Keeping Friends

Nathan is doing very well in school but is definitely struggling lately to maintain friendships.  I know this problem is common in kids with Aspergers but it doesn't mean I have to like it or even accept it!  We talk with Nathan and try to explain what a friend is and how to keep friends and how to be kind and flexible and so forth but not all of it sinks in. 

I know he has a tendency to overreact when other kids are not doing things "the right way" or "the way you are supposed to" and that can push kids away.  He also doesn't understand when someone says, "I don't want to be your friend anymore."  He finds it an odd statement since nearly everyone is his friend.  It just plain doesn't make sense to him. 

But overall he is doing better than we expected and his teacher says he is participating more and more in group activities and playing with a wider range of playground equipment, colors, etc. 

Little Miss Emma has decided she should be in school and ask everyday when she will get to go.  But I also think she doesn't mind too much being home with mommy and cooking and even getting a bath in the middle of the day!  Not too shabby I say!

I will be 32 weeks pregnant tomorrow! Hard to believe.  I am very uncomfortable at this point but it will all be worth it!

That's it for now!

"He Has Aspergers like you!" "Oh"

Where to start?

Nathan is officially in love with school.  He even boast about having no absences and makes sure to list who in his class has been absent before and how many times.  He knows EVERYONES name in his class and even kids from other classes.  When Chris called the school office about something he said he was calling regarding Nathan and the woman on the phone goes, "Nathan Tidball?  Oh, we know who he is!"  LOL  I bet they do!

Nathan actually does better during the week than on the weekends.  I think during the week he knows exactly what will happen and the schedule at school and he thrives on that!  Whereas our weekends are always different and we go places, run errands, get up later, etc. 

Nathan did report that he doesn't get along well with one girl and I won't go into details but the teacher has been made aware of what was happening and said she will take care of it.  We really like Nathan's teacher. 

We also have been informed that Nathan gets pulled out of class and gets to read to someone.  They said they are doing their best to challenge him.  I do admit we wish he could get into 1st grade for a more challenging education but at the same time I think he does well to be with kids his own age. 

Nathan knows the whole school schedule and what "special" they have every day. 

His first picture day is tomorrow and he said he HAD to have a red background for his picture.  His first field trip is Friday and I get to go with him!  Probably the first and only field trip I can attend since the baby will be here in February. 

We are having Nathan's birthday party early this year, in October.  A little girl from his class lives nearby and she comes and plays in the back yard with Nathan. Anyways, her mom called and said they would like to come to Nathan's party but she hesitated then said, "She has a brother who is nine and he has Aspergers and thinks he should get to go too."

I said, "No problem!  He is welcome!  Nathan has Aspergers too!"

She almost seemed excited and said she would like to talk and know what their options are.  Again, I feel so grateful we caught Nathan's early and he could spend a year at the Early Intervention and attend his social group and OT and PT.

I told Nathan about his friend's brother having Aspergers like him and he just said, "Oh."

Emma is enrolled in ballet.   She loves it!  And she is so cute in her tutu.

I am in my 6th month of pregnancy already.  Time seems to be passing fast.
 

Jeopardy Blues

We are considering banning Jeopardy in our home.

Why?  Is it the content?  No.  Is it our kids picking up bad habits?  No.  It's the fact that when our little Nathan, at five years old, only gets one or two answers right....he gets really angry and upset.  Friday he was so angry and annoyed that Jeopardy dared make the show so hard on Friday night that he could only answer one question.

He went to bed in tears.  Poor guy.

Today I ran a few errands while Chris was home with the kids.  Nathan called me on my cell phone all in tears because he didn't get a turn on a swing when he wanted.  I told him to wait and to share but he just bawled.  Sigh. 
We went to a birthday today for a friend who turned fifty.  They have a son who is nine and he has Autism.  He and Nathan got along great today and Nathan didn't have any tantrums or blow ups.  He did get upset when it was time to go but it didn't last too long.  It was so nice to talk to this boy's mom because she gets it!  She is living it!  It's amazing how similar Nathan and this boy are but also so different.  The spectrum of Autism seems to be both wide and vast.

Tomorrow is father's day!  We are grilling steak and ribs.  yumm

Monday, we begin to watch the neighbor girl while her mom goes to work.  She and Nathan and Emma get along pretty well.  Monday is also a big day because we will go to the psychologist to ask for approval for Nathan's wrap around services.  Nikki will come with us.  I pray this door opens as easily as all the other ones have.