Ok, right now I'm overwhelmed. I have so much to do, I can't even find a place to start. So, Christmas cards will not be coming from us this year. My apologies to you all that usually get them from us. I hope to have Happy New Year cards. Hopefully.
I think the "planning" of all the holidays is getting to me. I just can't "plan" anything else. I'm much more of a "fly by the seat of my pants" kinda gal. (To quote Pretty Woman). I'd rather wake up in the morning and say to myself, "what do we want to do today?" and then go do it. Planning my vacation/off time just stresses me out. Sad, but true. This probably comes from the fact that I have to plan my weekly day off (Fridays) with all my doctor appointments, hair appointments, and son's appointments, school functions, volunteerism, and so on for months. I never actually get a "day off" to just be me. I bet most of you don't either.
The lack of wanting to plan is probably not a good thing to have when you are having to be GF around the rest of the family that isn't GF (but imagining some one of them probably should be, too - after all, Celiac is genetic). I'll probably plan that toward the end of the week, after I'm finished with my regular stuff - work, day care, family meals, caring for the dog, etc. etc., etc. Then I'll whip myself into a frenzy wondering why I didn't take care of these things earlier.
And my poor son - was finally overwhelmed by his Celiac disease at the school Christmas party. He wanted a Christmas cookie so badly...he cried and cried and cried. We ended up leaving the party early. We also found out the next day that he had strep throat, so he might not have been feeling so well and that didn't help him to deal with disappointment, either. Gotta remember to bring the GF cookies to all parties. Lesson learned.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
My Thoughts on some "A" words
I probably won't get to really proof this before publishing, but it's been on my mind so much lately, I just had to get it out. And I know I created this blog to be primarily about GF, but I need to digress for a moment.
I've heard a great deal of talk about ADHD lately. Well, not just lately, for a long time now. Also about another "A" word - Autism. And it occurred to me that, well, I'm not so sure we should be surprised that these two diagnoses are on the rise.
First of all, I'm not so sure that "multi-tasking" isn't just asking us all to demonstrate some controlled ADHD. Are we really supposed to do 2-3 or more things at once? And pay enough attention to them that they are done well? Or even completed in a timely manner?
Second, is it really ADHD, or just an impatience factor? We expect EVERYTHING to be fast now. Our internet connections, commercials, replies to emails, sharing of pictures on social networking sites. Fast, fast, fast. And truthfully, when you are in a moment...a joyous one, and sad one, one of any significance at all - are you thinking, "I need to post this!" Instead of just enjoying it? Believe me, I HATE TO ADMIT this, but I do this. I click pictures with my phone as things happen and go to share them on a public networking site. Or I start to wonder if I should share them here. I saw this happening many many times at our son's birthday party. People were conversing with each other, and texting/updating at the same time. Is that a focused conversation? Is that multi-tasking? OR is it just not fully attending to what you are doing in the moment? I find myself having to hold back from checking my emails or social networking sites while sitting at red lights. I have learned to resist this, but man, I really don't want to just SIT there. I want to be occupied with something. What has happened to me that I can't just wait without having to be distracted by something else?
Onto the next "A" - Autism/Aspergers
Here's what I wonder: are we adapting ourselves out of a one-on-one, face-to-face society? I don't know about you, but I have friends that I can only reach by text now. I used to fight this - I'd much rather have a conversation on the phone than send 160 character texts and get the voice inflections, the feelings behind comments from friends. But we can't. We are too busy doing other things. We can't talk out loud - someone may hear us or we might interrupt where we are at the time. But then, where ever you are - you're texting instead of attending, so I'm right back at the ADHD question. We don't really have to be face-to-face as much any more. One recurring theme in autism is difficulty being with others and socializing/using social skills.
Rarely do I get to see my social networking friends in person. Please don't get me wrong - I am so happy that it exists. It is a great way to keep up with what friends are doing. But, where's the personalization? Where's the expression? What kind of body language is that person using to describe their life? Where is the emotion? We don't have to have or use eye-contact over the computer. Even though a person says they are doing ok, are they a little lonely? How would you really know without seeing them???? We aren't really required to use our social skills online, so why is it a surprise that a great deal of children don't understand them? Or learn to use them?
