The Cabbage Patch

Autism Awareness ~ A Social Primer

If you happen to meet a child/person with autism...it's okay.  They don't bite.  Usually.

Sometimes their conversation is odd.  Sometimes, they will talk about something endlessly.  Sometimes they don't understand personal space.   

But, guess what?  They can be redirected very easily.  Ask a question.  Most can answer the question.  Answer questions they may have.  Most teens with autism have been taught how to have a conversation.  They forget the rules sometimes, but can be sent back on track when they go "off topic".  They know that term.  They know to answer questions then to ask one right back.  Why?  How?  Their therapists work very hard with them to teach them social skills.

By the time an child with autism has it teen years, they're aware of their differences.  They just want to fit in.  So, help them along.  They know when you are lovingly helping them.  Use humor.  

What's not helpful?  Answering a question with yes or no and then turning away effectively ending the conversation before it even starts.  Rolling your eyes at them.  Muttering under your breath to "Go home".  Asking within hearing distance of a sibling "Why did you ask HIM?"  

Above all?  Remember the golden rule.

Autism Awareness ~ A Look Back

I was driving home this morning from our OT (Occupational Therapy) appointment this morning and thinking back to the day of diagnosis.

We were just coming off the high of learning of Pumpkin's pregnancy.  Just the day before, on Sunday, we had learned I was pregnant with her.  Such wonderful news for us.  

The appointment only took an hour, but what a life changing hour it was.

The previous 12 months had been fraught with questions.  Each appointment only brought questions, not answers.  One psychologist insisted on medicated for ADHD.  He also thought Brother had ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder).  We PCS'd so we sought answers elsewhere.  Upon learning about developmental pediatricians, I made an appointment almost immediately to get a referral.  In September of 2004, 2 months after arriving in Texas, we met with one.

He listened closely and carefully to everything I said.  He asked many questions all the while he observed Brother.

At the end?  High functioning autism.

It was bittersweet.  Relief at a name.  Relief that his behavior was not because of bad parenting.  Sadness.  Grief.  Fear.  Worry.  

Then, the planner in me got going.  What would we need to do?  We started at another therapy clinic, but I didn't like it there.  How can you treat children with autism when the appointments weren't even on the same day much less the same hour each week?  We got our referral changed to Kidz Therapeze.  I LOVE the therapists and staff at this clinic.  

It has been a long, hard road for all of us.  We had bumps along the way.  I've had regrets.  Regrets on how many times Brother got in trouble for something he had no control over.  I know many moms of children with autism feel this way.  I know as I've spoken to them.  

There's still more to go.  But, we're moving along.  It's not going as fast as he'd like, but he'll get there.  Where you ask?  Independent living.  

This was taken in 2010.

April is Autism Awareness Month

My son.

He gives me big hugs.

He is afraid to introduce himself to new people at youth group.

He remembers everyone's birthdays.

He struggles with creating the word pictures in his mind so he prefers nonfiction books.

He loves music.

He struggles with being a teen.  He wants to be like everyone else which is a teen thing anyway the struggle seems bigger for him.

He is loyal.

He gets thrown off when someone is seen out of context like seeing a therapist at a store.

He knows his faith so well.  He is an awesome altar server and never misses the bells for consecration and he rings them joyously.

He blames me for his loss of weight and slowing of his growth spurt.  He says it's because I've made all these appointments that stress him out.  

He plays baby dolls with his youngest sister.  

He wears a hoodie with pockets on cold days so I can warm my hands while he wraps his arms around me.  

He struggles to navigate a social world with so many unwritten rules of engagements.  A world where there are too many nuances for him to catch.  

This is my son.

This is the face of autism.

It's Been a While

I do enjoy blogging.  Truly.  I do.  There's just been so much going on in my life that blogging has taken a back seat.

My baby received her First Holy Communion at the beginning of February.  The Monday after the Super Bowl to be precise.  Yes, it was hard waking up and getting us all to the church.  

