PRESENT
THE E-NEWS
CARE
AND FEEDING OF THE CAREGIVER
Volume 5; Issue
3
June 13, 2002
Without
meaning to sound whiney, I think we are the most misunderstood, hardworking and
least taken-care of people on earth! By ‘we’ I mean those of us who love
someone with autism; more specifically the primary ‘caregiver’.
This could mean the mom or dad – but also a stepparent, grandparent,
uncle, aunt or friend.
We are
misunderstood because many people in our communities don’t seem to know how to
‘treat’ us.
Are we saints? Are we students? Are we an obstacle in providing
education/service to our children? Does the unsuspecting and uneducated
population view us as cruel when they see us patiently waiting for our children
to provide us with a picture communication card or ignoring an
eardrum-shattering tantrum in the mall?
We
aren’t supposed to care about what others think, but by the very nature of our
situations, we are emotional.
These are our babies and we want what is best for them.
So we lose sleep and struggle and remortgage our homes in the hopes to
provide that elusive element that is going to help us to sleep better and help
our kids to live full, independent lives often neglecting what we need in the
process.
This
issue is dedicated to us.
There isn’t going to be entirely about autism/pdd in this issue except
for how it applies in the stories submitted by our wonderful contributors – we
are going to discuss how to take care of ourselves, so that we can take care of
those whom we love – in a no-nonsense, realistic way. We will also talk about
warning signs of caregiver overload.
I am not
going to say “You must take time for yourself!”. I know better than to come
up with a line like that.
All I would be doing is putting extra pressure on you and demanding you
make room for one more task in the day.
Instead, let’s look at some practical ideas to make life easier, and
along the way hear a few personal stories from other caregivers just like us!
The
following issue contains a cornucopia of ideas to help take care of YOU, the
caregiver.
Bee
Cool,
Liz
Founder, BBB
Autism Support Network
LATE BREAKING
NEWS!
NOTE
TO ONTARIO RESIDENTS FROM NANCY MORRISON:
Thursday, June 20, 2002 at 1:00 p.m. will be a very
important day at Queens Park for those of us with children diagnosed with Autism
Spectrum Disorder and are frustrated with the lack of sufficient funding for ABA
Therapy services. The Ontario NDP
Party, headed by Tony Martin from Sault Ste Marie and Shelly Martel from the
Nicklebelt (Sudbury), want to bring forward the funding issue in session at
Queens Park. They are asking that
as many as possible attend the parliamentary session on that date.
If your autistic children are able to join you that would even be better.
Session would be from 1 p.m. to approximately 3 p.m.
Arrangements have been made for a press conference beforehand with the
three families from Simcoe County.
Please
R.S.V.P. your attendance, with names and addresses of all those attending, by
Tuesday June 18th to the Email address below. This
information must be supplied ahead of time to gain entry into the session.
They will have room for hundreds; please don’t be shy in attending.
We want to make a loud cry for help on that date.
*
Take care, now…
By Liz
Whenever we
fly the friendly skies, we are told: “In case of emergency, oxygen masks will
drop from the overhead bin. For those traveling with small children, be sure to
fasten your own mask before assisting your child.”
For those of
us with children on the spectrum this analogy means nothing.
We work very hard to take care of everyone around us before attempting to
fasten our own oxygen masks. Unfortunately,
we sometimes experience such burnout and stress that we collapse before even
reaching for our lifeline. We know
we have to find ways to take care of ourselves, but how do we do this with the
everyday challenges we face?
Care and Feeding of the Caregiver
 |
Learn to ask others (spouse, family members,
teachers, etc.) for support. Be specific about what you need, firm in your
method of asking, and appreciative for what others do to help. This can be
a difficult step, after all somewhere we got the idea we had to be
super-parents. Why? Because
we think other people expect it of us.
|
|
Lower your stress threshold.
