet of the steam train from the weekend that we were supposed to go on) at daycare but we couldn't find it. He thought someone had stolen it. Some little tears but then after talking with him, and reminding him that it might be at school, that he could check the next day, he was happy.

They don't seem like big things, and not that Callum has huge meltdowns, but they pretty important to him. Learning to regulate his emotions and calm himself quickly are important skills that he needs to develop. I'm so proud of how he has handled himself this last week - especially the second one!! :)

Maybe I do have patience afterall

Yesterday I went to seminar on transitioning to Prep for ASD students. It was being presented by two ladies whom I have come to know well (they made a joke about me being a frequent flyer and requested if they have a loyalty card! :)

I was reminded that you can never rush a person with ASD. (One of the ladies favourite sayings, reminding us parents that organisation is key.) I thought I had followed all Callum's rituals for the morning and so was trying to move him out the door and off to Kindy.

Just as I got to the front door, Callum told me that he wanted to read his book to me. This is an A3 book that he made at his ECDP class of nursery rhymes. "Sure honey, that would be great." So he promptly sang all the nursery rhymes in his book - all 5 of them, complete with velcro parts that have to be acted out. (Imagine 5 speckled frogs that all have to take their turn jumping off the log.)

When he got to the end, he returned to the front cover and named all the pictures. He stopped at one delightful picture of a woman (imagine Mary Poppins) holding a gardening fork. "What's that song Mummy?"  "Mary, Mary Quite Contrary."  "That's not in the book, the picture has to come off!"

Luckily I was able to persuade him that the picture could stay and we were able to leave the house. I must remember to hide that book tonight. :)

PEOPLE NEED TO BE EDUCATED

People need to be educated about Autism! I'm able to ignore the people who express concern that their child will catch it from Callum. (Frankly you have more chance of catching
Ebola than you do Autism!)  I've often thought about purchasing the t-shirts I see advertised - "Keep staring you might cure my son's Autism, then we can work on your social skills." Or my personal favourite "My child doesn't look Autistic and you don't look ignorant, yet here we are." But that wouldn't be fair to Callum.

But I'm yet to be able to ignore people who think that they can make comments about my child, whom they have never met, other than their less than 1min observation of him. We were shopping in Target today. After many views on YouTube, we finally have Power Trains in the stores. To say Callum was pretty excited would be an understatement. He wasn't being naughty, he wasn't running around ripping things off the shelf or lying on the floor screaming (as some little shoppers were). What he was doing, was excitedly telling his dad what each packet contained - engine, caboose, hopper car, tanker car, tracks. Yes he was loud, and he was running back and forth from the display to his dad. 

One lady felt the need to make a comment. Isn't it funny how the comment isn't said directly to you, but really loud within your vicinity, then when you challenge them, oh no it wasn't about your child. Said to her own children, something along the lines of  "He is being naughty isn't he, yelling and not walking nicely like you." (I am getting better at forgetting exactly what they say, because I need my brain cells to remember so much more!) Hey, one child was strapped to your chest, another was in the trolley and one was actually walking. Callum wasn't hurting anyone, he wasn't damaging property. He was just loud and fast.

It's all relative. Some people might think the kids in the interactive display, throwing the stuff that's supposed to be snow and singing "Let It Go" at the top of their lungs are being naughty, some others might think they are just being kids. Mine was just being a kid, as he knows how.

Time well spent

This is the culprit who started it all! Last year near Christmas, Callum spotted this gingerbread kit in the supermarket. It's a train, enough said. This was the first time I had ever attempted such a thing, but was a beautiful thing for Callum. He dressed up in his Junior Masterchef outfit (complete with chef hat - looks very cute). He stuck on most of the lollies and certainly enjoyed demolishing the train.

Fast forward to this year and little man started Kindy. I set myself the goal of baking some treat for his lunch box. This has begun a lovely ritual for Callum and I each Sunday afternoon.  Early in the week we search for cupcake decorating ideas on Google images.  Callum selects what he wants and when we go shopping we get the necessary ingredients.

We do cookies or cupcakes (so far).  We have done a lot of train cupcakes - some with train chocolate molds, some with licorice trains.  I've had a lot of fun figuring out/researching how to do some of the things required (teddies in a blanket, spider webs, teddies at the beach to name a few).

