WELCOME TO JIM'S AUTISM BLOG





Hi everyone and thanks for visiting our blog. My wife and I created this blog to chronicle our experience while raising a son with Asperger's syndrome. Since our son was diagnosed with an ASD at age 5, we've had a lot of questions. Lucky for us we have a great support network in place. And our blog gives us an opportunity to share what we've learned with our readers. We hope you find our blog informative and interesting. Thanks again for visiting.


"It seems that for success in science and art, a dash of autism is essential." Dr Hans Asperger 1906-1980



Friday 7 December 2012

THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSISTENT, POSITIVE INFLUENCE

Lightning Strike
Lightning is just like Jacob's behaviour.
It's been a slightly rougher week at school than usual for Jacob.  This week Jacob has only earned 3 out of 10 stickers for his sticker reward calendar.  This is his first week back after a lengthy absence, so we expected this week to be bumpy.  But usually we're able to help guide Jacob in the right direction.  But lately because of my job, this has been a little more difficult.

So it's Friday, and I've already worked over 70 hours.  The money is great, but it doesn't look like my schedule is going to slow down until the new year.  And with me not being here as much as I'd like, or Jacob needs, is taking a negative toll on Jacob's behaviour.

Normally when he has a rough morning, Shannie and I are able to work through the "cause and affect" of Jacob's unexpected behaviour.  We'll ask him what happened?  What he did? and then what did his teacher do in response?  And finally ending with how did what happened make you feel?  This way, we can most times cycle through all of Jacob's mental steps that lead to him getting over his issue(s) and calming down.

The sad thing is, that when it's only mom, this process can become slower and sometimes not effective at all. It's tough because I want to be there for Jacob all the time, but Christmas is just around the corner, and most people need to work.  Needless to say, I can't wait until my off season to start.  Then we can really get onto a good routine which will undoubtedly help Jacob focus and excel at school.

When Shannie and I talk about how difficult things are with me working, we try to look at the positive side of things.  Which is something all parents like us need to do.  We're just glad that I don't have a full time job that requires me to be at work for 40 hours per week for 50+ weeks a year.  And we're also thankful that I get to come home for lunch, so I'm usually able to take Jacob back to school after lunch.

But I hope that one day, Jacob will get a handle on his emotions enough that he can walk to school himself, or even enjoy going.  We just hope that if it does happen, that it happens before Jacob goes to college.

Is that a forced smile, or what?


 

4 comments:

  1. It is good you and Shannie are working together to help him. Jacob is very lucky! For my son it was almost always just me even when his dad was still around because he was always working. Wish I could say it got better for me but school was always a nightmare!! It was grand, fabulous life changing day (for me and my son) when he finally graduated from high school. It did get better then! :)

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    1. That's tough Kristy. I couldn't imagine going it alone. I get that people have to work, but if you aren't spending time at home, then why are you working? I hope hat Jacob likes school one day. Even if its when he graduates.

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    2. My son had trouble getting up for school in the morning but once he was there he seemed okay with it. He just didn't want to do (or couldn't focus on) any of the work! He LOVES college though, especially the IT courses. I think it's just the LONG school day with so much unstructured time in between the structured time. My son needed structure. He hated assembly days.

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    3. My son hates assemblies too. If he goes to one, he wears industrial ear muffs to keep the noise out, which defeats the purpose of an assembly. And his school day is long too. But luckily for us, we only live a few blocks from his school, so he comes home for lunch.

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