Okay, this sounds odd; after all shouldn’t we be learning to deal
with larger quantities of stress than the typical family? The answer is
no. As Dr. Richard Carlson suggests in his book “Don’t Sweat the Small
Stuff…”, “Our current level of stress will be exactly that of our
tolerance to stress. You’ll
notice that the people who say, ‘I can handle lots of stress’ will always
be under a great deal of it!” If
we raise our tolerance to stress, we will learn to accept even more
responsibility and confusion until our stress level reaches our tolerance
level. Notice your stress
early, way before it gets out of hand.
|
|
Change your standards for housekeeping (and
other tasks that don’t really matter). Did you ever notice how housework can sometimes put you
over the edge? You have dealt
with inordinate amounts of stress, then suddenly your daughter forgets to
throw out her apple core and you lose it! If at all possible, hire someone to come in every so
often to clean, but try to relax about your own obsession with tidiness. In
various polls we’ve conducted at BBB Autism, we’ve asked how our
members deal with stress; many people cite this attitude as a way they
lessen unwanted frustration and negative feelings. It can be quite
liberating!
|
|
Hand in hand with the above is make peace with
imperfection. Are you
obsessed with losing 10lbs? Get over it!
If you are at a reasonably healthy weight and are taking care of
yourself physically, don’t go crazy over a few pounds.
|
|
Find a healthy physical outlet. Discover a sport
or exercise you really enjoy, and then do it regularly — either by
yourself or with an “exercise buddy.” Take a Tae Bo class and punch
out the stress; take a cycle class and beat stress to the finish line.
Out- walk, run, bounce, jog or play it.
You’ll feel better, look better and sleep better!
|
|
If you feel you would like to start eating
healthier, check out the Food Guide and try to get a good variety of
healthy foods. If weight gain
is a health risk, organizations such as Weight Watchers ® offer healthy,
sensible alternatives to fad diets. Sometimes,
paying attention to such things can take the focus away from our stress
for a period of time.
|
|
Take pleasure from music, movies, magazines,
museums, and even favorite television programs. It’s OK to take time for
yourself to “escape” every once in awhile. If you are experience
warning signs of burnout, do NOT read anything about autism and do NOT
watch Rain Man for the fiftieth time. If you feel you have to unsubscribe
from the E-News for a period of time, no one will be hurt…we all need an
autism vacation occasionally! J
|
|
Give yourself permission to say, “No.” I
have a tendency to reach out to others to the point where I sometimes lose
myself and my feelings. I can
spend hours trying to help someone through a rough time and then I’m
stunned when they walk out of my life without even a ‘thank you’. I need to learn to say ‘no’ more often; in other
polls we’ve conducted, this appears to be a problem area for most of us! |
|
No
more multi-tasking!!! Trying to get things done quickly helps build up
the stress! Studies have proven that doing two things at once often
leaves two jobs half-done. So, stop shaving your legs
in the shower while removing tile grout!!!
|
|
Find someone you trust — relatives, friends,
and baby sitters — to take care of your child so you can get away. You
can try a respite worker (in home or out of your home).
For more information on respite, check
out this link.
|
The Future
|
Find someone to talk to.
It can help if this person has already been through something
similar, then you can compare notes.
|
|
On advice:
It can be frustrating to have someone shoot down every single one
of the ideas you give, but ask yourself if that person even asked for
advice to begin with. When
someone gives you unasked-for advice, thank him or her even if the
idea sounds ridiculous. They
are only trying to help.
|
|
Retain your sense of humour.
Sometimes the most embarrassing or difficult moments turn into
hilarious anecdotes down the road.
|
Don’t Forget to Breathe
Sometimes you have to slow down before you
can gain momentum. You’re not being selfish if you find ways to take care of
yourself. You’re just getting that extra whiff of oxygen so you can move ahead
with renewed energy and commitment. When your chest feels tight, stop and take
several huge breaths. You will be
surprised at how good this can help you feel!
Above all, if you start to experience some of
the signs of burnout listing in this issue, don’t be afraid to seek some
professional help!
Now, if only I could learn to do as I say! J
WELCOME
TO THE ZOO!
Welcome to this new, recurring feature by BBB Autism Member
Michelle E. Michelle is mom to three wonderful boys, two of whom are on the
autism spectrum. For years, she’s
entertained us with her stories, now we have convinced her to turn her thoughts
into a regular column for all to enjoy. Get
yourself a cup of coffee, sit back and join us for this issue’s trip to the
“Zoo”!