I remember this example from a communication course I attended a couple of years ago and it struck a chord with me. When most of us were kids, we would hang out in our neighborhoods for HOURS playing and playing and playing. Our parents had to call us home for dinner most of the time. We had to figure out the social rules on our own. How to get along. How to keep up interest in our day. How to just be with each other. Our children don't get to do that. We have to plan "play dates" and supervise them - and jump in when someone starts to get their feelings hurt. Yes, we are teaching our children how to be friends, but don't you wish that sometimes they could have to figure things out for themselves? Like we did? To feel the embarrassment, or sadness associated with an hurtful moment. Those lessons always stuck with me. I use them as examples for our son. But will he have examples of his own to teach his children? Or will he have to use mine? I wish we didn't have to structure so much. I know, it's a crazy, scary, unsafe world and we can't just let our children out to play like we did. But that is a bummer.
And children with autism are frequently attracted to spinning, or quickly moving objects. They "stim" on them. Well, isn't that just about what we all expect? Things to move quickly and make us feel good or calm, or in control?
A young friend of mine told me once about a guy she had a date with in college (within the past 5 years or so). He asked her out via a social networking site, but once on the date had no idea how to conduct himself. He appeared witty and charming online, but didn't know how to translate that to person-to-person. Sure, he may have been shy, but I'm not so sure that was the problem.
In short, I worry. I worry about what we may be doing to ourselves. About how we may be evolving. Yes, let's keep up with technology, but not forget how very important being in the presence of other people really is. I need to work on this.
Let me know what you think about these things. Good or bad. Yes, I may get my feelings hurt if you disagree with me, but I'll get over it.
Thanks for letting me share.
Sandra
I've heard a great deal of talk about ADHD lately. Well, not just lately, for a long time now. Also about another "A" word - Autism. And it occurred to me that, well, I'm not so sure we should be surprised that these two diagnoses are on the rise.
First of all, I'm not so sure that "multi-tasking" isn't just asking us all to demonstrate some controlled ADHD. Are we really supposed to do 2-3 or more things at once? And pay enough attention to them that they are done well? Or even completed in a timely manner?
Second, is it really ADHD, or just an impatience factor? We expect EVERYTHING to be fast now. Our internet connections, commercials, replies to emails, sharing of pictures on social networking sites. Fast, fast, fast. And truthfully, when you are in a moment...a joyous one, and sad one, one of any significance at all - are you thinking, "I need to post this!" Instead of just enjoying it? Believe me, I HATE TO ADMIT this, but I do this. I click pictures with my phone as things happen and go to share them on a public networking site. Or I start to wonder if I should share them here. I saw this happening many many times at our son's birthday party. People were conversing with each other, and texting/updating at the same time. Is that a focused conversation? Is that multi-tasking? OR is it just not fully attending to what you are doing in the moment? I find myself having to hold back from checking my emails or social networking sites while sitting at red lights. I have learned to resist this, but man, I really don't want to just SIT there. I want to be occupied with something. What has happened to me that I can't just wait without having to be distracted by something else?
Onto the next "A" - Autism/Aspergers
Here's what I wonder: are we adapting ourselves out of a one-on-one, face-to-face society? I don't know about you, but I have friends that I can only reach by text now. I used to fight this - I'd much rather have a conversation on the phone than send 160 character texts and get the voice inflections, the feelings behind comments from friends. But we can't. We are too busy doing other things. We can't talk out loud - someone may hear us or we might interrupt where we are at the time. But then, where ever you are - you're texting instead of attending, so I'm right back at the ADHD question. We don't really have to be face-to-face as much any more. One recurring theme in autism is difficulty being with others and socializing/using social skills.