And, it was difficult to not be behind the camera during this momentous time, but I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else, but behind my sweet, joyful child.

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My friend, Sue and I started a costume company called, Vitus and Company.  We specialize in theater costumes, but would like to branch out into the dance.  One of my goals is to learn the world of Irish dance.  

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You know, teen years are hard.  It's hard for the child and it's hard for the parent.  Then throw in autism and a parent could feel adrift.  One of my favorite places for my son is the Kidz Therapeze clinic.  Everyone there loves him.  They enjoy him.  He doesn't always get that from other places.  One of our favorites?  Ms. Erin.  She has so much wonderful energy.  And, she connects with so many of the kids there.  She brightens them up.  She is a blessing to me and to all the children at Kidz.

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Tween years are not so easy.  The social world is difficult to navigate as well.  

My older two are getting phones.  iPhones to be precise.  Mainly, smartphones because the cell phone world is heading away from regular phones.  

Why?  It is already difficult to be a homeschooler.  You are different even if it's a more accepted way of education.  Socially, my children have wonderful opportunities with homeschoolers and not.  But, in this day and age, it's hard to be the only one without a phone.  I know.  I don't usually do what others do.  BUT.  Well, some friends don't communicate without a phone.  Texts are the way some kids communicate.  I don't want the feeling of isolation to lead to serious rebellion.  I can see it happening especially in one particular child.  

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Did I tell you?  Sister got pointe shoes!  It was such a wonderful experience.  The girls and I drove to Austin for Sister to get fitted.  Then, we had a celebratory lunch.  This is her 8th year of ballet at Newcomb School of Ballet.  

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I will end this with this final thought.  I started homeschooling when Brother was 5.  I thought I could help control certain aspects of his education.  I knew he would be lost in the crowd.  He is just high functioning enough that he'd fall through the cracks of an overburdened education system.  Now, of course, there are many more reasons; reasons I won't get into.  One of the early reasons was to help prevent any sense of isolation amidst a crowd he would feel.  I also didn't want him to be a target of bullies.  I had a sense that he would be.  So, it pains me that sometimes the world you place your child in can create such hurt.  And, I'm not just speaking of one child.  I have seen and heard of the hurt that happens in the homeschool world.  

Socially, we have many opportunities.  But, we are all humans.  The mistake I made?  That by controlling who enters my children's spheres that there wouldn't be as much hurt.  I was wrong.  Not everyone feels the way I do.  Not everyone teaches their child the things I would expect.  And, some kids?  They're just downright mean.  And, when a family of kids are mean?  No words.    

Disclaimer:  I'm not saying public school kids are awful by virtue of public schooling.  I just thought that by exerting some control, I could control the kinds of people who would enter my children's sphere.  I was wrong.  Very, very wrong. 

 

 

In the Midst

In the midst of election stuff, I forgot. I did. If it hadn't been for Facebook, I might have just glossed over what today was.

On November 5, 2009, Ben had his promotion ceremony. We had finished up with the ceremony and we were all socializing and eating cake.  Our friend, who worked at the hospital on Fort Hood, came over and said he was being called back to work.  We were surprised as he had taken the afternoon off to attend the promotion.  He said there had been a shooting and he was needed.

We did not think it was a big as it was.  So, we set about cleaning up the food and getting leftovers into the cars.  We (the children, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law and me) headed to the Club to return the coffee maker.  My sister-in-law and I headed to the doors my sister-in-law indicated was where she entered earlier in the day.  It was locked.  Actually, it was locked and chained.  So, we headed around the building.  That's when the siren went off.  The announcement was to take cover and stay away from the windows.  My sister-in-law continued around the building while I ran back to get the car to pick her up.  

Apparently, the call had gone out to the buildings to close up before the sirens went off.  The poor soldiers inside the building wanted to help us, but couldn't as the doors were chained closed.  So, we brought the coffee pot back into the suburban and took off.  We didn't want to be caught out in the open.  

