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Did you know this about autism? # 8

It is okay to tell your child with autism “NO.” There are times, just like with raising typical children that it is necessary and appropriate to correct, discipline, educate, train, restrain, regulate, and control the actions of your child. YOU need to love them enough to do so!

Autism is a life-long condition but even, in the worst case scenerios, people with autism can be trained and educated to either do or not do certain behaviors in life. As a professional, I find way, way, too often that parents and caregivers are afraid to tell the children “no.” There are certain behaviors that are not nor ever will be accepted. Of course, children with autism need to be redirected, and when possible, they need to reauditorize and reverbalize not only the “no” command itself but the “why” of it. It will be more redundant and more dramatic than with typical children but “no” needs to be a part of YOUR vocabulary when dealing with your child with autism. It’s okay to use “NO.” You have my permission.

As a professional, I am seeing two extremes when dealing with the autistic population today. What are we doing to these children? We’re treating them like they are either Humpty Dumpty’s in egg shells that are fragile to the touch or like the Tin Man who needs oil every now and then and a push in the right direction.

I know this about discipline and being firm with children, regardless of autism or not, and I KNOW that you feel the same way that I do ~ I love my child enough to let him/her hate me for a little while. That, my friends, is the truest of love and no one ever said that it would be easy.

A dream comes true from Iowa Falls, IA

I found Mrs. Armentrout!! From one of my favorite stories, The Basket Lady, comes a picture of my favorite lady. “There were sparkles that seemed to radiate from her eyes and dance around my head with the gracefulness of a butterfly after a fresh spring rain.”

Mrs. Armentrout taught me so many things about cards and maps and books and thimbles. In her wisdom and warmth of teaching my sister, Julie, and me about her favorite things, she taught us about life and how to live it. I am forever in her debt and I know that her soul sparkles each night in the star filled sky.

In honor of this priceless find, I am offering my story, The Basket Lady to the readers of this blog free. All you have to do is E mail me and I will send it to you. I hope that this story becomes one of your favorites and that you share it with others. That will make both Mrs. Armentrout and me very, very happy.

** To E mail me simply click on the Contact Kathie at the bottom of the left-hand column.
** To enlarge the picture ~ just give it a double click.

An Iowa Falls friend sent me the Obit for Mrs. Armentrout. You might enjoy reading it.

Iowa Falls Times Citizen
June 11, 1973

Word Received of Death of Mrs. Annah Armentrout

Word has been received here of the death May 31st of Mrs. Annah Hickson Armentrout a former resident of Iowa Falls. She had been living at Anaheim, California, since the death of her husband in 1964. She was buried at Stuart, IA.
Annah Hinkson Armentrout was born November 23, 1886 at Greenfield, Iowa, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred O. Hinkson. After attending Iowa State Teachers College and Northwestern School of Oratory, she taught in Iowa and was married to Will Armentrout in Des Moines July 24, 1919. They moved to Iowa Falls after living briefly at Waterloo and operated a store here for forty years.
Mrs. Armentrout was an organizer and first president of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, served on the book committee of the Iowa Falls Public Library for more than 30 years and was a member of PEO and Culture Club.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Carlos (Cora) Newell of Des Moines, 3 sisters, two granddaughters and a great granddaughter.

A week in Vegas

We loved having our nephew, Ben and his Jamie visit from Iowa this past week in June. As you can see, they were crazy over our little kids and the kids haven’t been the same since they left! Perhaps they never will ~ be the same that is.

We did soooooo much, I’m still recuperating. They were here over my birthday (#40 of course). We ate at the Wynn that evening and went to the Venetian where B. and J. treated us to a wonderful ride on a gondola. The gondolier sang “Happy Birthday” as well as one of my favorite songs in the whole wide world – “Al Di La.” It was a Vegas Strip kind-of birthday with a full moon and a volcano erupting across the street at The Mirage.

What we did when they were here, however, is nothing compared to what they’re thinking about ~ and that’s the first step of acomplishing anything. They are both considering going back to college to pursue their passions. Both Jamie and Ben love serving and helping people. What could be a grander endeavour than that!

Here’s another picture of Ben, Jamie, and Doug. I have a BIG Humpty Dumpty collection and I would love to have this bronze HD ~ dream on. Yes, Humpty may have fallen off the wall (or been pushed) but Ben, Jamie and Doug are there to stay.

My BOP in Vegas is like autism~do you know why? #7

Conrad Birdie ~ now what vintage movie is that name from?

I live in Las Vegas but I’ve always wanted a Bird of Paradise (BOP) because every time we travel to California I love to see them all over. So, on Mother’s Day, when we were in CA to visit our daughter and son-in-law, I got my BOP. As you can see in the picture, Conrad Birdie is a pretty big BOP.

At the nursery, the clerk made two statements and asked if it gave me a clue; BOP’s are tropical plants and you life in a desert does that give me a clue? “Not really,” I replied. BOP’s do not like a real hot sun and Vegas gets up to 115 to 120 in the summer. Does that give you a clue? “Somewhat but I still want the BOP.” My smile was big.