CARING FOR THE CAREGIVER
Having
children in general is stressful. Having a special needs child is definitely
stressful. Having more than one child in the family makes it even harder because
of trying to divide up the attention that one gets over another. Also, life is
stressful -- everyone has different stressors in their lives.
But
the caregiver of any child who has special needs has to learn to avoid certain
issues such as exhaustion, panic attacks, depression, own health issues (because
they put everyone else's needs first) and burn out.
I
have had all of the above. And I have two children with ASD and one with ADHD. I
have been a mom for 10 years now - and I love my kids dearly. However, they are
a handful and exhausting and I have tried to learn to give myself time for
myself.
It
is easier for me now then it was seven years ago because all my kids are in
school full time. For those of you who have young children, it’s even more
challenging because they are around all the time which makes it more difficult
to do things for yourself.
I
think one of the hardest things to do for a Mom is to take care of herself. So
much effort and time goes into the family!
Often the caregiver is exhausted, depressed, overly anxious and doing ten
million things at once so that we don't have time for ourselves.
And
after years of running on fumes, we finally run out of gas. That's when burn out
occurs.
The
thing that all caregivers have to realize is that you need to be able to
recognize the signs BEFORE the burn out occurs. I am still trying to get this
part right in my life; I can see the signs yet I still manage to avoid them
until it’s too late.
But
I am getting better at it. Maybe one day I will get it right. LOL
I
suffered from burnout and deep depression and anxiety a few months ago. Some of
the things I am doing now are working to get me back on track and some of the
things I am doing are still making me overwhelmed. Its all a balancing act and
it takes practice to get it right. I am still practicing LOL.
I
try to relax by going on the computer, reading books and I am trying to get back
into walking. (It hasn't happened yet)
I
am trying to keep my weight off. I
did it for myself over 3 years ago (losing 60 lbs) and it is something I am
proud of.
I
go talk to a doctor once a week to vent all my frustrations and that helps
immensely. I had stopped doing that for almost a year then after the past few
months I had I decided to go back and it has helped a lot.
Getting
check ups are important; something I haven't done but should be doing. Keeping
yourself healthy is very important. I did start taking vitamins and I am trying
to eat healthier.
And
rest: we all need to rest. The sleep deprivation most of us get is what starts
the downward cycle and finishes us off when we go into burn out mode.
I
didn't sleep for so long a few months back.
I just couldn't relax and couldn't sleep. My mind was Constantly in
motion worrying and plotting and trying to figure out how to deal with all those
issues so I couldn't think straight. It made me feel like I was going insane and
couldn't deal with anything. I was in full burn out mode.
So
you must take care of yourself or you won't be able to take care of your family.
That
statement bothers me because "You should take care of yourself first
because you are IMPORTANT as a PERSON first - then as caregiver, spouse, friend
etc. If you always put yourself last you may make it to martyr status someday
but you are going to be one burned out martyr. LOL.
Finding
something I really enjoy doing: writing about my experiences with my children
and ASD and running the New Jersey support group and making new friends with
other parents with children on the spectrum and giving them a friend when they
need it the most. That's what I enjoy doing.
I
have gotten gift certificates for massages for birthdays and other holidays.
That's all I really want and I have told my family that. Now I just need
to go use them.
Going
away with my husband and NO children was really nice.
It was so relaxing and nice to be able to be alone with him. That did me
a world of good. And it did US a world of good as a couple being alone together
with No STRESSORS (AKA the children, schoolwork, work for DH, etc.)
Going
away alone to see my friends in Canada was one of the biggest relaxing moments
of my life. It was the first time I ever went anywhere alone since I have been
married. All I did was sleep, eat and hang out with my buddies from the BBB
Board. IT was great. Two days to myself and I ordered room service and watched
cable movies LOL.
What
I realized is that it is OK to need a break. And to take one.
Its
OK to go see my dad in Florida once in a while alone and drink pina coladas and
lay out in the sun lol.