You have to remember.  At this point there was not enough information.  For all the authorities knew, there was more than one gunman.  I ran a red light at the urging of my mother-in-law and we turned out of Fort Hood.  As we crossed the gate, the guard ran out to close it.  We made it in the nick of time.

I remember all of this very vividly.  I remember the sense of panic.  I remember my children panicking at the sirens.  I remember their fear.  I remember them worrying about their father who had gone on to take care of some business.  Cell phone circuits were busy as word was getting out.

They locked down post.  No one could get in or out.  We waited as long as we could then went to dinner.  I think it's the first time we went out to dinner without having to wait for a table.  We're a family of a minimum of 6, we always wait for a table.  It was very, very eerie with the roads very empty. 

It turned into a very long night.  Until the children went to bed, we didn't turn the news on.  They didn't need to see or hear about it.  

Ben came home close to 11.  For us that ended the day.  For these families who lost loved ones or for those who survived after being shot, it hasn't ended.  The man responsible has not been brought to justice yet.  And, for the record?  It was not workplace violence.  It's terrorism pure and simple.

My Daddy ~ Employee of the Month

A bit after my daddy moved in with us, he found a job working in the garden center at the HEB (grocery store).  He has always been a diligent worker never slacking in any area.  

Yesterday, he was putting together some lawn furniture at work when he heard some applause behind him.  He just assumed there was something going on in the front of the store.  He glanced behind him to see the management team arrayed around him.  

He had been named Partner (what HEB calls employee) of the Month for September.  He received a cookie cake, balloon, and a gift card.  

We are all very proud of him.  The kids first question?  Is he bringing home the cake?

7 Quick Takes

ONE

Today we started our Shakespeare Club.  I invited all the children, grades 4 and up, in our homeschool group to my house.  We are reading "Twelfth Night".  I want to give all the children an opportunity to read it.  It's better read out loud in actual Shakespeare text.  We completed Act I.  

TWO

I'm horrified by what is happening in the Middle East.  I think we should pull out completely.  Most especially, we should pull out our aid.  May God comfort the families of those who were killed.

THREE

I've over scheduled.  Again.  Why?  Well, I want my children to have all the opportunities they can have.  Especially opportunities they would normally have if they attended a brick and mortar school.  What I would've really wanted to do instead of a Shakespeare Club is to have a play.  But, I realize my limitations timewise.

FOUR

My mind has been working overtime.  I have several sewing projects going on at once.  I'm working out several patterns and ideas in my brain.  These ideas percolate for a long time.  Then, I can put them in action.  For instance, I had an idea for a peasant sleeve on a sleeveless dress.  I thought it through for days, researched a way to make a pattern, then put it to action.  Percolation time?  About 6 days.  Action time?  15 minutes.  I have two flower girl dresses to make.  I'm almost done working out the details of both dresses.  I'm going to put it all together next week.  And, the Nut?  Well, that's a whole another story.

FIVE

The Nut.  I have these grand ideas.  I don't quite know what our director is thinking.  But, I, have these grand ideas.  And, we are moving.  No, not us, the studio.  We are moving locations.  The new place will be in a safer neighborhood and closer to places so I can run errands, although Honey doesn't like it when I leave her.  The commute will be easier and it'll be closer to Brother's therapy clinic.  

SIX

Brother will be participating in First Tee through his therapy clinic.  It'll be great for him.  My only problem?  It's the same time as Pumpkin's Tuesday ballet class.  Luckily, until we move into the new studio (hence the importance of it being close to the new studio), he'll be going early and helping with setup (thanks, Erin!).  I'm thankful to Kidz Therapeze for all the great opportunities they offer to the children.  Once we move closer, I'm going to help repay that by offering a knitting/sewing class.

SEVEN

Yesterday was my brother Patrick and his late wife, Erin's wedding anniversary.  She was a gorgeous bride.  The next 12 days are going to be rough, I know.  September has been bringing with it such melancholy.

