So the boys were over, as usual. And there was a brief time while Grandpa, David and I were all upstairs. Grandpa went downstairs and discovered the Mad Scientist at work. He called, "Grandma, come down here now!"
So I put on my shoes (you never know) and went down. There was Mikey, trying to turn on my KitchenAid mixer. In the bowl, he had sugar and several spices. Yup, corrupted by (I think) Playhouse Disney online, he was trying to make - A GIRL!
For those of you who don't remember: Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice...
Mikey also said, "Boys like mud," which Grandma immediately corrected.
"Not all boys!" [and certainly NOT Grandpa, which any of you who know him already know], "AND some girls do!" [which you also know if you've ever seen my in my garden :-]
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Philadelphia
David is studying American History this year. So Grandma took him to Eastern Pennsylvania. We arrived in Philadelphia in the evening, and stayed in a hotel near the airport. We then got a car the next day and drove out to King of Prussia.
Valley Forge was our first stop. They have a wonderful self-guided tour - you buy the CD and keep it - that really makes the experience. David was impressed with Wayne's Woods - he loves woodsy countryside - and with General von Steuben, because of his colorful languageS - yes, indeed; he cursed in several languages.
The next day it was pouring down rain. We had Gettysburg on our itinerary. We went anyway for a number of reasons. In stead of a bus tour, we hired a docent - the cost of a personal guide is just slightly more than 2 bus tour tickets, and you get to drive around in your own car. If you ever go to Gettysburg, I highly recommend this option. We also advised them that David is high-functioning autistic, and our assigned guide was a former HS teacher who was sensitive to the issues. It was a lot of fun.
The trip - more on it later - was good but I think a bit much overall for David. When I do this again, I think we'll plan alternate days of "just fun" versus learning fun.
I'll just add one more thing here. We flew American Airlines - I have status on them this year - and because of that flew through DFW. On the 2nd leg, I had requested a first class upgrade with my upgrade credits, which we got. I did explain to David that the cost of first class seats was 3-5 times the cost of a coach seat. His comment was that he didn't think first class was worth it, outside of the getting on first, personal attention, wider seats, extra legroom and food and the dessert (American still does ice cream sundaes). (Grandma would add, "and the drinks, but she thinks it's worth it!)
Valley Forge was our first stop. They have a wonderful self-guided tour - you buy the CD and keep it - that really makes the experience. David was impressed with Wayne's Woods - he loves woodsy countryside - and with General von Steuben, because of his colorful languageS - yes, indeed; he cursed in several languages.
The next day it was pouring down rain. We had Gettysburg on our itinerary. We went anyway for a number of reasons. In stead of a bus tour, we hired a docent - the cost of a personal guide is just slightly more than 2 bus tour tickets, and you get to drive around in your own car. If you ever go to Gettysburg, I highly recommend this option. We also advised them that David is high-functioning autistic, and our assigned guide was a former HS teacher who was sensitive to the issues. It was a lot of fun.
The trip - more on it later - was good but I think a bit much overall for David. When I do this again, I think we'll plan alternate days of "just fun" versus learning fun.
I'll just add one more thing here. We flew American Airlines - I have status on them this year - and because of that flew through DFW. On the 2nd leg, I had requested a first class upgrade with my upgrade credits, which we got. I did explain to David that the cost of first class seats was 3-5 times the cost of a coach seat. His comment was that he didn't think first class was worth it, outside of the getting on first, personal attention, wider seats, extra legroom and food and the dessert (American still does ice cream sundaes). (Grandma would add, "and the drinks, but she thinks it's worth it!)
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Mikey and Development
Mikey is his own "man" - that is, nothing YOU think or say about him influences him in any way most of the time (or me either). And he is such a funny mix of things. I think I already mentioned that we are having issues with appropriate behaviors and appropriate touching now that he's entered puberty. He'll be going along on the Internet, looking a Clifford, Sponge Bob Squarpants, or combing the Disney site for news about when revamped attractions will reopen. And then he's onto a site with scampily-clad men and/or women.
Age apprpriate? How about, "Age gamut." After many years, he has pulled out VHS (that'll tell you how long) tapes of Percy (from the Thomas the Train collection) and "I love Trains" - a preschool video. Go figure.
He loves music. Opera, classical, Celtic and SOME rock. His mom tells me he doesn't tolerate the 70s and 80s collection she prefers, and he will not tolerate either of us playing our guitars and/or singing. He doesn't like much regular TV and he will watch videos - well, "watch" needs explaining. He moves through them quickly, skipping major parts; then he'll fixate on one section and play it over. and over. and over. AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER >>>>>>>.
Ah, well. It's MIKEY, after all ......
Age apprpriate? How about, "Age gamut." After many years, he has pulled out VHS (that'll tell you how long) tapes of Percy (from the Thomas the Train collection) and "I love Trains" - a preschool video. Go figure.