And
it’s OK to take off once in a while to go to a conference in Toronto, Canada
(next time I might actually go to the actual conference lol) and it’s OK to
want to be alone. Sometimes the Caregivers get OVERSTIMULATED TOO!!!!
We
deserve breaks whether it is just to take a nap or getting away. We work our
tails off day and night trying to do what is best for our children. And we do a
damn good job.
I
am still working on getting to the point of doing things for me. (I have the
traveling part down to an art) I can rest when I need to because the kids are in
school. I still need to take better care of myself - like going to the doctor -
but hey we can't do everything right all at once lol.
One
day the kids will be grown up and what will we have to show for it???? Will we
look 20 yrs older and be half dead because we gave every last ounce of energy to
our family and nothing to us???? Or will we be healthy and hopefully content
with the way our lives have gone -- nobody knows the answer to that but if we
help ourselves now we have a better chance on living a happier life in the
future. And our children would want us to have that.
WHAT
SPECIAL THING DO YOU DO TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF?
By Khris
I find that the best thing for me to do is to have regular outlets rather than
waiting until I am on the edge and about to explode. I take one evening or
afternoon a week to myself while hubby watches the kids and do whatever I want.
Many times I run errands or go shopping (which my husband can't understand), but
knowing I have gotten something accomplished and can mark something off my list
for the next day (and have less places to drag the kids to) is actually fun to
me, and a great stress reliever. We also try to take regular time for my husband
and I to be alone together. Weekly date night is a must to keeping our
relationship going and communication lines open.
By Lynn
What I do for myself is go to work. Now you might think
this is crazy but I work with the public every shift and I find it therapeutic!
It takes me out of my home and all the "Drama" and puts me in touch
with what is happening in the rest of the world. I have worked at the same place
for almost 10 years! People come in and chat about all their problems because
they "know" me and it gives me a broader view of everyone's lives and
I don't just focus on my problems!
When that fails me (and it has been known too!) I take my sisters to a movie or
paint a room or something! Anything that will allow me to relax long enough to
realize there is more to life than stress!
By Bernie
I
try to pamper myself whenever I can, like getting a pedicure or buying something
nice to wear. Sometimes
just getting together with friends and hanging out alleviates a lot of stress.
In the fall a co-worker and I will be taking a Yoga class together to
relieve
some
tension. Plus I try to eat healthy, always go for my annual physicals and take
care of myself the best I can so that I can be there for my family.
*
Let’s Face it….
Good
intentions run rampant throughout our lives.
Logically, we all know we should be taking better care of ourselves, but
we still have a deep down need to make things right for our kids with ASD.
Recently, BBB Member Khris sent me this article she’d written.
It’s a common sense approach toward things to have in place for your
child. Especially helpful to those
of us just beginning our journey, the steps are easy, fun and instructive.
Having them written down like this can help you organize your strategies
and maybe end up with a little extra time for yourself after all!
Things
you need to know about your ASD child
By Khris R
You should be doing "speech therapy" all day long- mostly this consists of talking (which is good, because we can all do that). Label everything around
you- narrate your life, give him the words for what he is doing and what you expect that someday he will be saying. Encourage him to talk by giving him the
opportunities (even if he can't yet, he never will if you don't pause to give him a chance). Combining oral language and visual cues will increase
language and communication skills and lesson frustration. More importantly than having him talking now is to have him communicating now.
(PECS or ASL are commonly used with ASD kids)
Sensory integration issues are seen in almost every child with an ASD, even if you are not sure if your child has these you need to do some research to make
sure (The Out of Sync Child is an excellent book for this). Sensory issues can look like behavior problems to the untrained eye, they are not consistent from day
to day and week to week, and they can cycle, but they can also be worked through with Sensory Integration Therapy, or sensory based Occupational
Therapy. The Out Of Sync Child will allow you to identify which areas your child has problems in and how to work on it, but remember that sensory play should
be done on a daily basis at home in addition to any formal therapy the child receives if any improvement is to be seen. Push him just a little bit further than he
wants to go- the goal is more each time, not stagnation.
