Comments on: tag — I’m it http://fridayplaydate.com/tag-im-it/ entirely true, but exaggerated for comic effect Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:43:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Heather B. http://fridayplaydate.com/tag-im-it/#comment-27871 Heather B. Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:42:48 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/tag-im-it/#comment-27871 You're fine. He's fine. Everything is fine. Don't let me forget to bring my DS and I have an extra one for you, if you'd care have it. (I'm not sure how I ended up with two DS Lites but there you go, I have two) You’re fine. He’s fine. Everything is fine. Don’t let me forget to bring my DS and I have an extra one for you, if you’d care have it.

(I’m not sure how I ended up with two DS Lites but there you go, I have two)

]]> By: standing still http://fridayplaydate.com/tag-im-it/#comment-27556 standing still Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:56:41 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/tag-im-it/#comment-27556 Re: the exhaustion of the never ending one sided conversation about whatEVER. One of the best tools I've learned to help me and my son is the phrase, "You can tell me one more thing about the > and then we need to be done with that." I have also told him point blank, "Okay, I'm bored with talking about the NHL. We need to talk about something else. If you can't do that, you can go in your room and look at your hockey cards. I do not mind at all." I know it's hard not to be able to connect with your kid on , but he's not able to connect with you on the intricacies of the perfect pea coat. It's Oh-Kay! This is called growing up. As he finds his own interests and his own curiosities, they most certainly will not all be yours. That's good. Can you imagine if he wanted to talk about eye cream and the perfect martini over and over? He knows that you love him. He knows that you're there for him. He knows that you get excited when he does something spectacular. He knows that you'll wipe his chin when he's done throwing up. He knows that you'll take him to the doctor when his ears hurt. He knows that you'll giggle with glee when he opens that perfect star wars present under the Christmas tree. Not because YOU love it, but because YOU love seeing HIM love it. As for what others think? Yes, there will always be that. I say, screw them. Have you seen the t-shirt that says, "My kid has aspergers, what's your kid's excuse?" I love that. As he grows and you teach him to advocate for himself, to navigate the bigger world himself, to choose things, to make decisions, to separate ... he will do that, and because you are teaching him, he will do it well. And, isn't that what being a mother is all about? Doing your job so well that you work your way out of a job? Be good to yourself, Susan. It's a journey. Have a good night's sleep, a strong cup of coffee in the morning. You'll see. The sun will come up again. Re: the exhaustion of the never ending one sided conversation about whatEVER. One of the best tools I’ve learned to help me and my son is the phrase, “You can tell me one more thing about the > and then we need to be done with that.” I have also told him point blank, “Okay, I’m bored with talking about the NHL. We need to talk about something else. If you can’t do that, you can go in your room and look at your hockey cards. I do not mind at all.”

I know it’s hard not to be able to connect with your kid on , but he’s not able to connect with you on the intricacies of the perfect pea coat. It’s Oh-Kay! This is called growing up. As he finds his own interests and his own curiosities, they most certainly will not all be yours. That’s good. Can you imagine if he wanted to talk about eye cream and the perfect martini over and over?

He knows that you love him. He knows that you’re there for him. He knows that you get excited when he does something spectacular. He knows that you’ll wipe his chin when he’s done throwing up. He knows that you’ll take him to the doctor when his ears hurt. He knows that you’ll giggle with glee when he opens that perfect star wars present under the Christmas tree. Not because YOU love it, but because YOU love seeing HIM love it.

As for what others think? Yes, there will always be that. I say, screw them. Have you seen the t-shirt that says, “My kid has aspergers, what’s your kid’s excuse?” I love that.

As he grows and you teach him to advocate for himself, to navigate the bigger world himself, to choose things, to make decisions, to separate … he will do that, and because you are teaching him, he will do it well. And, isn’t that what being a mother is all about? Doing your job so well that you work your way out of a job?

Be good to yourself, Susan. It’s a journey. Have a good night’s sleep, a strong cup of coffee in the morning. You’ll see. The sun will come up again.

]]> By: Beth http://fridayplaydate.com/tag-im-it/#comment-27537 Beth Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:10:19 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/tag-im-it/#comment-27537 Thanks Kara, for keeping stuff so constructive! You bring many important points to the table about labels (Hey -- I rhymed! Poet and don't know it or...maybe I need to get out more?). Labels, in and of themselves, can be so silly. Gifted is an especially funny label to me -- because quite honestly, every kid (person) is gifted in some way, and I despise the whole gifted mystique (is that the right word?)with which some parents approach this label, as if we're all somehow "special" because we have these marvelous kids who happen to score well on certain kinds of tests....blech! Frankly, I have another kid, who doesn't happen to score nearly so well on tests, but for whom emotional connection with others his his tremendous gift. He can read people, kids and adults, and he can comfort them. While that's not the kind of "gifted" that shows up on silly school tests, it sure will make him a pretty wonderful adult. I guess it all goes back to viewing our kids as the wonderful unique individuals that they are, shoring up their weaknesses, and helping them play to their strengths. For what it's worth :) Thanks Kara, for keeping stuff so constructive! You bring many important points to the table about labels (Hey — I rhymed! Poet and don’t know it or…maybe I need to get out more?). Labels, in and of themselves, can be so silly. Gifted is an especially funny label to me — because quite honestly, every kid (person) is gifted in some way, and I despise the whole gifted mystique (is that the right word?)with which some parents approach this label, as if we’re all somehow “special” because we have these marvelous kids who happen to score well on certain kinds of tests….blech! Frankly, I have another kid, who doesn’t happen to score nearly so well on tests, but for whom emotional connection with others his his tremendous gift. He can read people, kids and adults, and he can comfort them. While that’s not the kind of “gifted” that shows up on silly school tests, it sure will make him a pretty wonderful adult. I guess it all goes back to viewing our kids as the wonderful unique individuals that they are, shoring up their weaknesses, and helping them play to their strengths. For what it’s worth :)

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