A Bit of a Brag
Not to our surprise, we met another autism family on the beach yesterday afternoon (there was, too, another child on the beach holding his body “in a certain way”—-he was near the house in whose driveway were two cars, each with an Autism Speaks magnet). The family whom we met has a child a couple of years younger than Charlie; the family’s child is still small enough for a high on-the-shoulders-ride. As the mother and I stood watching Charlie bodysurfing and boogie-boarding, she asked if we had taken Charlie to Surfers’ Healing .
I paused and said “Charlie just needs regular surf lessons.”
Jim and I have concluded, while Charlie would enjoy Surfers’ Healing , he would probably jump into the waves off the surfboard held by someone else and do some of his own swimming—-hence our having Charlie take surf lessons, with “typical” kids. We weren’t able to sign-up for the New Jersey surf camp in September—-apparently, it filled up within hours of being announced.
And: It’s just that, after having so many times explained about Charlie’s challenges learning to read and to know that “20″ is “twenty” and not “twenty-zero,” and about why he so needs physical activity, about why he takes Risperdal, and about why I’ve been reading this website a lot during our beach vacation, it seems only right to say the truth about Charlie and the sea: On seeing Charlie carrying out his boogie board into extra-high waves, lying down on it, and turning around just in time to get a good ride—–a parent can’t resist throwing in a bit of a brag.
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POSTED IN: Autism Organizations, Charlisms, Parenting, Water
15 opinions for A Bit of a Brag
Justthisguy
Aug 24, 2007 at 9:16 pm
Charlie would have a low opinion of the Gulf of Mexico, as do I.
Anne
Aug 24, 2007 at 9:33 pm
The dude’s an awesome little booger.
candy
Aug 24, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Kristina…my heart is just singing after reading this!!! It is times like this, when you see your child SHINE, that fill your gas tank up for the rest of the ride. Oh, happy day!!!!
Susan
Aug 24, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Yes, typical lessons!
I just finished a week of “typical” day camp with Jakie and his twin sister. The first day I stayed by his side. From then on, he was fine on his own.
Yes, you have to know your child, his/her strengths and weaknesses, before pushing for total mainstreaming/immersion…but isn’t that our ultimate goal? Real world activities and choices? I never would have put Jakob in a dance class with typical kids…motor control is not his forte. But he loves to study things. To explore. To go for walks in the woods. And he absolutely loved nature camp :) !
Justthisguy
Aug 25, 2007 at 2:56 am
“…study things. To explore. To go for walks in the woods….”
Uhh, Ma’am? That *is* typical, for a boy. I am very glad that Charlie is not reading this and feeling the girl cooties crawling all over him, as I am at this moment.
Neurotypical wimmin are, uh, I won’t quite call them the curse of humanity, but some of you do make me throw up in my mouth, a litlle. (As Rachel Lucas says about some things.)
Typical kids with at least one y chromosome do not go to dance class. Teach him to shoot, fer Chrissakes! It’s a good non-team, individualistic sport which relies on mental focus and concentration, an autie’s greatest strengths. A good suppressor would help with the noise
mcewen
Aug 25, 2007 at 9:50 am
Can I lend you my loud haler?
Best wishes
Kathy
Aug 25, 2007 at 10:41 am
” a parent can’t resist throwing in a bit of a brag”
Too right Kristina!
An you have much to brag about, too!
Karen
Aug 25, 2007 at 10:50 am
Not to get off topic, but Justthisguy, typical boys DO go to dance class. Lots of ‘em. I should know: I’m a dance teacher.
My “regular surf lessons” moment this summer was that Pete attended vacation bible school (at the school/church where I work, so I know lots of the student helpers which helped ME!) and he was totally just ‘one of the guys.’
I’ve been bragging about it for weeks. :-)
karen in ca
mom to max
Aug 25, 2007 at 1:09 pm
this is wonderful! you certainly do have much to brag about! i have been looking at your beach photos and wondering if my son could learn to surf.
http://www.theautismexpress.com
Club 166
Aug 25, 2007 at 1:09 pm
…“Charlie just needs regular surf lessons.” …
Enjoy the ride. (both of you)
Justthisguy
Aug 26, 2007 at 2:17 am
Yeah, Karen, you’re right. I’m not very typical, and was made to do so. I liked the patterns, and learning the skills and motions, though not enough to want to continue. The enforced socialization and the touching of the “other” (Gurlzz!) were quite creepy to me as a kid, though. I didn’t mind square dancing, taught to us in elementary school. Wish I’d followed up on it, sometimes. It has a simple kind of regular math about.
Juatthisguy
Aug 26, 2007 at 4:22 am
Oh, P.S. I attended an introductory Country-Dancing/Contra-Dancing lesson, once, and the very nice older-than-I-was lady advised me to get down off of my toes when dancing.
Looking back, now, that’s one of my first hints that I might have a touch of the “A.”
Sarah
Aug 26, 2007 at 11:15 pm
Hang ten little dude, hang ten
Maya
Aug 27, 2007 at 8:06 am
There’s no need to resist bragging. We like reading it. Congratulations!
TheASMan
Aug 27, 2007 at 7:55 pm
I guess they dont realize the crime they are committing by supporting autism speaks.
I wonder if they were in NYC for the walk. I was there protesting. Chanting “Autistics dont want a cure so why are you here?”
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