Experiment on having Tourette's

I never truly understood what it was like to have TS until I saw a demonstration on a DVD for educators. It is hard to explain here but I will try. 

Get a group of friends together. Tell them that they have to write the Pledge of Allegiance in 90 seconds ( a timed test). Sound easy right? Not so fast.

 Have one person be the time keeper. Every time they clap their hands you have to shrug your shoulders, turn your head to the side and blink your eyes. the time keeper should clap their hands about every 8-10 seconds. And you have to cross out every third word and rewrite it because you have OCD as well. And you have to continually move your left leg because you have ADHD.

 When I watched this it made me cry. I never realized how much work it was to have TS.  I did it with the DVD and got a momentary idea of what it was like.  trying to keep up and get it done with the movements was crazy.  It is no wonder kids with TS get so frustrated.

Grab some friends and give it a try. Let me know how it goes. 

remember 90 seconds only.

Reentering the Homeschool world

I loved when we homeschooled Drew when he was in 1st grade.  I liked the freedom it gave us to explore ancient history, the world  around us, current events, art...whatever we wanted.  Drew was shocked one day when I told him to go watch some videos on TV during shark week.  He could not wrap his mind around that those videos were counted as school time.

Let me back up.  When my older son was in school he went to a private Episcopal school who embraced learning outside the 4 walls of a class room.  It was then that I understood that ANYTHING could be a learning opportunity if we let it.  We took Phil on a vacation to Albuquerque when he was in 7th grade.  His teachers supported this 110%.  They changed his assignments to that they fit within what we were doing. For science he had to be able to explain how a hot air balloon worked,  For history we traveled the Jemez trail and have some great family jokes that still get said all these years later.( I still swear tarantulas can jump.) I can't remember what was done for english.  This experience opened my eyes to a new type of learning. 

So now back to homeschooling with Drew.  When we did the first time parts of it were a disaster.  His Tourette's, OCD, Anxiety, and other issues were not yet diagnosed.  So consequently, what I expected and what he was able to do were two different things.  This time around it is different.  Drew has a better understanding of what is expected of him.  I understand his TS and his need for breaks, and more hands on experiences.  We have talked and  he understands that spelling and math will continue over the summer.  He is behind in math and we want him caught up. 

The Spelling You See is wonderful.  Today I ordered Teaching Textbooks for math. It is done on the computer and it is self directed.  I am really wrestling with history. Before we did Story of the World and I am seriously considering it.  I feel that history doesn't make sense if it is not taught in order.  How can someone understand The Fall of the Roman Empire if they don't have the years of history before it?  It has lots of hands on experiences with it and supplementing it with Art  in  History.  

While I honestly don't care what they are doing in public school I do think that on some levels I need to ensure that he does some of what they do so I am thinking about a civics type block on how bills become law and the branches of our governing bodies.  Maybe a trip to DC might top it off. (being a travel agent could come in handy)

I enjoy the freedom of homeschooling.  I also like that I can tailor what we do to his interests on many levels. Unit studies can be fun.  It adds something to the day other than the basics.  Field trips are also great.  They break up the monotony of the week. I feel like Auntie Mame opening up a new world for Drew.  hopefully we will embrace the philosphy that LIFE IS A BANQUET AND MOST POOR SUCKERS ARE STARVING TO DEATH!!!! and we are going to step up to the banquet table of learning and embrace it all!

never meant to be a bully.

One thing Scott noticed this weekend camping with Drew was that Drew gravitates to kids who are "like" him.  The outsiders, the ones who don't quite fit in.  Scott also noticed the disdain for this group of "misfits" from all the other boys that age.  He said it was apparent that the other boys hadn't been taught to tolerate all kids and that Drew's friends were scared to be involved with the group probably because of previous taunting.  It really makes me sick  that kids  learn at such a young age not to embrace differences. Drew has said "Why are we taught to tolerate change?  We should embrace it because we are all different."

I know there have always been bullies. I was bullied horribly bu a group of girls when I was in high school. In my case and many cases back then the parents got involved and it got stopped in its tracks.  Now, parents are just as much to blame as kids.  They make snide comments about someone in a grocery line or on TV and their  kids hear it.  So the kids learn it is OK to say mean things. I know I have been guilty of saying something about an actress at an award show. And Drew had called me on it saying ""mom, you don't know  her or her situation.  Maybe her kid ripped the dress, or got sick on it and she was stuck with that one"  POINT received loud and clear little  buddy. My comments were bullying comments.  They were critical and hurtful.

Kids are not mean to start out with are they?  I know my beautiful niece who is not quite one shows so much compassion for the kids in her nursery class.  My sister tells the story of when there was a fire drill and the babies were put in to cribs - two each- and rolled outside. My nieces crib mate looked scared and my niece reached over and stroked her face as if to say "it is gonna be ok.  They (the teachers) are going to take care of us.  Where do children lose that?  Do we do such bad jobs as role models in our everyday life for our children - even unintentionally - that they think it is OK.  If we are alerted that our child is picking on a kid do we put a stop to it or do we react like the scene from Breakfast Club where the jock is talking about making his father proud by bullying a nerd by taping his butt cheeks together and encourage it?

You often hear stories about baseball and basketball teams letting the team manager play in the last game. Or of the popular girl going to prom with a special needs kid.  Those stories make me smile.  I was at Disney last year for some training during and there was a group of kids  dressed for prom.  Everyone was stopping and looking at the couple in the center of the group.  A  handsome young man with Down's and a very pretty young lady.  The boy looked so proud and had such a smile.  I was so proud of that young lady (even though I don't know the whole story) for making his dream come true. It will be a memory for both of them.

So gentle reader, remind your children not to tolerate differences but embrace them because the person they are being nice to is just like them.