7 Quick Takes

One

I drove onto post this afternoon (the Air Force and Navy calls it base, an Army installation is a post).  As I was waiting for the gate guard to look over my ID, I was getting irritated.  I was the only one in the car as I was going to pick Brother up from something.  He had me open my passenger window and then he looked closely over each row and each section of the Suburban.  I thought, well, wait a minute.  I'm not the enemy here.  I know.  I know he's doing his job.  And, the precautions are necessary.  It still didn't stop me from getting annoyed.  

Two

Our annual "Not Back to School" potluck picnic is today.  As always it's predicted to be a scorcher.  It's always hot.  But, we pick a park where there are trees.  Hopefully, there will be a breeze as well.  It's too bad it's not Saturday as we're expected to have a cold front come through.  Our homeschool group is in the midst of a down swing.  There is not a lot of participation in the events.  Our field trips are sparsely attended.  Most of our very active members moved away (thanks, Army).

Three

A dear friend of mine is moving away in January.  She's one of my MOB (Mothers Of Ballerinas) buddies.  I already lost one MOB buddy this summer.  Wait, I lost two.  I don't know what I'm going to do without her (darn Army).

Four

Yes, I have a love/hate thing with the Army.  I understand logically why things work the way they do.  It doesn't mean I have to like it.  I'm tired of fighting moves all the time.  I'm tired of saying goodbye to good friends.  I am grateful for the paycheck.  Truly.  But, emotionally, it's been hard.  In many, many ways.

Five

Next week starts our fullest week yet.  My son will have to start rising at 7 am on the dot and be ready for school by 8.  He's not going to like it.  If he doesn't, he will never be able to complete everything he has to before he runs out of down time.  My girls will have to follow suit.

Six.

I have a friend who is due around Thanksgiving.  She said she had 11 weeks left.  That sent me into panic mode for two reasons:  Nutcracker and Christmas.

Seven

Vacations are fun, but hard to recover from.  This past weekend, my SIL invited the entire Cho family to her parents house on Possum Kingdom Lake west of Forth Worth.  Oh, my it was a grand time.  The boat rides were fantastic.  The best part?  My mother rode the wave runner with my brother.  I thought my BIL, Todd's eyes were going to pop out when he heard.  My youngest brother's jaw dropped.  It was great.

My Girl. My Oldest Girl

She's 11 today.  Eleven years ago, the doctors pulled all 9 pounds of her out of me.  She was a week early with a scheduled c-section.  I wonder how big she would've been if she'd come on her own.

This beautiful girl of mine who taught her older autistic brother how to play when she was one. 

This beautiful girl who is transformed when she dances into the most graceful ballerina ever (in my very humble biased opinion).  Otherwise?  She's quite clumsy.  

This tween.  This princess.  This sister.  This fashion maven.   

Nutcracker 2009

This sweet girl who is my first daughter.  I know we'll be the greatest of friends when she's older.  

Happy birthday, my love.  

My Son is 14

My son.  The one who made me a mother.  The one who taught me that I'm not a very patient person.  

The one who showed me to learn to accept.  The one who taught me how to give more and more of myself.

This boy in a man sized body.  This boy who has taken me on an adventure I would never have imagined.  

This was taken in June 2009

December 2011

This boy.  I love him so much I can't even describe it.

He's 14 today.  How'd that happen?

July

It's hard to believe that it's nearing the end of July.  This summer, our weather has not been too hot.  Don't get me wrong, it's still hot, but when we were having over 100 days of 100 degree weather, I was cranky AND hot.  Right now?  Just hot.  Only sometimes cranky.

