Hi LINKS!
I hope you have had a great week. It seems as though this week was one of the first "normal" weeks in our room where everyone was feeling well and nothing too crazy interrupted our schedule.
I really enjoyed meeting some of your parents this past week at conferences. I also REALLY appreciated the hard work of those of you who worked the pizza booth! Guys, we did great! We made REALLY good money. Monday may be a bit slower, but that is okay. (Don't forget to check with your parents about working the pizza on Monday!)
I want to complete our discussion on therapies in this blog and then we will begin our unit on the effects of having a child with autism on families. This is always my favorite unity of the semester. I think you all will really enjoy and relate to it as well.
To end our information on therapies, please read the following document and then check the homework tab to see what you need to do with this information :-)
I hope you have had a great week. It seems as though this week was one of the first "normal" weeks in our room where everyone was feeling well and nothing too crazy interrupted our schedule.
I really enjoyed meeting some of your parents this past week at conferences. I also REALLY appreciated the hard work of those of you who worked the pizza booth! Guys, we did great! We made REALLY good money. Monday may be a bit slower, but that is okay. (Don't forget to check with your parents about working the pizza on Monday!)
I want to complete our discussion on therapies in this blog and then we will begin our unit on the effects of having a child with autism on families. This is always my favorite unity of the semester. I think you all will really enjoy and relate to it as well.
To end our information on therapies, please read the following document and then check the homework tab to see what you need to do with this information :-)
Therapy Dogs |
Now on to the effects! I'm going to begin this unit by sharing a few poems with you. This first poem was written by the mom of a child with a disability. I think it gives one side of the journey that some of these parents go through.
As you can see, this outlook is fairly positive. That is most certainly not always the case. This does not mean that parents do not love their child, it just means that having a child with autism can be a very very difficult experience.
Here is another poem that shows more of the discouragement and sadness that parents of a child with autism face.
If You Only Knew
Submitted by KentPotter on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 20:53.
http://www.autismspot.com/blog/If-You-Only-Knew
If you only knew how difficult the road was to get here.
If you only knew the many tears that have been shed, the countless hours of therapy, the tests he has undergone, the fear that he has experienced, the ridicule he has endured, the times he has been laughed at, the frustration he has learned to live with.
If you only knew.
If you only knew the hours a mother and a father have spent trying to piece together the past and plan for the future.
If you only knew the amount of money, the friendships that have been lost, and the toll it has taken to get here.
If you only knew the crippling effects of depression that comes from watching your child struggle with the very basic activities of every day life.
If you only knew the cold stares from strangers, the whispers that have been overheard, the isolation that can come from not being able to "fix" the world that seems to never understand your son.
If you only knew the freedom that awaits when you learn to let go, and you open your heart in acceptance of what is.
If you only knew that a family can become stronger, that wounds can heal.
If you only knew the potential for how deep and wide love can truly be.
If you only knew the happiness that can be found if you simply open your eyes to what is around you.
If you only knew my Sam, you would know that anything is possible.
I think this poem is heartbreaking. I believe this is how many more parents feel as opposed to the "Welcome to Holland Poem". Coming up in class we will read a follow-up poem to "Welcome to Holland" from a parent of a child with autism. It's humorous, but also a bit more of a realistic view.
Don't get me wrong, I think "Welcome to Holland" is a beautiful poem. I remember reading it in one of my college classes a few years ago and thinking "What an amazing outlook for a parent to have!" and I believe that most parents feel that way at different times of their lives. But from my experience, it seems as though the poem gives just warm-fuzzies and leaves out some of the harsh realities, especially the realities that come from having a child with autism.
Lastly, I want you to watch this last video. This is one of my favorite videos! I always feel as though the love between father and son just radiates through the computer screen. It's hard not to leave this video with a smile on my face!
Here is another poem that shows more of the discouragement and sadness that parents of a child with autism face.
If You Only Knew
Submitted by KentPotter on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 20:53.
http://www.autismspot.com/blog/If-You-Only-Knew
If you only knew how difficult the road was to get here.
If you only knew the many tears that have been shed, the countless hours of therapy, the tests he has undergone, the fear that he has experienced, the ridicule he has endured, the times he has been laughed at, the frustration he has learned to live with.
If you only knew.
If you only knew the hours a mother and a father have spent trying to piece together the past and plan for the future.
If you only knew the amount of money, the friendships that have been lost, and the toll it has taken to get here.
If you only knew the crippling effects of depression that comes from watching your child struggle with the very basic activities of every day life.
If you only knew the cold stares from strangers, the whispers that have been overheard, the isolation that can come from not being able to "fix" the world that seems to never understand your son.
If you only knew the freedom that awaits when you learn to let go, and you open your heart in acceptance of what is.
If you only knew that a family can become stronger, that wounds can heal.
If you only knew the potential for how deep and wide love can truly be.
If you only knew the happiness that can be found if you simply open your eyes to what is around you.
If you only knew my Sam, you would know that anything is possible.
I think this poem is heartbreaking. I believe this is how many more parents feel as opposed to the "Welcome to Holland Poem". Coming up in class we will read a follow-up poem to "Welcome to Holland" from a parent of a child with autism. It's humorous, but also a bit more of a realistic view.
Don't get me wrong, I think "Welcome to Holland" is a beautiful poem. I remember reading it in one of my college classes a few years ago and thinking "What an amazing outlook for a parent to have!" and I believe that most parents feel that way at different times of their lives. But from my experience, it seems as though the poem gives just warm-fuzzies and leaves out some of the harsh realities, especially the realities that come from having a child with autism.
Lastly, I want you to watch this last video. This is one of my favorite videos! I always feel as though the love between father and son just radiates through the computer screen. It's hard not to leave this video with a smile on my face!
Whew! That was a lot of information to get through! Go ahead and check your homework for this week.
You all are doing a great job. Keep up the good work!
Mrs. VanLaan
You all are doing a great job. Keep up the good work!
Mrs. VanLaan