What has been most enjoyable is the growth I've seen in Callum.  When we first began baking, he had to leave the room when I switched on the mix master, the noise was too much.  Now he actually turns on the mix master himself.  He has learned how to crack an egg, measure ingredients, is great with a rolling pin and using cookie cutters.  His icing work still needs practice, but hey, he has only just turned 5. (I five now, I'm not four anymore) he has been telling everyone. 

This week we had koalas (besides the 3rd batch of train cupcakes I've had to make for our 3rd fifth birthday party (we are celebrating with our Kindy friends. The joy of having child whose birthday is the middle week of the holidays. We did Daycare cupcakes before his birthday, then there was the actual day and now we are doing Kindy.)

Many people have commented that I must have a lot of spare time. I don't, but the development I have seen in my little man over the year makes this time well spent. 

I could be a dentist

So apparently I could be a dentist. Thanks to an episode of Peppa Pig (the one where George has his 1st visit to the dentist) we are now having to role play going to the dentist to clean our teeth. I have to go through an imaginary group of people in the waiting room (the couch).Then I have to call for Callum, to which he replies "yipee". I then have to ask him to enter my office. I have to pump up the chair (weeee) and ask him to open wide while I use an imaginary mirror to check his teeth. Then the teeth cleaning begins - bottom, top and front. Afterwards we have to gargle and spit and the visit finishes with a "see you next time". It's a fun way to get the teeth clean unless there is a huge crowd in the waiting room (some 10 people ahead of Callum this morning!) :)

What time do you call this then??

Friday is garbage collection day. Today is Friday. Every Friday Callum MUST watch the garbage bins being emptied, it has become his Friday morning routine. We are not allowed to go to Daycare until he has seen the truck/s. Today is the 2 bin day - rubbish and recycling. The rubbish truck came at the normal time - sometime before 7am. Usually the recycling truck follows a short time after. Usually we are leaving for Daycare/work by about 7.15am. Today the recycling truck has only just arrived at 9am! This is OK while I'm on holidays, but I'm back at work in two weeks - work starts at 8:20am. Let's hope today was a one off. I don't like the idea of starting my weekends with a meltdown because the truck didn't get here on time :(

It's the little things

Last night Callum decided that he would ride his bikes in the driveway. By ride, I mean actually pedal. Callum has always enjoyed bikes but would never use the pedals. He was always happy to push along with his feet, this has served him well, even on the big taxi bike at Daycare, lugging another child around. But he decided that he would pedal. First the trike and then his bike that he got for his birthday. I asked him if he wanted to go out onto the road as there was more room to ride than just the driveway. Yes please was the response, so we got his helmet and his sandals ready, got to the open gate and no - tomorrow he would go. I waited a while incase he was processing it all and would change his mind (does often happen like that). A car went speeding down the street and that was the end of that, he would go tomorrow. So first thing this morning, he was off! I had to use the play of I needed him to help me get dressed so he wouldn't be off out the gate before I had a chance to get somewhat respectable. Next time I have to wear my sneakers! He went full throttle down the hill (I thought he would be cautious, silly me). For someone who hasn't been riding long he is very good at it. We went along until we found a footpath, at which I was happy to let him go full throttle. He stopped at the first playground, had a play and then got back on his bike and off he went. I didn't realise they had completed so much more of the footpath (there is a new housing estate behind where we live) since we were last at that playground. In fact, there is another playground further along. So Callum kept riding until he got to that one. And yet the path kept going. We finally were able to stop where some inconsiderate builder (in Callum's eyes, Mum was thankful) had parked across the footpath. Callum ws tired and wanted to walk, there were a lot of hills on that footpath, so I ended up walking the bike most of the way. He did however get on the bike so he could ride through a puddle and send a photo to Daddy. He wasn't happy with the first go, so we had to do it again :) It's such a little thing, but it was so much fun to watch him confidently riding, all the conversations we were having about noises he could hear, asking what things were as he spotted them, pretending he was a train engine and I was in the carriage behind him. I wish these professionals who assess Callum and say that he doesn't have imaginative play or storytelling language would accept a home video - then I wouldn't look like a lunatic making it up trying to make her son sound better than their testing shows :(

