Exhausted from parenting/ASD children/Welcome to Schmolland!

[MRYPPNS]

If my kid was in that swim class I would actually complaint about Mermaid Mom to who ever runs it. She shouldn't be poolside- it's very distracting to the instructors and the other children.

 

[Dancind]

Brightsy, I love that. Artistic indeed.

KFK, I always worried about that too. I know I was "that Mom" at her elementary school. At least I wasn't a pool pacer!

 

[kirstenb1]

MRYPPNS, I love the name Mermaid Mom!!!! Maybe we should make it Schmolland's official codename for helicopter parent!!!

 

[Nik's Mom]

Mermaid Mom! If mermaid mom keeps it up, I will complain. I agree that it is distracting.

 

[kampfirekim]

Brightsy, I love that. Artistic indeed.

KFK, I always worried about that too. I know I was "that Mom" at her elementary school. At least I wasn't a pool pacer!

I'd rather be "that mom" than the Mermaid Mom any day!

Good Lawdy! I've never heard anything quite like it!

MRYPPNS, I love the name Mermaid Mom!!!! Maybe we should make it Schmolland's official codename for helicopter parent!!!

I'm with you on that one. Mermaid Mom is much funnier than helicopter parent!!!!

Mermaid Mom! If mermaid mom keeps it up, I will complain. I agree that it is distracting.

You probably should say something.

One of the (typical) 4k classes at DS5's school has a Mermaid Mom. She holds his hand while he's in line with his class as they're walking up the hall to the cafeteria. It's really weird looking. Then the poor teacher and her aid have to listen to the child scream after M.M. finally tears herself away. I am priveledged to see it almost every morning when I walk DS into the cafeteria. CRAZY! (I only walk mine up b/c we get there before his teachers are "on duty" and I help him w/his breakfast before turning him over to the team.) Believe me...I have no problem turning him over to them.

 

[Kat77]

The "Adventures of Mermaid Mom" could keep us entertained this fall... If they don't kick her out of the class, you should have great material for weekly installments.

 

[ireland_nicole]

ok... I don't want to do this, but here goes- I think Mermaid mom is hysterical, I really do, and I want to keep hearing what happens week to week- but; we don't know her situation, or what happened before; we don't know if maybe her kid is special needs because of a previous near drowning, or if it was his first time in water, or whatever. Do I think she was waaayyy out of line yelling, disobeying the rules, especially jumping in the pool? Yeah, totally! Although I would have liked to have seen the jumping in part... I just think that other "typical" moms probably talk about me, too. If I would only discipline them properly, etc. etc. Or why does she think her kids so "special" Why can't she make her kid shut up/sit down/etc. Did you see that woman drag her poor child out of the store? Can you believe she won't even let her kid eat the snacks we bring in?

I don't know, I guess I just kind thought- there but for the grace of God go I; and realized that to some people I probably look like a "mermaid mom" sometimes, too.

 

[kampfirekim]

ok... I don't want to do this, but here goes- I think Mermaid mom is hysterical, I really do, and I want to keep hearing what happens week to week- but; we don't know her situation, or what happened before; we don't know if maybe her kid is special needs because of a previous near drowning, or if it was his first time in water, or whatever. Do I think she was waaayyy out of line yelling, disobeying the rules, especially jumping in the pool? Yeah, totally! Although I would have liked to have seen the jumping in part... I just think that other "typical" moms probably talk about me, too. If I would only discipline them properly, etc. etc. Or why does she think her kids so "special" Why can't she make her kid shut up/sit down/etc. Did you see that woman drag her poor child out of the store? Can you believe she won't even let her kid eat the snacks we bring in?

I don't know, I guess I just kind thought- there but for the grace of God go I; and realized that to some people I probably look like a "mermaid mom" sometimes, too.

Valid point, but remember that poor Mermaid Mom was among Schmollandites...and still came across that way. You know it had to be bad for a Schmolland mom to think it was weird.

Just a little joking. We've all probably looked like that to our neighboring countries at one time or another.