Any skill that your child has difficulty in acquiring needs to be broken down into the basic steps and taught in pieces, using positive reinforcements (never
punitive punishments) and lots of praise. It feels a little like training a puppy at first, but this is the most effective method of teaching these children. Always
model the task to be accomplished along with verbal and/or visual cues. Do not attempt to teach your child "age appropriate" tasks before he has the
precursory skills for them.
Almost all children with ASDs have poor fine motor skills- this is another area that an Occupation Therapist will help your child with. But in order to see
improvement you must give him opportunities at home every day to use his fingers, hands, arms and shoulders. Hang a chalkboard on the wall, or tape
some paper to a door and let him draw or paint, play with hinged clothespins and Popsicle sticks, Legos, tongs, and any games that require him to use his
fine motor skills.
Social skills should be one of your main areas of focus in working with your child. If he can smile and say hello, he can get a job as a greeter at Wal-Mart
even if he isn't a whiz at math or spelling, but if he does great with academics and has no social skills he will never be a productive member of the work force.
Give your child as many opportunities to socialize as he can handle (listen closely to his cues). Encourage turn taking with games and filling in the blanks of
songs and nursery rhymes. Require eye contact from your child when you are speaking to him or him to you. Remind him of his manners even if he fails to
heed you at this time. Do not use his disability as an excuse for poor manners, but look at him at his developmentally appropriate level. (i.e. if he is at the 3
year old level developmentally, even if he is 8 years old- expect what you would of a 3 year old, not an 8 year old).
Irrational fears, obsessive interests, and anxiety are usually par for the course for these children. Do not allow your child's routine or rituals to inhibit your family
life. Let the child know that you will not allow his obsessive thoughts (naming it something like the little black monster or Mr. OCD makes it easier to understand)
to control your life. De-sensitize him to his fears by pushing him just a little further towards it than he wants to go each time. Demonstrate to him that the things he
is afraid of do not hurt you or another loved one and encourage him to join them.
Provide daily structure for your child, but never allow them to become so rigid in their routines that things cannot be switched.
Use visual cues, social stories and routines to introduce new situations, people and events. Always give the child fair warning before any changes or special
events. Give the child coping mechanisms to deal with unpleasant circumstances rather than avoiding them altogether. Expand his circles a little every day,
don't allow him to get into a rut. When you see that start to happen, throw in a little something unexpected.
The people who provide your services (whether it be school district, disability center, or other) will not tell you of all the programs available (they may not even
know of all of them) it will be your job to find out what you want for your child and how to get that for him. I have found that other parents are the best source of
information, but gumption and focus will get you pretty far as well. Don't be afraid to ask questions of the people you come into contact with, they may have
information that they don't know you are in search of.
The most important
thing though, is to take care of yourself- if you qualify for respite USE IT.
Take regular breaks to do things you enjoy. Exercise, eat healthy, and get
plenty of sleep. Take care of yourself so that you can take care of your child-
it's a big job and you can't do it on an empty tank.
Reader’s Digest claims “Laughter is the Best
Medicine”. With this in mind,
we’ve provided an extra hearty dose for this issue’s prescription to stress!
A
SPOONFUL OF HUMOUR!
For those who love the philosophy of hypocrisy and
ambiguity. Also for those of us that are old enough to understand George Carlin!
A few statements to ponder ...
1. Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty
things.
2. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
3. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
4. If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?
5. The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls
live.
6. I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help
section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
7. What if there were no hypothetical questions?
8. If a deaf person swears, does his mother wash his hands with soap?
9. If a man is standing in the middle of the forest speaking and there is no
woman around to hear him, is he still wrong?
10. If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it
considered a hostage situation?
11. Is there another word for synonym?
12. Isn't it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do
"practice"?
13. Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all?"
14. What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?
15. If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages?
16. Would a fly without wings be called a walk?
17. Why do they lock gas station bathrooms?? Are they afraid someone will clean
them?
18. If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?
19. Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
20. Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?
21. If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain
silent?
22. Why do they put Braille on the drive-through bank machines?
23. How do they get the deer to cross at that yellow road sign?
24. Is it true that cannibals don't eat clowns because they taste funny?
25. What was the best thing before sliced bread?
26. One nice thing about egotists: they don't talk about other people.
27. Does the Little Mermaid wear an algae bra?
28. Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?
