Merry Christmas to All.
We hope everyone is having a lovely Christmas and are filled with hope, happiness and good health. Don’t over do things or you’ll end up looking like Santa, I know this, because it happened to me!!! I personally don’t know how he keeps so damn jolly, I admire this man and all his helpers, imagine his budgets, and we think we have it tough… Little do some know!!!
I’m making my Christmas cards this year, whether or not they get sent is another thing. So keep your fingers crossed. But for now, just in case, here is a beautiful virtual card, enjoy it might just be the best you get. Click on the link below and then click on the parts of the card as you are told to. It is magical.
Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year. Enjoy!!!!
Michelle, Justin, Drew and Brayden Van Dyk
http://www.ecard.ashland.edu/2004admission/index.html
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Bikes
For those of you who don’t know that Justin has a Moped/Nifty50. Well he does and he has carried the whole family on it at one time, and then bought the two boys and their little 50cc Motorbike up the beach when it has conked out. I thought I had seen it all and then I received these pictures… the rest is up to your imagination.
PS. I have attached a picture of Justin on his nifty 50 scooter, and since this photo, Justin has bought himself a beautiful bike that he is currently doing it up.
PS. I have attached a picture of Justin on his nifty 50 scooter, and since this photo, Justin has bought himself a beautiful bike that he is currently doing it up.
I will post one of Justin's Bike when I get one.
An insight into what a Cyclone season means to me.
At the moment we are getting heaps and heaps of rain. Cyclone Gouba is causing havoc. Just so you can get a feel for where Wonga Beach is, we are about 150km south of Cook Town. Since cyclone Larry, and the Tsunami, we are really aware of how quickly things can happen. Early this year we had 20mins to pack anything important and drive as far and as high as we could to escape the tsunami due to hit at 8am. Mum woke us at 7am and emergency crews were evacuating everybody. We just packed our dirty washing and half the pantry and jumped in the car. It was an extremely scarry moment, even the most precious possessions were left. We let the dogs out into the yard and cried, at that point we didn’t know if we would ever see them again. Since then, Justin and I defiantly wouldn’t leave the dogs behind again. We drove up into the tablelands, a town called Mareeba, it was so surreal at the time but now just thinking about it brings goosebumps and eyes watering.
Blah Blah.... If you are still reading now, you know how crazy I am.
Blah Blah.... If you are still reading now, you know how crazy I am.
My answer to a Question asked by a Autism Specturm Disorder Mum
A Mum is asking for advice, please respond with what has worked for your ASD child. There are lots of books and info. out there, but sometimes the best info. comes from other parents who has experienced same or similar with their own ASD child and knows what works. However, any advice and ideas from professionals and parents alike will be appreciated. Thanks.
She writes:
"Any advice re bullying at school? My son is 8 years old and has been being excluded and called names, kicked and imitated cruelly. He wants to play soccer with boys at lunchtime who say he is the 'suckiest' year 3 and is no good at soccer. We have approached the school and the teachers have had 'circle time' re bullying, and increased surveillance in the schoolground. We are trying to support his self confidence and develop friendships out of school. At present there are no clubs eg chess at school for him to join; but he wants to practice soccer if he can to improve so keeps trying to join those boys despite suggestions to do otherwise. I would be grateful for any suggestions".
My answer is...........
Hi, my name is Michelle Van Dyk, I live at Wonga Beach in the Daintree and have an 8yr old boy with ASD. We have found similar problems, for about 2 years we traveled 20km to Wonga Beach State School at the beginning and end of each school day. This was for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the house that we were put into was further away from the school he was attending. A school which we love and wanted to persevere with until we were able to find a house closer to the school. Living further away, meant that he didn’t build friendships out of school hours and kids in the area didn’t really want to know Drew as they were older and could see he was different. And the kids that he did see at school had their own special friends, with bonds and more things in common and out of school friendship circle. Then, when we moved closer to his school, across the road in fact. The kids wanted to come over, mostly to play with different toys that they may not have at home. But in doing this they were able to see past the different little boy in their class. Then to go hand in hand with this, we as parents tried extra hard to make friendship circles with their parent or parents. This wasn’t easy as I have Chronic Pancreatitis and live each day with Chronic Pain and become to complicated for a lot of people, who get sick and tired of me being sick. I suppose this helps me see things from my sons view. Also I try to help out at the school as much as I can and build relationships with the kids and build a bit of respect there. As the kids are getting older they see more things about Drew that are different, this can be hard and I tend to try and smooth things over, which can be a bit funny at times. One of these instances was when Drew said he didn’t like the friend that was playing over and wanted to go next door and play with someone else. I tried to say to Drew that it wasn’t nice and that he didn’t mean it. And to that Drew said, “Mum, I told you that I didn’t like him, he smells! I like (the boy) next door better” ….. Well the ground could have opened up and swallowed me. I always try to get that child back to play again to hopefully show him that Drew can be nice!
I garble a lot!. Other things that we have tried… Gymnastics, this was hard as Drew is so competitive and everything has to be equal. We gave this a year and a half, before the teacher and ourselves agreed that it might not suit Drew, and a more one on one approach would have been the only option. Then, came the swimming lessons. Drew found this hard, he always needs to know what is happening next! And demanded the swimming teachers attention. The last thing we tried which we feel is pretty successful, is, Karate. The teachings are disciplined and straight forward. There is mostly one way to do things and no grey areas. He is at his best away and not near his close friends and best, right in front of the instructor. I tried to tell the instructor about his ASD, and he didn’t want to know. I am still trying to work out if this is a good thing or not. Drew’s friendship with the kids from is school that go, is really good.