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Autism is a blessing and a curse.  I won't go into too many details.  However, I will say that it's sometimes REALLY hard for a child who is high functioning.  He acts "normal" usually.  He looks "normal".  And, he's just close enough that expectations are high for his behavior.  There isn't a lot out there on how to help him.  There isn't a lot out there for him.  He doesn't need adaptive stuff but he's not quite there for normal, age appropriate stuff.  My boy is getting man-sized.  He's still a boy.  It's harder and harder.  Just when I thought I had him figured out.  My dealings with him have me down.  I'm not always patient.  It's really hard.  He's moody.  Thankfully, it's not 100 degrees out.

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Planning for the new year.  I'm not anywhere near done.  I haven't really started.  I have an idea.  I have to get it down on paper.  I'm almost there in figuring out the schedule.  There are a few changes for therapy and ballet.  I'm still waiting to get it all finalized.  I know Brother needs one more activity.  A physical one.  It's hard to find one for him.  I'm thinking swim team on Fort Hood.

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Ben is nearing retirement.  It's making me feel a bit panicky.

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Exercise.  It's been nonexistent for me for over a year.  I'm hoping to get back on track.  I was on the treadmill on Monday.  I missed today.  Hoping for tomorrow.  My goal is an hour a day.  If I don't get up by six, I won't get it in.  I dislike mornings.

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My mind is all over the place.  From ballet costumes to theater costumes.  Did I mention that I was in the program for the first time for a theater production?  I was pretty proud.  I can put it on my resume.  The Nut will be here before we know it.  I have a few ideas.  These ideas have been floating around in my head since the last one.  I have different ideas for clothes for the girls.  I'm thinking I want to make a bunch of their clothes, but I like the summer ones better.  I'll have to figure out winter stuff.  

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Well, that's it for now.  I need to get to sleep if I'm going to wake up and exercise.

Nine! How'd That Happen?

Nine years ago, a sweet tiny 7lb 15oz baby girl was born.  Our only Virginia baby.  She captured our hearts from the start.  

Honey loves books.  She regales us with her vocabulary whenever she speaks.  Her love of a story and make believe is legendary.  She can be bigger than life.  I don't know how nine years could have gone by already.  

My beautiful girl.  Happy birthday.

And, did you know she had camo paints on her birthday list?  And, all sorts of tomboy stuff? 

Camp W 2012

For the past three years, a family in our homeschool group offers their home for a "camping" experience.  We have swimming, a campfire, and different activities.  This year, we added Saturday's vigil mass.  The setup was much easier having the camp starting on Saturday as opposed to Friday.  Until Father offered mass for us, we couldn't figure out a way to do a Camp W on Saturday into Sunday.  

We had swimming, then a potluck dinner, more swimming, a campfire with smores, of course, and a camp sing along.  The next morning, the overnight campers had a potluck breakfast.  With it being Father's Day, we had the children wash the dads' cars.  They had fun and then they were allowed to swim.  After swimming and a quick snack, we had a tug of war.  

The team on the left won.  

In an effort to cut down on trash and waste, we leave it up to the families to provide reusable plates and cups.  It doesn't always happen.  Some families just forget (I've been one to forget when we first started doing this).  Some will bring paper plates which is fine.  Usually, a couple of the families provided the paper goods.  So, this helps cut down on a few of the families carrying the whole group.  

Well, I've just deleted a whole paragraph that wasn't going in a good charitable direction.  So, I'll talk about a family who was there.  This mom has four 8 and under.  The youngest is a baby.  She camped overnight without her husband as he was in the field.  She put up her tent by herself.  She was super.  Without raising her voice once!  I was in awe.  She was vigilant.  She kept an eye on her children and made sure they didn't wander into the swimming pool area.  

Kids will be kids.  The people who own the property keep the gates closed because they don't want their dog to wander in and and out of the backyard.  That's the only reason why there are gates.  And, as many of us have been there frequently, we don't close the gates.  It's easier to go in and out of the pool area.  So, it was neat to see how this mom took care of her children while having the gates open.  But, of course, the Army is sending this family elsewhere.

Saturday Morning

This morning Brother has his second to last baseball game.  His team has won one game.  I love his team, coaches and players.  They do not give up.  They don't get mad at each other.  They encourage each other.