He loves music. Opera, classical, Celtic and SOME rock. His mom tells me he doesn't tolerate the 70s and 80s collection she prefers, and he will not tolerate either of us playing our guitars and/or singing. He doesn't like much regular TV and he will watch videos - well, "watch" needs explaining. He moves through them quickly, skipping major parts; then he'll fixate on one section and play it over. and over. and over. AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER >>>>>>>.
Ah, well. It's MIKEY, after all ......
Monday, March 21, 2011
Mikey / Socialization
It varies with Mikey. But Saturday, he came in, walked out to the kitchen where Grandpa and I were, and said, "Hello, Grandmother. Hello, Grandfather" before he started wandering off.
And he was responsive to questions - once we got his attention :-).
"Mikey. MIKEY." (Eyes finally on me.) "We are having chicken for dinner. We are baking potatoes. Do you want a sweet potato, or a regular potato?"
"Sweet potato!"
"OK."
Hey, it's a step forward!!
He also was cooperative when he came back from doing chores with Grandpa and David and I were still using the computer to complete math. He asked for the computer and I said, "10 minutes."
(David protested, "10 MORE minutes??" I said, "Probably not but I want to set expectations for Mikey.")
So he went away and came back when we told him it was OK, without any protest. I love the good days.
And he was responsive to questions - once we got his attention :-).
"Mikey. MIKEY." (Eyes finally on me.) "We are having chicken for dinner. We are baking potatoes. Do you want a sweet potato, or a regular potato?"
"Sweet potato!"
"OK."
Hey, it's a step forward!!
He also was cooperative when he came back from doing chores with Grandpa and David and I were still using the computer to complete math. He asked for the computer and I said, "10 minutes."
(David protested, "10 MORE minutes??" I said, "Probably not but I want to set expectations for Mikey.")
So he went away and came back when we told him it was OK, without any protest. I love the good days.
David / Math /Responsibility
Normally, I send an assignment for the week to David over the weekend. It includes sets of items for him to review online and/or worksheets. This past Sunday (after we'd had the boys for a more-or-less normal Saturday), we were going out of town - and I totally forgot to send anything.
Got an email this morning:
i did two of the three review items at the front of the review section.
one of them (interior/exterior angles) i couldn't do.
(What he was referring to was ALEKS' automatic putting out review items based on recent work.)
I was totally jazzed that he took the initiative to do some work absent an assignment! Especially in light of some recent, totally irresponsible and typical teenage behavior ...
And, YES, I acknowledged and praised the behavior!!
Got an email this morning:
i did two of the three review items at the front of the review section.
one of them (interior/exterior angles) i couldn't do.
(What he was referring to was ALEKS' automatic putting out review items based on recent work.)
I was totally jazzed that he took the initiative to do some work absent an assignment! Especially in light of some recent, totally irresponsible and typical teenage behavior ...
And, YES, I acknowledged and praised the behavior!!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Aunt Lori
Aunt Lori was here on a short visit (my slightly younger sister) - and David was apparently quite taken with her. She lives near Ft. Lauderdale, and sent a shirt for him for Christmas one year that he's almost worn out. He was with some friends the other day and started talking about her. His mom reminded him, "You know, she's really your GREAT aunt."
"Really?" David responded, "But she's so YOUNG!!"
"Really?" David responded, "But she's so YOUNG!!"
Friday, February 25, 2011
David
MATH
David sent me an email regarding a quiz I gave him (through ALEKS). He advised me, "I got ___%, which is x / y right. In fractional terms, x/y [fraction simplified]." [I left out the actual numbers on purpose.]
David has always found tests difficult; especially, timed tests. I started giving him quizzes in ALEKS (which are timed; but I set the time really long). He is doing better on these; and more importantly, seems less intimidated by the quiz function. I know many kids are test-phobic; this just seems a good way to get him used to the idea.
SOCIALIZATION
A really fabulous thing happened: someone from the home school group invited David and a couple of other kids over to play a role-playing game. David actually asked his mom not to stay, and he did OK. He's been invited back!
David sent me an email regarding a quiz I gave him (through ALEKS). He advised me, "I got ___%, which is x / y right. In fractional terms, x/y [fraction simplified]." [I left out the actual numbers on purpose.]
David has always found tests difficult; especially, timed tests. I started giving him quizzes in ALEKS (which are timed; but I set the time really long). He is doing better on these; and more importantly, seems less intimidated by the quiz function. I know many kids are test-phobic; this just seems a good way to get him used to the idea.
SOCIALIZATION
A really fabulous thing happened: someone from the home school group invited David and a couple of other kids over to play a role-playing game. David actually asked his mom not to stay, and he did OK. He's been invited back!
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