29. How is it possible to have a civil war?
30. If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest drown, too?
31. If you ate pasta and antipasto, would you still be hungry?
32. If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?
33. Whose cruel idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have a
"S" in it?
34. Why are hemorrhoids called "hemorrhoids" instead of
"assteroids"?
35. Why is it called tourist season if we can't shoot at them?
36. Why is the alphabet in that order?? Is it because of that song?
37. If the "black box" flight recorder is never damaged during a plane
crash, why isn't the whole airplane made out of that stuff?
38. Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?
A
SPOONFUL OF HUMOUR
30 WAYS TO HANDLE
STRESS
1. Jam 39 tiny
marshmallows up your nose and try to sneeze them out.
2. Use your MasterCard to pay your Visa.
3. Pop some popcorn without putting the lid on.
4. When someone says "have a nice day" tell them you have other plans.
5. Find out what a frog in a blender really looks like.
6. Forget the Diet Center and send yourself a candy gram.
7. Make a list of things that you've already done.
8. Dance naked in front of your pets.
9. Put your toddler's clothes on backwards and send them off to preschool as if
nothing was wrong.
10. Retaliate for tax woes by filling out your tax forms with Roman numerals.
11. Tattoo "out to lunch" on your forehead.
12. Tape pictures of your boss on watermelons and launch them from high places.
13. Leaf through National Geographic and draw underwear on the natives.
14. Go shopping. Buy everything. Sweat in it. Return it the next day.
15. Buy a subscription to Sleezoid Weekly and send it to your boss' wife.
16. Pay your electric bill in pennies.
17. Drive to work in reverse.
18. Relax by mentally reflecting on your favorite episode of the
"Flintstones" during that important finance meeting.
19. Sit naked on a
shelled hard-boiled egg.
20. Refresh yourself. Put your tongue on a cold steel guardrail.
21. Tell your boss to blow it out of his toupee and let him figure it out.
22. Polish your car with earwax.
23. Read the dictionary upside down and look for secret messages.
24. Start a nasty rumor and see if you recognize it when it comes back to you.
25. Bill your doctor for the time spent in his waiting room.
26. Braid the hairs in each nostril.
27. Write a short story using alphabet soup.
28. Lie on your back eating celery....using your navel as a salt dipper.
29. Stare at people
through the lines of a fork and pretend they're in jail.
30. Make up a language
and ask people for directions to vW/{KoY(d[WkY--
Brought to you in jest by Pendulum...This information is not a
substitute for consultation with a licensed professional.
©1999, Pendulum
Resources
LINKS
GALORE!!!
LD
and the Grieving Process
Stresses
on Families
Self-Assessment
Tools Online
Managing
Traumatic Stress: Tips for Recovering from Disasters and Other Traumatic Events
The Guide
to Aromatherapy
Workplace
Bullying
Stress UK (includes; finding a therapist in the UK,
Consulting, and What to Expect in a Session)
Prevent
Holiday Burnout
Migraine.
What is it?
Stress
and Headaches
Undoing
Stress
Headaches:
Alternative Treatments
Weight Watchers Canada
, Weight Watchers
U.S.
Canada's
Food Guide, the
U.S. Food Pyramid
Living
with Hypertension: Exercise
Facts about Valerian
Musical Healing: Music
Therapy in Health and Disease
Placebos
& Antidepressants Work the same Way: Antidepressants also cause additional brain changes
Don’t
Sweat the Small Stuff and more…
Yoga
Finder –find a class by country/state/province etc, plus mail lists
and more
*
|
WARNING
SIGNS OF BURNOUT
|
|
Physical
|
Emotional
|
Behavioral
|
|
Clammy
Hands
|
Anxiety
|
Blaming
Others
|
|
Diarrhea
|
Depression
|
Crying
|
|
Dry
Mouth
|
Fear
|
Irritability
|
|
Eating
Disorders
|
Frustration
|
Short
Attention Span
|
|
Halitosis
|
Grief
|
Over
activity
|
|
Upper
Back Pain
|
Isolation
|
Negative
Attitude
|
|
Heart
Palpitations
|
Sense
of Powerlessness
|
Short
Temper
|
|
Stiff
Neck or Shoulders
|
Sense
of Worthlessness
|
Taking
Risks
|
|
Weight
loss/gain
|
Shutting
off from friends
|
Exhaustion
|
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FRIENDS: (www.autismfriends.com)
Come check out our 800+ links, Shopping section fundraisers for parent run sites
coming soon!)