This team couldn't have been more tailor made for my son.  My son's biggest wish.  The biggest thing he wants more than anything this season?  A hit.  He's so afraid of getting hit.  I hope he gets it.  Talk about BIG boost to his self-confidence.  Prayers around 11 CST?

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I've been pondering the ideas of exclusivity.  I think that if a group, an official group, has an outing, no one should be left out.  I think that if a teen invites the other teen boys (or girls) in this group to a movie, he (or she) should not exclude one boy (or girl).  And, then, these boys (or girls) should know better than to discuss the movie and the outing in front of this boy (or girl).  And give him (or her) the guest list.  I'm just sayin'.

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However, if a few of the boys (or girls) get together for something, not everyone has to be invited.  It's just only if it's a group thing.  Just as sometimes moms will get together to do something.  It's a fine line, I know, but it's one I've always placed.  Maybe it's misplaced.  Not everyone clicks.  It's not necessarily a clique, but some people mesh better together.  

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I'm also pondering backing away from our homeschool group.  There are pluses and minuses.  It's a hard decision.  I have to do what's best for my children.  It's been a positive experience...for the most part.

The True Jewel

My oldest daughter played Princess Nadia.  She opens the box which releases evil and kills Queen Adalia, her mother.  The box beckons to her and she takes it and runs away.  

 

Princess Nadia right before she opens the box

 

Sister is very good at playing a naughty girl.  It's a bit disturbing.  

The ballet had canaries, butterflies, and villagers.

 

My butterfly

 

 

My canary

 

 

My villager

 

I made the princess bodices and tutus.  The M.O.B. (Mothers Of Ballerinas) helped quite a bit with the decorations.  

 

The princesses

 

The Queen Who Lives aka Queen Gemma

 

I made this one as well.  

We are all still recovering from the spring performance.  The girls should've been tired except they've been playing "ballet school" since yesterday.  To Nutcracker music of all things.  I guess they're ready to move on to the next thing.  I have a house to clean for the summer.  A very late spring cleaning.

Pumpkin

Dear Pumpkin,

Wow.  You're seven!  I can't imagine where the time went.  If I remember correctly, just yesterday you were in my arms nursing.  

Instead, you are such a fun-loving child.  This coming year is going to bring so much for you.  You'll receive two sacraments.  You'll be in the 2nd grade.  

You bring a lot of joy to this family and to this world.  You do everything with passion whether it be happy passion...or not.

You're the only sister that Brother teases.  It's really kind of cute even though you react with such vigor.  I almost don't want to stop him because it's so neuro-typical.  He loves you.  And, who wouldn't.  

I remember the day you were born.  I said Hail Marys throughout the entire c-section.  They had changed procedure so you were brought to me as soon as I was brought back into the recovery room from the OR.  We were together from the get-go.  

I miss that little baby, but oh, I am just loving who you are today.  

Happy birthday, sweet Pumpkin.  I love you!

My Brother's Wedding

I wanted to post some pictures of the wedding for my cousin in Korea.  And, for you all.

Divine Office

A couple of weeks ago, I read this about the Divine Office app on the iPhone.  I considered it, but then decided to wait.  It does have a higher price tag for an app.  Then another one of my friends mentioned it as well on Facebook.  I thought once again about purchasing it, but didn't do it.

Then, I went to a homeschool conference.  Once again, it came up.  Well, I often ask God for big obvious signs.  Not subtle ones because well, I just don't catch them.  So, I purchased the app.

I listen to it.  I'm not on schedule as I should be.  And, I don't always have my full focus on it.  I usually put my headphones on and start listening as I sew.  It's been great.  

God hammered me over the head about this app.  I listened.  Eventually.

Autism Awareness ~ Miscellaneous Ramblings

Today is the last day of April.  I have lots of words but even more feelings locked up inside.  I don't know if they'll ever come out.

