IEP ETR OMG BBQ!

   I attended Tim's re-evaluation for his IEP on Monday. It's a program designed to tailor Tim's schooling to fit exactly what he needs to meet the goals we've set for his education.  Which is a really long bunch of forms and paperwork that are filled out by basically anyone who interacts with Timmy in his school setting.

   I'm always really nervous at these, because I'm secretly very insecure about being a parent of a special needs child. I always feel like I have to defend Tim's actions. Which is completely unnecessary since the teachers and staff know perfectly well what Tim is like.  But hey, who said insecurities have to be logical?  Aaaaaand, not very secret, since I'm sharing it on the blog. So there's that.  ◔_◔;

   Actually, the meeting was very reassuring in several ways. I got a better idea of how he's doing learning-wise.  He was able to complete an actual IQ type test, and we were really happy to hear he scored very well. He still has issues with abstract reasoning, determining facial expressions and inferring emotional responses. Also, he's darn loud, even though he does try to keep it down when reminded.
   I found it very comforting that the teachers and staff all thought Tim was a special and wonderful kid, who can be a lot of fun to have in class. I got to hear about how well he interacts with non-special needs students that he hangs out with in lunch, and his inclusion classes. I learned that some phrases and ideas he seemed to have picked up out of the blue were due to some in class discussions.  I really liked hearing what he was working on, because all he ever tells me he does at school is "Stuff," or "I like to sleep at school."  (Which is not true, actually, he likes to pretend to sleep whenever he doesn't want to do work he finds "too hard.")

   The best part as witnessing the back-and-forth between the teachers themselves, the school psychologist and the Vice Principal. They all had great insight into Tim's needs, and shared bits and pieces with each other  as well as myself while going over the goals for the new year.  I felt they really understood and cared about Tim.

Just for fun, here's Tim crashing some cars. And this is the kid who wants to drive at age fourteen.

Supporting Japan

   Today Tim, Miko and I had a lot of fun at a fundraising event held in the local Community Recreation Center. It was to raise money for families in Japan who suffered from the recent earthquake and tsunami. It was presented by Heart Bridge Ohio.  We got to do a couple of classic Japanese festival activities, first Yo-Yo Hooking.

image: Google

 Yo-yo Hooking - small, brightly decorated heavy-duty, round balloons are tied to short elastic bands with a small hoop at one end. A small amount of water is put in them before inflating to hand-held size, so that they still float. The elastics are left to sink to the bottom of a shallow pool or tub. A safety pin, or paperclip is bent into a hook shape, and tied to a  short, tightly twisted  "string" of paper. The object is to hook one of the elastic loops, and pull up a Yo-Yo balloon before your paper "string" dissolves. The ball-like Yo-Yo can then be hung from a finger by the loop, and the small amount of water gives it weight, while the elastic lets it "bounce" up and down from your palm.

Red!

    Tim managed to snag one easily. Actually, everyone did. I wonder if they used stronger paper than usual so everyone would win.  We also threw pipe-cleaner "hoops" over a variety of trinkets laid out on a grid on the floor. Easy win for Tim, he got a Sanrio notepad, and a big package if Disney Princess stickers.  I expected him to want to trade them for, say the baby Godzilla or something, but he happily exclaimed, "I like princesses, they are girls!"
   There was a second-hand book sale. Of course, they were all in Japanese, but that was more than okay with Tim! He found two Pokemon books, and had great fun looking over some of the older weekly comic magazines offered.

Very mini.

   We also took part in a mini tea ceremony, with some manju-type white-bean paste sweet, and some very strong traditionally made green tea. They had placards with instructions on how to drink it in the traditional style (for example, you are supposed to turn the bowl clockwise twice before drinking, while holding it in you left hand.) Tim pretty much ignored the instructions. His only comment was "it's hot!" The ladies wore traditional kimonos and obi, as well as tabi-socks, but I did see some very non-traditional high heels peeking out behind the screens.

"Is it done yet?"

   While we waited for a raffle we had entered to be called, we had an adorable young lady draw a caricature of Tim and one of Miko. Of course Pika, Tim's Pikachu plush had to be included. Tim was very patient while being drawn, and I made sure to add a few extra dollars to the donation pot for the trouble of adding Pika. I wish I had asked the girl her name, or had her sign the picture. She was very talented, and deserves serious praise for doing so much drawing for free. (Remember this was a fundraiser! Everyone donated their time and skills for free!) She did a fantastic job, and Tim was thrilled.

"Wow, it's me!"

  We didn't win anything in the raffle, which disappointed Tim, but he did have a whole lot of fun anyway! And all for a good cause!  Thanks very much to our neighbors, and Miko's school friend for inviting us!

Miko had fun too!

Adorable!

"I Like Being a Boy That Likes Girls."

   Tim is not an only child. He's the oldest of four, with two younger sisters and a baby brother. The older sister, Miko is a very energetic almost ten year old. She tends to have a lot of patience with Tim and their youngest sister, Suzi, who is also autistic. This year they started a new school, and Miko made tons of friends. So sometimes she wants to get together with them. Usually, this doesn't interest Tim, but today she and a friend wanted to go shopping for matching outfits for "twin day" at their school. I had already resigned to taking Suzi, because she was very clingy and kept hugging me and saying "go in the car?" So when Tim demanded to be included, I was inwardly groaning.  Due to a mis-communication with Cameron (Daddy) Suzi was already waiting to get in the car, and i had to make a quick decision. We were going to have a "girls night out - plus Tim".

"I like girls!" Suzi (in the cart), Tim, Miko's friend and Miko (far right).

  Needless to say, Tim was bored, (so was Suzi) as the girls shopped.. and shopped, and shopped. They tried on what seemed like every pair of shoes in the store. They were shopping machines. Tim told me when we were finally headed for check-out, "We made a new friend today! Wow!"

  So I guess he still had fun. Miko certainly did! Suzi was still smiling when we got home. Me? I just needed to get to the bathroom, fast!

The girls had a blast. "Twins" indeed.

 

Times, They Are A-Changin'

   One of Tim's favorite pass times is thinking (and telling us) about what he would change in history if he had a time machine. He has plans for changing the future too, but today, we'll focus on the past.

Tim's Top 10 Changes He'd Make to History

                                                             or: Predicting the Past

Genepithecus : By Tim

1. Floating Aliens (1010102 to 10100 BC)    By using new technology these aliens will create God.                                  
2. First Big Bang  (10100 BC)  This kills the Floating Aliens. 
3. Space Trees (304,000,000,000,000 BC) To protect themselves (but not the universe)  from the Big Bang. Otherwise, they were just there.
4. Second Big Bang; Birth of the Universe (15,000,000,000 BC) Destroyed the Space Trees, and all the Evil Universes.
5. Genepithecus (440 - 14 million BC) This man lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. He was two feet tall. He has claws, one foot long legs and waterproof fur.
6. Daabalis (6000-4113 BC) Ancient German philosopher.
7. Wifter (4000-1645 BC) Ancient English philosopher who philosophized smarter than Daablis.
8. Godis (1000-0 BC) He dies when Jesus was born.
9. Mokas ( 0-200 AD) He with Meves were Greek philosophers. Even smarter than Godis.
10. Marplin (500-1000 AD) She made cheating illegal.

   I promised Tim I would change all these to past-tense, if he actually changes history.