Family pages and our Community section for chats 5 days a week!
Coming
soon to Autism Friends! Parent tips, ponderings and wisdom!
Autism
Friends is a Member supported website run by a parent. We are always looking for
parent contributions! Book recommendations, photos, best links, personal
stories, poems & artwork by our creative geniuses. Contact Tina at:
founder@autismfriends.com. Tina”
THE
GENEVA CENTRE
announces: a) Summer Training Institute is scheduled for August 19-23, 2002 in
Toronto and August 19-20, 2002 in Halifax. Brochure may be viewed in PDF format
at http://www.autism.net
b)
Geneva Centre International Symposium is scheduled for October 23, 24, 25, 2002
at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The Symposium 2002 brochure has been
mailed out and is available at http://www.autism.net.
This year you have the option to register on-line; major discounts for
early bird registrations. Also, for the first time, delegates from around the
world can access 8 presentations of the International Symposium 2002 live
through the Internet. Some presentations have special interest for adults on the
autism spectrum.
Do
you have an event, announcement, information or a request?
Email us at liz@deaknet.com and we’ll put it in an upcoming E-News
issue. Email early to avoid
disappointment! BBB Autism is not responsible for misrepresentations of persons
or agencies utilizing this service.
COMING SOON: Plain
text versions of all of our newsletters and BBB Guides available online for
those who have trouble downloading graphics or reading current versions.
These versions will also be suitable for printing.
You asked for it; it’s on its way!!! J
MOVIES TO TAKE
YOU AWAY
15 OF THE FUNNIEST MOVIES YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN…(or How to Shoot
Milk Out of Your Nose)
…in no particular order
Some Like It Hot
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Galaxy Quest
Harvey
A Christmas Story
The Odd Couple
Swingers
This is Spinal Tap
Trading Places
Dogma
The Bird Cage
A Fish Called Wanda
I Love You To Death
Raising Arizona
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Here are some other lesser-known, offbeat,
fantastic flicks!
Memento
A Shallow Grave
Trainspotting
Fargo
Flirting
Muriel’s Wedding
Defending Your Life
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS....THERE'S
ALWAYS CHOCOLATE!!!
Not for those of us trying to reach a healthy weight,
but indulgence (within reason) occasionally is not a bad thing. Moreover,
it can lift your spirits!
Absolutely Sinful Chocolate Chocolate Chip
Cookies
Makes 2 dozen, Prep Time:
15 Minutes, Cook Time: 12 Minutes, Ready in: 40 Minutes
Ingredients
|
2
1/2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate |
|
1/2 cup butter |
|
2 cups all-purpose
flour |
|
1/2 teaspoon baking
soda |
|
1 teaspoon baking
powder |
|
1/4 teaspoon salt |
|
1
1/4 cups white sugar |
|
2 eggs |
|
1 teaspoon vanilla
extract |
|
2/3 cup sour
cream |
|
2 cups semisweet
chocolate chips |
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
F (190 degrees C). In the microwave or over a double boiler, melt
unsweetened chocolate and butter together, stirring occasionally until
smooth. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set
aside.
- In a medium bowl, beat
sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light. Mix in the chocolate mixture until
well blended. Stir in the sifted ingredients alternately with sour cream,
then mix in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased
cookie sheets.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in
the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes
before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight
container.
Chocolate Martini
Makes 2 servings, Prep Time:
5 Minutes, Ready in: 5 Minutes
Ingredients
|
4 fluid
ounces chocolate liqueur |
|
3 fluid
ounces vodka |
|
1 (1
ounce) square semisweet chocolate, grated
|
Directions
In a cocktail mixer full of ice, combine
chocolate liqueur and vodka. Shake vigorously and strain into 2 chilled martini
glasses. Garnish with chocolate shavings.