 

[iwrbnd]

Oh my goodness am I ever glad I checked this thread before bed!I'm dying with the mermaid mom story and everyone's responses! You all crack me up! I'm the opposite of mermaid mom...what would that be called? I've been so stressed and exhausted with my kids that I've accidently left one at church...three times to be exact!!!It's a joke now among the staff! We have to check security badges to pick up our kids but if I don't have my sticker nobody cares. They laugh at how I'm more of a risk of abandoning a child rather than stealing one! Oh my how sad is my life!

 

[Kat77]

Mermaid Mom's kid seemed to be doing just fine, so the ribbing is justified... she jumped in the pool, fully clothed! It IS FUNNY.
We all have our crazy moments and I am most definately "that mom" so I hear what you're saying. No one here is judging her, just laughing at the moment.

 

[toodycat]

Hey everybody! Welcome back. Hope the start of the school is going well for everyone and that if it isn't, it is fixed quickly.KFK--Welcome back! Bookwormde---Hope that the positive meetings portend a good school year. Daisy&Max---This isn't a board of teacher-bashers or I wouldn't be here. I've been a teacher for 20 years and taught collaborative English for about four of those years. (I left the collaborative classroom when I started to bring my students' problems home way too much and DS told me it had to stop. Now, I teach at-risk kids with family problems, drug problems, legal problems or depression problems. They are nothing like my own kid and it is easier for me to help them without becoming unhealthily enmeshed.) In my experience, it is most frequently the administrators who either don't want to accept what the child's diagnosis is because it will take too much work to accommodate or have been told by their bosses to keep expenses and therefore, services, down. But, all the special ed teachers I know totally rock and are absolutely devoted to their students.

We are just back from vacation which was not as planned. The WDW portion had to be cancelled because DH's boss needed him around for some meetings. Grrr... The Hilton Head part of the vacation was also cut in half which may have been a good thing. We were with DH's parents in a timeshare and they are just really negative and oppositional about everything. (DH's mom told me what I was looking at wasn't a sunset as an orange orb descended towards the horizon at about 8 p.m. She claimed we were on the wrong side of the island.)

But, I was so proud of how DS handled himself. He could see that they were difficult, so he entertained himself with Sudoku, his DS and his mazes without a complaint about being bored or anything. He laughed about it all with DH and me when we were alone and said, "I'm glad I was born in this family" because we tried to just see the funny side and not get too bogged down in their negativity. Even when he tried to talk about his kitten and Grandma pretty much ignored him, he just kind of acted like, "Well, that's who she is." He has also been talking about feelings and memories a lot lately which is a huge step forward. We took him fishing one day and he landed three black tip sharks, one of which we ate for dinner. After that, he didn't want to fish anymore, but he sat up in the front of the fishing boat smiling and glowing with pride.

Anyway, we are home and happy. DS has been reunited with the kitten and DH and I are not verbally tiptoeing around his 'rents anymore. Five more days until school starts. I hope it goes well. Hurricane Earl is supposed to be here tomorrow, but I live 200 feet about sea level, so it's really just a question of bringing in the patio furniture and covering the pool.

Glad to be back with my Schmollish pals.

 

[badcat]

Hello residents of Schmolland

This thread has me laughing with tears in my eyes.

We have a neurotypical 16 year old son...and a non-verbal 12 year old daughter, who uses ASL as her primary means of communication.

A few years ago, an aide on the bus told me DD cried everyday to and from school, holding her ears. (Some of her fellow students were shriekers) I had no idea, and we ran out and got her shooters ear protection from Walmart and she wears those to and from school now. She is so much more comfortable. She also has a set we keep in our car for her to wear when she wants.