Safety Message overload

Happy New Year everyone! What a quiet night we had - Callum in bed by 7:30pm and the fireworks did not wake him. We have been out jumping on his new trampoline that he got for Christmas. It's 15ft and a great improvment on his first one. The first trampoline was a Christmas gift when Callum was one. It wasn't recommended for his age (and neither is the new one just quietly) but he had definitely outgrown it. Callum couldn't even lay across it. He is loving the space on this tramp and is becoming very confident with jumping which is fabulous to watch. The safety message for the tramp however is in overkill mode. It is A4 size and has a list of recommendations such as "no bouncing on your head" and "not to be used with alcohol or drugs". There are two on the mat, one on the padding, one on the door and one on every leg of the tramp - there are 6 of them. Every couple of minutes we have to stop and go and read these important messages. Then Callum procedes to bounce his head on the mat. Thank goodness he is happy to just read the one on the mat and I don't have to keep getting in and out to read all the ones on the legs. Callum may be tall and need a 15ft trampoline for space, but I need a step ladder to get in there!

New Year's Resolution

So I guess I must make my New Year's Resolution to actually do my blog more than once a year! Let's see how I go with that :) So we now have a four year old. We had a wonderful weekend away in Cairns, specifically to do the Kuranda scenic railway and the skyrail. Callum loves trains - are they his obsession? I don't know, he doesn't know every type of train built, but he can tell you that they carry coal, oil, boxes and mail (he read that in a book) and that there are diesels and steam trains. He has been watching model trains on youtube - in particular the Hamburg exhibition (which makes his aprents happy as we actually have that on our list of places we must visit). He has also been watching LEGO trains, which is what he asked Santa for. (Santa delivered) The experience was wonderful for Callum. He loved the whole thing - he excitedly yelled to the train as it arrived at the station, much to the amusement of everyone gathered, Hello Kuranda train, How are you today? Are you happy? It's the beautiful Kuranda train. He bounced all over the seating, the family seated with us didn't seem to mind as they had 2 young children. They didn't seem to mind Callum constantly reminding them that they were on the Kuranda train either. Nor when he pointed out that he was wearing a Lightning McQueen shirt. According to the book, Callum isn't supposed to interact with strangers, he is supposed to be in his own little world and not recognise that other people are a part of it. But then we get told, Callum is at the other end of the spectrum and interacts too much with strangers, just like he is too affectionate with kisses and hugs to the important people in his life. He had one public meltdown while out shopping. At the DFO in Rivers. We were at the checkout finalising our purchase and Callum was just outside the door playing and talking about the Christmas decorations. We went to walk out and join him and that's when it started. He hadn't finished shopping, he had missed the payment and wanted to go through the chekout again. He ran off into the store and I caught up with him in the women's shoe department. He snatched a pair of ladies shoes and said this is what he was buying. I tried to talk to him, telling him they weren't my size and I didn't like the style (all true), but no, he was adamant, this was his purchase. His father then tried to tell him the same reasons, all the while Callum is crying and trying to put together what it is he wants/needs to do. I didn't hear anyone say anything (unlike the great grocery shopping meltdown where the old lady marched up to Callum and told him he was a very naughty boy) but I could feel the stares. His father was down on his level calmly talking to him, cuddling him, reassuring him - I could imagine what they were thinking - what a naughty child, a spoilt brat. Then we were able to convince him that he could by a pair of socks for himself as the shoes were no good for Mum or him, to which he agreed and meltdown finished. He happily lined up waiting his turn to pay. Again, I didn't hear anything but I'm sure they were thinking what a spoilt brat, gets his own way, parents are creating a monster. What triggered the meltdown was missing out on paying for the goods we had bought. Once we were able to establish that, verbal skills go out the window when he gets very upset, we were able to offer him a solution that he could process that would fix it for him. Seriously for $1.80 for the socks I wasn't overly worried. He paid his money, took his change and receipt and you wouldn't know that anything was wrong 2 mins ago. My husband is great - he doesn't worry about what anyone thinks, his focus is just on his son. I on the other hand, worry a lot about what other people think, in particular about my son and about my skills as a mother. I wanted to explain that it is a processing problem - he had missed the step in shopping where you pay for your items, and he had to go back to that step. Once he was able to do that he was fine. I was thinking everyone was judging us and thinking that I should have just dragged him out screaming, I wanted to explain that wouldn't help and would make the meltdown last longer. I say we have to pick our battles and this one was easily solved with a sock purchase. Perhaps I am creating a monster, but he was so calm afterwards and we had a fabulous rest of the day. I think it lets him know that we will take the time to help him work out what is upsetting him so much and do what we can to support him.