200
Recipes with the word 'chocolate' in the title!!!
From All
Recipes.com
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(C) 2002 BBB Autism
Past Issues
To request, email liz@deaknet.com and indicate
which volume/issue(s) you prefer. Issues are available by link in HTML, plain
text and PDF. Newsletter Archives are also available on our website at
www.bbbautism.com/news_arch.htm
Volume 1; Issue 1 WELCOME ISSUE!
Volume 1; Issue 2 SUMMER CRISIS
Volume 1; Issue 3 SPOUSAL CONCERNS
Volume 1; Issue 4 SENSORY INTEGRATION
Volume 1; Issue 5 CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS
Volume 1; Issue 6 BACK TO SCHOOL
Volume 2; Issue 1 IEP
Volume 2; Issue 2 KEEPING YOUR COOL - WHEN YOUR EMOTIONS
ARE ON FIRE
Volume 2; Issue 3 DEALING WITH STRESS
Volume 2; Issue 4 GIFTS FOR THE CHILD WITH ASD
Volume 2; Issue 5 ONE CHILD’S STORY – A TALE OF LOVE AND INTERVENTIONS
Volume 3; Issue 1 SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS
Volume 3; Issue 2 HOW TO ENJOY DISNEY WORLD
Volume 3; Issue 3 PARENT (AND GRANDPARENT) PIONEERS 2002
Volume 3; Issue 4 EVERYDAY HEROES
Volume 4; Issue 1 DE-MYSTIFYING THE GFCF DIET
Volume 4; Issue 2 ACCEPTANCE AND DENIAL
Volume 4; Issue 3 EVERYDAY TIPS (PART ONE)
Volume 4; Issue 4 EVERYDAY TIPS (PART TWO)
Volume 4; Issue 5 EVERYDAY TIPS (PART THREE)
Volume 5; Issue 1 INTERVENTIONS (PART ONE)
Volume 5; Issue 2 INTERVENTIONS (PART TWO)
Volume 5; Issue 3 CARE AND FEEDING OF THE CAREGIVER
Permission
to reproduce &d hand out is granted, provided the document is displayed in
its entirety. Other permissions may be requested by email: liz@deaknet.com
BBB
PARENT GUIDES
CONTAINS PRACTICAL
INFORMATION BY PARENTS FOR PARENTS Available on request, e-mail liz@deaknet.com and ask for: (now available in PDF format). BBB GUIDES ARE
NOW AVAILABLE IN PLAIN TEXT VERSIONS ONLINE AT: http://www.bbbautism.com/bbb_guides_contents.htm
1.
Halloween
2.
Epsom Salts (expanded version)
3.
Epsom Salts (condensed)
4.
Pros and Cons of telling your ASD child his/her diagnosis
5.
How we advocate for our children
6.
Guide to holidays and large family gatherings
A
notice to our readers...
The
founders of this newsletter and the BBB Autism support club are not physicians.
This
newsletter references books and other web sites that may be of interest
to the reader. The editor makes no presentation
or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the
information contained on any of these web sites or in the books,
and specifically disclaims any liability for any information contained
on, or omissions from these books or web sites. Reference
to these web sites or books herein shall not be construed to be an endorsement
of these web sites or books or of the information
contained thereon, by the editor.
The
editor reserves the right to make decisions as to whether contributions are
appropriate with respect to content, length, etc.
We will not publish offensive material using foul language, or contributions
that are inflammatory or disrespectful to decisions by
other parents (i.e. therapies). We do not generally accept contributions if
they are ads for private service agencies/clinics. We
are also unable to accept contributions after an issue has been completed. We
reserve the right to edit content, but will inform
you in advance if we are going to do this. J
This
E-News is the intellectual property of BBB Autism Support Network. Permission to
reproduce and hand out is granted, provided the document is displayed in its
entirety. Other permissions may be requested by email: liz@deaknet.com.
The purpose of this copyright is to protect your right to make free copies of
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