Shortly after that time, we went to a restaurant to eat. She was behaving but not eating as usual. I noticed she was tilting her head and holding one ear. Something clicked for me and I grabbed her ear muffs from the car and let her wear them in the restaurant. She was SO HAPPY! And...she ate. She had been bothered by the sounds in the restaurant and was suddenly free to eat. She now wears them to any restaurant and we're all happier that she's so much more comfortable

 

[toodycat]

DS had me rolling this morning. We just returned from vacation and his meds weren't doled out in the little weekly pill holder the way they usually are. I woke up after he did, so the first thing I asked was,"Did you take your pills?" He said, "Yes. I took today's and I put the rest in the pill dispenser. But, I'm out of Viagra." I started laughing and said, "You don't take Viagra! You take Vyvanse! Viagra is for people who can't get erections." He laughed and said, "Well, that's appropriate. I'm playing my video game as a female this morning."

 

[mousescrapper]

My 2nd son is easy in every way. He helps me so much that I feel bad for him. He's taken on the "I'm mom's rescuer" role which isn't probably healthy for him.

Hi OP...just found out about this thread from some other Disers posting on my cmbo PTR of a group of Dis-Spectrum Mom's taking a trip together in Jan'11....

I will have to skim through some of the other thoughts...but your intro captured me....especially the line I quoted above...

I have 4 children as well...twins boy/girl both on the Spectrum, and my youngest has anxiety/social struggles...

but my middle DD...she is the Mommy rescuer alot...

 

[Kat77]

... (Viagra!)

 

[Nik's Mom]

Hello residents of Schmolland

This thread has me laughing with tears in my eyes.

We have a neurotypical 16 year old son...and a non-verbal 12 year old daughter, who uses ASL as her primary means of communication.

A few years ago, an aide on the bus told me DD cried everyday to and from school, holding her ears. (Some of her fellow students were shriekers) I had no idea, and we ran out and got her shooters ear protection from Walmart and she wears those to and from school now. She is so much more comfortable. She also has a set we keep in our car for her to wear when she wants.

Shortly after that time, we went to a restaurant to eat. She was behaving but not eating as usual. I noticed she was tilting her head and holding one ear. Something clicked for me and I grabbed her ear muffs from the car and let her wear them in the restaurant. She was SO HAPPY! And...she ate. She had been bothered by the sounds in the restaurant and was suddenly free to eat. She now wears them to any restaurant and we're all happier that she's so much more comfortable

Oh, I can relate. Ds8 has major problems with noises. He has the same ear muffs from Walmart! We are on our 2nd pair now. He had to use them at WDW a few times. I was so glad we packed them!

toodycat, that is hilarious!

 

[kampfirekim]

Oh my goodness am I ever glad I checked this thread before bed!I'm dying with the mermaid mom story and everyone's responses! You all crack me up! I'm the opposite of mermaid mom...what would that be called? I've been so stressed and exhausted with my kids that I've accidently left one at church...three times to be exact!!!It's a joke now among the staff! We have to check security badges to pick up our kids but if I don't have my sticker nobody cares. They laugh at how I'm more of a risk of abandoning a child rather than stealing one! Oh my how sad is my life!

I'd RATHER leave one that steal one! J/K

Your life is about as sad as mine. LOL! Seriously, we're blessed aren't we. What other mom's will have the stories to tell that we do.

We are just back from vacation which was not as planned. The WDW portion had to be cancelled because DH's boss needed him around for some meetings. Grrr... The Hilton Head part of the vacation was also cut in half which may have been a good thing. We were with DH's parents in a timeshare and they are just really negative and oppositional about everything. (DH's mom told me what I was looking at wasn't a sunset as an orange orb descended towards the horizon at about 8 p.m. She claimed we were on the wrong side of the island.)


What other orange orb descends toward the horizon? You're right! that is oppositional! LOL. BTW, you were only about 2 1/2 hours from my front door.

But, I was so proud of how DS handled himself. He could see that they were difficult, so he entertained himself with Sudoku, his DS and his mazes without a complaint about being bored or anything. He laughed about it all with DH and me when we were alone and said, "I'm glad I was born in this family" because we tried to just see the funny side and not get too bogged down in their negativity. Even when he tried to talk about his kitten and Grandma pretty much ignored him, he just kind of acted like, "Well, that's who she is." He has also been talking about feelings and memories a lot lately which is a huge step forward. We took him fishing one day and he landed three black tip sharks, one of which we ate for dinner. After that, he didn't want to fish anymore, but he sat up in the front of the fishing boat smiling and glowing with pride.

