Touching base..slackness has already started on my blog!!:(

The high's and low's of our last week..One of those week's when you see more low's and when a postive comes along,you really do reach out and grab it:) The saying when you are taking 2 steps forwards and 5 steps backwards does happen alot.A harder week than normal but we are now in term 4,so i do have to watch out for signs of Tyler tiring out and at this point it always happens.To start of the week,i recieved Tyler's report from Autism QLD,so it started with a self pity day.It wasnt one of those days where you question everything.Reports always show you just how it is,its black and white and right infront of you.How much harder Tyler's world is,how we have all these strategies in place,teaching him life skills for now and later in life.Goal's for a child like Tyler is somewhat different.To know what a child with Aspergers goes through on a daily basis.Gives me a headache some days just thinking about it.I think sometimes my own thoughts go into over drive.On the positive side of things,he is doing exceptionally well and i am very very proud of him.

We experienced a situation this week with a meltdown at swimming.As most do know with As,meltdowns do frequently happen.Tyler keeps it together at school and after school he gets stressed and quickly esculates.This week has been worse,thinking back there have been some changes to hes routine.Dad changing shifts,teacher aide has been away on excursions,relief teachers,swimming days and times changed,pyscologist times have changed and so on.We have been trying to calm him very quickly,once he gets stressed he goes down hill fast(family and friends dont see this,as with aspergers they do this where they feel most comfortable and around there family..at home)I should of made the decision of either keeping Tyler home from swimming or let him just have a short session of playing at the pool instead of a lesson..A hard decision to make as stress does play a big part of Tyler's life.(Plus i need to learn to be more assertive too)

When we got to the swimming lesson,there were 2 other men in the hydro pool for around 5 mins so that could been enough to put Tyler off.He's lessons are late now,so hes probably tired too and only listens for so long before he goes into hes own world.After he was thrown up into the air(one of hes fears)and told he'll be thrown into the big pool and noone will save him,he reacted.During a meltdown he uses aggression as thats the only way he knows how to deal with stress.He was kicking and hitting hes instructor,he only does this to me.My fault as i should of ended the lesson right then and there or made sure he was given a break.After speaking to the pyscologist,i took him to the pool on the weekend so he knows the pool is a place where he has fun.I think he's at the point where he know feels unsafe with hes instructor.It'll be using a different direction with Tyler,not using hes fears.Using hes interests more.Otherwise they'll be seeing alot more meltdowns,during a meltdown he's to have a break or to finish the lesson.Also less eye contact,fewer words and minimal contact.

Bascially everything in Tyler's day is a stress and builds up over the day.Tyler isnt aware of when he's stressed and how to destress,Ive just finished reading Autism QLD' stress management..a must read for ASD parents.

Our postives of the week-:) One afternooon we were doing Tyler's homework and i recieved a phone call and told Tyler to continue hes homework while i was on the phone.I was surprised that he had finished it.Usually he needs my guidance but apparantly he does this at school too once they get him started:) Tyler's laughs i love,as he laughs with a snort through hes nose sooo cute!Tyler had even noticed that Kayden's feelings were hurt this week.Even though at 5am you really dont want to be woken by dinosaur/tiger roars.But it is a part of what makes Tyler...Tyler:) So funny when you tell Tyler "I love you" he associates it with a big smooch.But if he says i love you first and you say it back he'll ask why do you say it back to me for.

IEP Wednesday!!!:)