At the start of this year I began a draft blog post about my resolutions for the year. As we are somewhat past the halfway point I found it quite illuminating to reflect on them:
"I have always found the idea of a fresh new start, a clean slate, those optimistic rose tinted resolutions very beguiling! I usually set myself some pleasingly sweeping and unrealistic targets, which I then have to re-examine after, on average, two weeks.
So this year, what should I resolve on now that I am definitely Not A Lawyer........I don't have career goals in the way that I used to. But then, really is the way that I approach life so very different these days? No. I still have aspirations, goals, targets, and HUGE areas for improvement!!
I'd like to tackle the impertinent weeds growing up through my previously attractive gravel patch in the garden. It currently looks like a disheveled and unloved scruff in need of a haircut."
And that was it.
I can confirm (smugly) that I have tackled the weeds. But why didn't I record any other major aspirations or tricky little targets? Didn't I have any? Perhaps I ran out of time to write them down.
Well I don't think that was it - and of course I did and do have aspirations. This just over half a year has been pretty satisfying from an achievement point of view. I've enjoyed singing in a run of The Gondoliers, and expanded my operatic concert repertoire. I even sang my first proper opera role (Frasquita in Carmen) just this month. And I felt like I'd climbed Everest (and, admittedly, as if I had been hit by a train).
On the parenting and autism front we've been on autism parent training, successfully made & implemented MAJOR decisions about The Boy's education and have some other exciting news which I could talk about but I'd have to swear you all to secrecy! (NO, not a bun in the oven). And our beautiful daughter is now getting some support as a sibling of SEN and she and I are having a blast spending girls-only time together (she made me ride the Sonic Spinball rollercoaster at Alton Towers and I threw up in my mouth a little bit. Good times).
But why didn't I record any other goals or resolutions?
Well, I think probably because if there was any one motto that typifies this year it would be (say it with me) "one day at a time" - if you want to get King James on it "sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof".
I don't know what each day will hold. But I know I can get through it and I usually have strategies these days of how that is going to happen. And that will do for me. For now.
(But I want to sing Susanna in the Marriage of Figaro in the next year or two, so there!)
Wednesday 11 July 2012
Tuesday 3 July 2012
Olympics with a difference
It's impossible to miss a certain sporting event coming along this Summer.....yes the 2012 Olympics, closely to be followed by the Paralympics.
As a parent of a neurotypical child and a child with a disability I look forward to both events very much - they provide lots of opportunity to enjoy celebrating human endeavour and achievement & discuss winning, losing, doing your best, overcoming obstacles, being different, being exceptional etc with my children.
But I did indulge in an idle daydream about what an Olympics would look like with events geared towards the Autistic Spectrum Disorder..............perhaps other parents of autism may recognise some of these:
1) the 100m dash - for parents of "bolters" (those autistic children with a propensity to simply run) - there will be no track and parents will be expected to both run at speed (probably in unsuitable clothing and carrying bags) but also to predict the required direction of travel. The starting "pistol" will be a very high or low frequency sound not usually audible to those with typical sensitivity to sound - this adds an additional element of skill as the children will set off according to their own sound sensitivity at different times.
2) Long jump - competitors will be those children whose sensory needs do not mean that they are highly avoidant of the horrendous feel of the sand OR whose sensory needs do not mean that they will require on average 2.5 hours to sit in the sandpit running their hands through the sand. In the event that there are fewer than 4 eligible competitors, the three medals will be handed out on the basis of height. Don't argue - it makes sense if you are autistic (children will be stood on the podia so that their heights are as close to equal as possible taking into account the different height platforms)
3) Swimming - individual events will include the time trial (competitors must successfully persuade their child to leave the water and get dressed inside a 120 minute time limit - as with showjumping, time penalties will be added for each "refusal") and synchronised bubble blowing and squealing.
4) New event: Speed event - competitors must correctly identify what their child wants and deliver said item from an infinite menu before child erupts into frustration meltdown (*nb organisers recognise that due to the specific nature of ASD & lack of theory of mind, such children often cannot understand that their parents do not simply know what they want and therefore many competitors will be disqualified as their child will have had a meltdown before even attempting to verbally or otherwise communicate their need - in which case default criteria applies and any parent who survives the event without crying/locking themselves in athlete portaloo wins a medal)
EVENT QUALIFYING CRITERIA:
Endurance events- you parent a child with autism, thus you are disqualified from the Olympic endurance events by reason of your professional status.
Drugs: Competitors will be screened but the following will be ignored- if it's legal and helps you and your GP is happy with it - it's fine by us.
We recommend that all competitors take multi vitamins as malnutrition is found so commonly among competitors in this category.
Please note that NO competitors will be required to attend the visually stunning, aurally overpowering opening ceremony. Why would we DO that???
See you on the podium!
As a parent of a neurotypical child and a child with a disability I look forward to both events very much - they provide lots of opportunity to enjoy celebrating human endeavour and achievement & discuss winning, losing, doing your best, overcoming obstacles, being different, being exceptional etc with my children.
But I did indulge in an idle daydream about what an Olympics would look like with events geared towards the Autistic Spectrum Disorder..............perhaps other parents of autism may recognise some of these:
1) the 100m dash - for parents of "bolters" (those autistic children with a propensity to simply run) - there will be no track and parents will be expected to both run at speed (probably in unsuitable clothing and carrying bags) but also to predict the required direction of travel. The starting "pistol" will be a very high or low frequency sound not usually audible to those with typical sensitivity to sound - this adds an additional element of skill as the children will set off according to their own sound sensitivity at different times.
2) Long jump - competitors will be those children whose sensory needs do not mean that they are highly avoidant of the horrendous feel of the sand OR whose sensory needs do not mean that they will require on average 2.5 hours to sit in the sandpit running their hands through the sand. In the event that there are fewer than 4 eligible competitors, the three medals will be handed out on the basis of height. Don't argue - it makes sense if you are autistic (children will be stood on the podia so that their heights are as close to equal as possible taking into account the different height platforms)
3) Swimming - individual events will include the time trial (competitors must successfully persuade their child to leave the water and get dressed inside a 120 minute time limit - as with showjumping, time penalties will be added for each "refusal") and synchronised bubble blowing and squealing.
4) New event: Speed event - competitors must correctly identify what their child wants and deliver said item from an infinite menu before child erupts into frustration meltdown (*nb organisers recognise that due to the specific nature of ASD & lack of theory of mind, such children often cannot understand that their parents do not simply know what they want and therefore many competitors will be disqualified as their child will have had a meltdown before even attempting to verbally or otherwise communicate their need - in which case default criteria applies and any parent who survives the event without crying/locking themselves in athlete portaloo wins a medal)
EVENT QUALIFYING CRITERIA:
Endurance events- you parent a child with autism, thus you are disqualified from the Olympic endurance events by reason of your professional status.
Drugs: Competitors will be screened but the following will be ignored- if it's legal and helps you and your GP is happy with it - it's fine by us.
We recommend that all competitors take multi vitamins as malnutrition is found so commonly among competitors in this category.
Please note that NO competitors will be required to attend the visually stunning, aurally overpowering opening ceremony. Why would we DO that???
See you on the podium!
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