Don't we all love positive feedback?!

Today as I picked up Callum from daycare, one of his teachers came over to me, telling me about how he has almost had her in tears these last 2 days. Daycare has set up a 'Bob the builder'corner - bit like home corner for the kids to play in. Apparently Callum is loving this and has been initiating play with the other kids in this area. Callum goes and gets everyone a hard hat to wear. Today he even gave the dolls and his teacher one. He has also been playing with a big ball and rolling it to another child and taking turns, waiting for the other child to roll it back to him. He has also been asking for more bread at lunch time - actually using the word bread. It must have been the cutest thing - apparently he was sitting at the lunch table waiting to say grace, with his hands pressed together singing kumbya. He still shouts hooray when grace has ended but they accept this as a compliment and not Callum being disrespectful. The initiating play is a big thing, and she was so proud of how far he has come along in his interactions with the other children and how quickly his skills are improving.

And so it begins...

Walked into daycare yesterday to pick Callum up, and there were three little boys being times out in the baby yard. Thought nothing of it other than, thank goodness Callum isn't in the mix. greeted Callum and was called over by the educator who marched the 3 boys out and asked them what did they want to say to Callum, all 3 chimed "sorry Callum" at which time Callum had burst into tears. Apparently he had been playing happily and the 3 had set up on him in the back corner and were being very nasty to him - pushing, shoving, hitting, teasing. They had to stay in time out until their mother's arrived so they could be told what they ahd done. And so it begins...the life I didn't want for my son is coming to fruition already - being picked on because he is different. How do I stop this self fulfilling prophecy??

A very long time...

Well we nearly have a three year old! A lot has happened since we last blogged. Callum's book is different to "the book" becasue Callum has Autism it has been decided by the powers that be. He is communicating well with us, but still is not talking in sentences, although his phrases are getting longer. It has been heart breaking to get this diagnosis. All through my pregnancy I prayed that he wouldn't have it, and as he grew and was being checked off on "the book" I hoped he wouldn't, but it wasn't to be. Being a teacher I've taught chidlren who have autism and have seen the difficulties for them and their families - not having friends, not being invited to birthday parties or play dates. Callum already has children dobbing on him at daycare for his behaviour. Because he doesn't have the words to tell them that their games look fun and he wants to join in, when he gets excited he hits. We are working on this with him and trying to help daycare where we can, but we don't have any social circle with little children for him to practise with at home so he only gets it at daycare. Next year he will be going into a program to try and teach him the social skills he needs and language skills so that hopefully he will be able to attend school full time in 2015. Otherwise he will ahve to remain in the program and attend school part time. With the research we have done, there seems to be no clear answer as to why autism develops in children. So far the theories I have read are - being an older mum is a factor, stress during pregnancy, hereditary and the 12 month vaccination shot. Well tick off 3 of those - I was a month and a half off being 39 when I gave birth to Callum - a geriatric pregnancy it was labelled - thank you very much! there was definitely stress during my pregnancy, and yes, his language according to "the book" was advanced at 12 months and then it stopped. As far as we know, no one in the family has been diagnosed with autism. Some of the other research says that due to developmental stages, we shouldn't be looking into autism until he is at least 4 years old. I was happy with that, but the medical profession is adamant that he has autism. But a visit with the paediatrician came away with a verbal diagnosis of mildly autistic/high functioning - but not enough to make it formal with a written diagnosis. ???? It's doing my head in! We go back to the paediatrcian in two weeks to get the written diagnosis that every is adamant he needs. See what happens then.

It's been a while!

We have recently celebrated our little man's 2nd birthday. He is growing into a charming little boy in our eyes. He has been in a bed since June and has loved it from the first day. He has moved on to sippy cups from bottles. He only knows 2 speeds - flat out and sound asleep. He has discovered chalk and loves to draw on any surface he can find. He does not talk yet, but seems to be doing everything else right for his age. (This is apparently a big deal, we have a speech pathology appointment next month, so more on that later) He certainly as no problem communicating what he wants. He still regularly seems to get bugs, but bounces back quickly. He's had his first haircut and we are working on getting him to the dentist. We can't get over how quickly these 2 years have passed. I find myself looking at his baby photos often, just mesmerized by the changes in him in such a short time.