It’s been a month now and my BOP, Conrad Birdie, is alive and well and thriving in Vegas. It has two new leaves that have opened and one on the way. I mist Conrad three to four times a day and one day it shall bloom.

You see, my Conrad Birdie is a bit like a child with AUTISM. It’s often planted where it technically should not bloom, but given the right conditions, care, loving, and faith, my Conrad and your child will thrive.

Now, what movie is Conrad Birdie from – be the first to answer correctly in the comment section and you’ll win a free story from the Story Shelf.

CONGRATULATIONS to BEN from Ames, Iowa. He got it right ~ it was Bye Bye Birdie and Conrad was going off to the Army. The movie stared Ann Margaret and Bobby Rydel. Ben was in his high school production. Again, congratulations, Ben!

Did you know this about autism? #6

“Your child is on the autism spectrum.” Of course no parent wants to hear that from a professional or from anyone. Many parents don’t even know what the word is or its ramifications on their child’s life as well as on their own and other family members.

So many years ago when I was dealing with that very statement about our son, Doug, I wish that someone would have told me to say this:

“Our son is autistic and THAT’S OKAY.”

Autism in itself is NOT okay but your child is who he/she is. When I began saying that statement outloud ~ I heard it ~ I felt it ~ I understood it ~ and I could progress from that moment on to deal with it and to accept it.

Autism is not a syndrome to be brushed aside to think or wish it away. As all parents with a child with autism know, it is a journey. In order to take that journey each parent must arm himself with every resource available. That takes strength from both your heart and your head. You pursue every path. You walk in faith that will lead you in the right directions and to the right people. You believe in good and you accept your child’s strengths with wonder and understanding.

So go ahead ~ try it ~ say it out loud ~ because that is where you must start ~ it will make the journey so much easier for your whole family.

MY CHILD IS AUTISTIC AND THAT’S OKAY

Kindness Challenge Update

I attended a Rotary Club meeting with Rotarian, Chris Steely, who introduced me and presented the Kindness Challenge of socks for the homeless in Las Vegas.
Many of the men’s, women’s, and children’s socks have been gifted to families who come to the Central Christian Church’s pantry and they are soooo appreciated. The Rotarian’s are a wonderful organization and give generously to the community.

Kindness Challenge Update

The students of Del Sol High School rock. Here’s the most recent sock count

men’s = 391 pair
women’s = 84 pair
children’s = 103 pair

ALSO, I will be attending a Las Vegas Rotary luncheon next week. I think there will be great things from the Rotarians. If YOU belong to a group or organization who would like to be part of this Kindness Challenge please give me an E mail or a call at 702-435-8748. I’ll be happy to pick the box, bag, or pair up at your location.

Proud of My Mother

Mary at The Wynn Las Vegas
Employee gift shop ~ May 27, 2009
Employee of the Month

Mary is the ROCK of the Wynn Employee store. As a retail cashier, she goes beyond the call of duty each day. She makes sure the staff store is filled with any special requests the team here at Wynn Las Vegas needs, everything from Tylenol to panty hose. She embraces the Wynn Core Values and has been known to talk to other Wynn employees about how they can make a difference here at Wynn. She is dependable with perfect attendance (Mary has only been absent one day since 2005) Mary is truly one of the friendliest cashiers on property. Many people stop just to see her in the store. She can make your day just with her smile! She truly takes it upon herself to brighten the day for each person that comes into the staff store. She has been known to give you a few pennies if you are short or talk to you if you have a problem. Mary has even been known to clientele the retail executive for the smallest of purchase. Nevertheless, Mary cares for the other departments as well. One day a valet parker was having a very bad day and came in the staff store. He did not have enough money to pay for his drink and candy bar. Mary took the money from her own purse and paid the rest of his purchase. Later the employee told the manager, ‘I know were are supposed to go above and beyond for our customers on the floor and the front of the house, I never thought I would work for a company that would care so much for me back of the house too.’ Mary gives everyone she helps 5-star service even in the little employee store. She believes it starts with her and everyone she touches. She hopes everyone will walk away with her service at the staff store with the same enthusiasm and level of attention on the floor. She takes her job very seriously and has since the day we opened the doors here at Wynn. She has been here since the very beginning.

Text written by Mary’s manager.

The following text is written by me.

My mother has worked at various gift shops throughout her career. She started in Iowa and brought that same friendly, caring attitude to Las Vegas. That counts and to have her honored in this way is spectacular.

On July 12, 2009, my mother will celebrate her 85th birthday. She works 32 hours a week at the Staff store in the dazzling Wynn Las Vegas Resort and Casino. We think that she is most likely the oldest, full-time employee on the Las Vegas Strip.

Her birthday will be celebrated in style ~ you can count on it.

To my mother, with love, Kathie