But the point to the whole email… Drew tried to do the ALF Aus Kick program. Similar to Soccer scenario, Drew was picked on and deliberately left out of the loop on extra practice or games and he found out and really got upset. Yeah, we thought he would get over it, but it effected his confidence. If I was to let him do this again. I would try to ask for an aide, voluntary if needed, to try and be there to look out for him in these circumstances. Because this is a lunch time thing, maybe get an older kid on side (organized with a teacher) to try and encourage positively and make the other kids see the hidden talent and to point out the good things he does to the others and win them over. Or maybe another idea, could you or your hubby try to organize a game in the park on the week end, invite a couple of the popular understanding big kids to help with teaching a few pointers and get some of the meanies thinking, if they are there, that’s cool!
I don’t know if this has been of any help, I do sympathies with you. Drew is going through a anger stage and has become disruptive in the class and has lost respect with his teacher. Yeah, life is always different and new. My saying is “ life is never going to be smooth sailing. Just a rollercoaster ride, never can predict the next turn, full of ups and downs, twists and curls, fun and scary all at the same time. But you always get back on for the ride”
Thankyou and good luck, I’ll be cheering for him.
Michelle Van Dyk
She writes:
"Any advice re bullying at school? My son is 8 years old and has been being excluded and called names, kicked and imitated cruelly. He wants to play soccer with boys at lunchtime who say he is the 'suckiest' year 3 and is no good at soccer. We have approached the school and the teachers have had 'circle time' re bullying, and increased surveillance in the schoolground. We are trying to support his self confidence and develop friendships out of school. At present there are no clubs eg chess at school for him to join; but he wants to practice soccer if he can to improve so keeps trying to join those boys despite suggestions to do otherwise. I would be grateful for any suggestions".
My answer is...........
Hi, my name is Michelle Van Dyk, I live at Wonga Beach in the Daintree and have an 8yr old boy with ASD. We have found similar problems, for about 2 years we traveled 20km to Wonga Beach State School at the beginning and end of each school day. This was for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the house that we were put into was further away from the school he was attending. A school which we love and wanted to persevere with until we were able to find a house closer to the school. Living further away, meant that he didn’t build friendships out of school hours and kids in the area didn’t really want to know Drew as they were older and could see he was different. And the kids that he did see at school had their own special friends, with bonds and more things in common and out of school friendship circle. Then, when we moved closer to his school, across the road in fact. The kids wanted to come over, mostly to play with different toys that they may not have at home. But in doing this they were able to see past the different little boy in their class. Then to go hand in hand with this, we as parents tried extra hard to make friendship circles with their parent or parents. This wasn’t easy as I have Chronic Pancreatitis and live each day with Chronic Pain and become to complicated for a lot of people, who get sick and tired of me being sick. I suppose this helps me see things from my sons view. Also I try to help out at the school as much as I can and build relationships with the kids and build a bit of respect there. As the kids are getting older they see more things about Drew that are different, this can be hard and I tend to try and smooth things over, which can be a bit funny at times. One of these instances was when Drew said he didn’t like the friend that was playing over and wanted to go next door and play with someone else. I tried to say to Drew that it wasn’t nice and that he didn’t mean it. And to that Drew said, “Mum, I told you that I didn’t like him, he smells! I like (the boy) next door better” ….. Well the ground could have opened up and swallowed me. I always try to get that child back to play again to hopefully show him that Drew can be nice!
I garble a lot!. Other things that we have tried… Gymnastics, this was hard as Drew is so competitive and everything has to be equal. We gave this a year and a half, before the teacher and ourselves agreed that it might not suit Drew, and a more one on one approach would have been the only option. Then, came the swimming lessons. Drew found this hard, he always needs to know what is happening next! And demanded the swimming teachers attention. The last thing we tried which we feel is pretty successful, is, Karate. The teachings are disciplined and straight forward. There is mostly one way to do things and no grey areas. He is at his best away and not near his close friends and best, right in front of the instructor. I tried to tell the instructor about his ASD, and he didn’t want to know. I am still trying to work out if this is a good thing or not. Drew’s friendship with the kids from is school that go, is really good.
But the point to the whole email… Drew tried to do the ALF Aus Kick program. Similar to Soccer scenario, Drew was picked on and deliberately left out of the loop on extra practice or games and he found out and really got upset. Yeah, we thought he would get over it, but it effected his confidence. If I was to let him do this again. I would try to ask for an aide, voluntary if needed, to try and be there to look out for him in these circumstances. Because this is a lunch time thing, maybe get an older kid on side (organized with a teacher) to try and encourage positively and make the other kids see the hidden talent and to point out the good things he does to the others and win them over. Or maybe another idea, could you or your hubby try to organize a game in the park on the week end, invite a couple of the popular understanding big kids to help with teaching a few pointers and get some of the meanies thinking, if they are there, that’s cool!
I don’t know if this has been of any help, I do sympathies with you. Drew is going through a anger stage and has become disruptive in the class and has lost respect with his teacher. Yeah, life is always different and new. My saying is “ life is never going to be smooth sailing. Just a rollercoaster ride, never can predict the next turn, full of ups and downs, twists and curls, fun and scary all at the same time. But you always get back on for the ride”
Thankyou and good luck, I’ll be cheering for him.
Michelle Van Dyk
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