Wow your DS can play Sudoku! Impressive! Sounds like you've got one terrific schmutch boy there! That's great that he's talking about his feeling, that IS huge. Tell him congrats on catching dinner. Awesome!

Glad to be back with my Schmollish pals.

Glad to be back w/ you too!

Hello residents of Schmolland

This thread has me laughing with tears in my eyes.

We have a neurotypical 16 year old son...and a non-verbal 12 year old daughter, who uses ASL as her primary means of communication.

Welcome to the Macadamia Ranch!

DS had me rolling this morning. We just returned from vacation and his meds weren't doled out in the little weekly pill holder the way they usually are. I woke up after he did, so the first thing I asked was,"Did you take your pills?" He said, "Yes. I took today's and I put the rest in the pill dispenser. But, I'm out of Viagra." I started laughing and said, "You don't take Viagra! You take Vyvanse! Viagra is for people who can't get erections." He laughed and said, "Well, that's appropriate. I'm playing my video game as a female this morning."

*Insert screaming with laughter smiley* That is hysterical!!!!!!!!! Only in Schmolland!

Hi OP...just found out about this thread from some other Disers posting on my cmbo PTR of a group of Dis-Spectrum Mom's taking a trip together in Jan'11....

Welcome to the group! I've been trying to keep up with the PTR! Looks like a lot of fun.

 

[badcat]

Okay, now I've read the whole thread.

Some of you have me

So much I identify with.

Our house looks like Fort Knox with 16 locks on each door...not to keep anyone out but to keep Katie in! When she was around 7, she didn't like to wear any clothes, except for her Pull-Up. We didn't have any extra locks or the alram on the sliding glass door as it leads to a small balcony/deck thing about 6 feet off the ground, with no stairs or way down to the ground...or so we thought anyway. In the space of time it took me to use the bathroom, Katie was out the door, up and over the railing and lowered herself the 6 feet to the ground. Clad only in her Pull-Up to go explore the neighborhood.

Doorbell rings and it's a neighbor bringing back the crying nekkid girl, who doesn't talk.

They also called CPS on me, which I sort of understand but it certainly didn't make my life any easier. I wasn't sure the agent was familiar with autism, but I did get my letter of "no concern".

After that, I started making her reserve nekkid time for the privacy of her own bedroom. She is free to change clothes as often as she wants, but she will be dressed or she stays in her room.

The only times I catch her nekkid now...are when she takes off some new article of clothing to cut the tags out. She also seems to outgrown her elopement issues.

She's a climber. Many a time I would go to the basement to find her happily swinging from the rafters. "Get down here right now. No, you're not funny, get down..."

She also found some paints I'd gotten for a summer project....and she carefully sponge painted our file cabinet a lovely green, blue and yellow camoflage pattern.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hi Schmolland Moms! (Maybe some dads too... )

Thanks to some of your "members" for telling us about your thread over on our Spectrum Moms group PTR!

I'm from Schmolland too! I have two boys on the spectrum. My 9 year old, just started 4th grade, was diagnosed with PDD-NOS at age two & my almost 7 year old, just started 1st grade, was diagnosed with Asperger's this summer.

I'm happy I found this thread & will have to go back through when I have some more time!

 

[toodycat]

BadcatThe only times I catch her nekkid now...are when she takes off some new article of clothing to cut the tags out. She also seems to outgrown her elopement issues.:
Wow! My boy didn't do the au natural thing, but he sure hated tags in his clothing. When he was little, I would take him clothes shopping and he would pull off all the tags and labels in the dressing room! Such fun trying to pay for things after that... I guess they just bothered him from a sensory point of view. Thank goodness that teen-agers now wear jeans and hoodies all the time. From DS's perspective, this is the ideal comfort outfit.