Adolescence is hard for my child.  It's hard for any child, but for someone who is developmentally 10 and yet physically is 13 going on 14, it's even harder.  

I homeschool for many reasons.  One of them is so my son won't get bullied.  His life is difficult enough without the added burden of being bullied.  He's just off enough that he'd get bullied.  I know it.  

But, even as a homeschool mom, I can't guarantee that he'll have friends.  

He's at the age where he really wants friends.  He wants that social interaction.  But, this is where he's weakest.  I'll have to say that the people who have known him for many years brace themselves for his brand of conversation.  I know they tend to brush him off.  I try not to hold it against them.

Baseball has been difficult because there are too many unknowns.  Unknowns are not easy for people with autism.  He has to be first when doing anything because first is a known.  Last is never a known because last can actually be 4th, 3rd, 6th, or any manner of number.  He doesn't know what position he'll be playing.  It's been hard for him to have to try all sorts of different positions.  He has his first game this Thursday at 7:45.  

7 Quick Takes ~ Austim Awareness

One

I grieve occasionally.  At times I might even get jealous.  Jealous, but not so that I wish others didn't have it.  Of what you might wonder.  Well, conversation.  I want to hold a conversation with my son.  A real one.  Okay, well all of ours are real.  I want to talk about him.  Not about facts.  Not about trivia.  Him.  I want to know how he is.  What he's thinking.  Everything.  I read books with sons as characters.  I want those types of conversations.  I wonder if I'll ever get them.  Then I feel badly because, well, my son is verbal.  There are many who are not.  Don't get me wrong.  We do speak and have conversations.  But, I'd really like to delve deeper with him.  Because he truly is a neat and interesting character.  He's funny.  

Two

Baseball.  Wow.  He's playing well.  However, he won't start.  And, because of his age, he is not in the recreation league where everyone HAS to play.  I hope he gets a shot.  I want this to be a good experience for him.  He got one of the better coaches.  He is suited to coach a guy like Brother.  The other coaches are pretty hardcore.  The other teams even have a team shout out after practice.  Not Brother's.  Unless they developed one since last week.  Oh, he's playing as a Ranger.  I'm so happy he's not a Yankee.  It'd be hard to cheer for the team.  

Three

School.  We are constantly working on reading with him.  He can't comprehend much in the way of a story.  He reads facts and will remember them.  Great mind and memory there.  However, give him a story, and he gets lost.  Sometimes he gets lost reading.  The words I think are too much on that page.  Also, he can't make a picture in his head so following what's happened is difficult.  He also can't pick out the main idea so every detail is important.  When everything seems important, it's hard to follow a storyline.

Four

Piano.  He loves music.  It is one of the few things that actually calms him.  He needs to listen to it at high volume.  I try not to wince at the damage I'm sure it's causing his hearing.  He plays the piano well if not always with the proper placement.  He tends to remember music instead of following the sheet music.  I think he tends to lose his place.  It's about the same as reading a book.

Five

Math.  Sigh.  He's behind in math.  But, he's doing well at what he is learning.  And, I'm pleased.  I want him to be able to write smaller when he does math, but he says he can't see the numbers.  It's not that he can't see the numbers.  I think it's that his brain doesn't process it well when he looks at a column of numbers.  So, he needs to write big.  Well, that's an easy accommodation.

Six

College.  Will he go?  He wants to.  I really wish the local Texas A&M Central Texas campus would have an autism center of sorts.  This area has a lot of special needs children.  I think it would be so nice that have that available so that he can live with us and attend college.  These are all things that are looming in the future.  Near more than far.  How did that happen?  

Seven

My dream.  My dream is that he will live independently.  Okay, here's my real big dream.  I want to buy a big-ish piece of land.  Build a house on it.  Then build a smaller house on it for Brother.  He can be independent but near.  I've heard of high functioning adults with autism doing this.  They're independent but close by to family so they can be watched over.  

I need to win the lottery...