Rarely do I get to see my social networking friends in person. Please don't get me wrong - I am so happy that it exists. It is a great way to keep up with what friends are doing. But, where's the personalization? Where's the expression? What kind of body language is that person using to describe their life? Where is the emotion? We don't have to have or use eye-contact over the computer. Even though a person says they are doing ok, are they a little lonely? How would you really know without seeing them???? We aren't really required to use our social skills online, so why is it a surprise that a great deal of children don't understand them? Or learn to use them?
I remember this example from a communication course I attended a couple of years ago and it struck a chord with me. When most of us were kids, we would hang out in our neighborhoods for HOURS playing and playing and playing. Our parents had to call us home for dinner most of the time. We had to figure out the social rules on our own. How to get along. How to keep up interest in our day. How to just be with each other. Our children don't get to do that. We have to plan "play dates" and supervise them - and jump in when someone starts to get their feelings hurt. Yes, we are teaching our children how to be friends, but don't you wish that sometimes they could have to figure things out for themselves? Like we did? To feel the embarrassment, or sadness associated with an hurtful moment. Those lessons always stuck with me. I use them as examples for our son. But will he have examples of his own to teach his children? Or will he have to use mine? I wish we didn't have to structure so much. I know, it's a crazy, scary, unsafe world and we can't just let our children out to play like we did. But that is a bummer.
And children with autism are frequently attracted to spinning, or quickly moving objects. They "stim" on them. Well, isn't that just about what we all expect? Things to move quickly and make us feel good or calm, or in control?
A young friend of mine told me once about a guy she had a date with in college (within the past 5 years or so). He asked her out via a social networking site, but once on the date had no idea how to conduct himself. He appeared witty and charming online, but didn't know how to translate that to person-to-person. Sure, he may have been shy, but I'm not so sure that was the problem.
In short, I worry. I worry about what we may be doing to ourselves. About how we may be evolving. Yes, let's keep up with technology, but not forget how very important being in the presence of other people really is. I need to work on this.
Let me know what you think about these things. Good or bad. Yes, I may get my feelings hurt if you disagree with me, but I'll get over it.
Thanks for letting me share.
Sandra
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
What plus what equals Celiac?
The results of Michael's testing came back negative...so I guess that means 2 negatives really does equal a positive?
I'm still thinking it HAS to be me. Gonna keep up the diet and maybe request more testing.
(Insert picture of testing here...couldn't find one before posting).
I'm still thinking it HAS to be me. Gonna keep up the diet and maybe request more testing.
(Insert picture of testing here...couldn't find one before posting).
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Star Wars Party
So today we had the big 6-year old party. First party with Gluten Free cupcakes, and pizza. It worked out ok! The party was a joint venture for our son and one of his friends. They have so very many mutual friends that it just made sense. It worked out well - we had a gluten-free cupcake, and a regular cake. We had a gluten-free pepperoni pizza, and regular ones. The theme was Star Wars - complete with Jedi Training lessons and Darth Vader at the end making a surprise visit. The party favors were LED Lightsabers. It was very fun, if I do say so myself. :)
Here are just a few pictures from the day.
Unfortunately, I didn't get a good picture of the GF cupcakes. I did try them, and they did taste a little different. Not bad, but different.
Hope you all are having a great weekend.
Here are just a few pictures from the day.
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| Entrance to the Training Academy |
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| Training class from Master Michael |
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| "Yoda Soda" - "makes strong Jedi, it does" |
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| "I'm looking for some Jedi to join me on the Dark Side" |
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| The Jedi were ready to defend the Rebel Alliance |
Hope you all are having a great weekend.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
And another "kink"
I just got off the phone with my son's Kindergarten teacher. She called to apologize because she let him eat the Gingerbreadman they used in their math activity. She sounded so nervous that I'd be mad. I'm actually grateful that she was so thoughtful! We had to discuss what to do when they have activities using food and how our kiddo would be able to participate.
So far, so good - he hasn't complained of any stomach pains. I see this is an opportunity to learn a valuable lesson. While I don't want him to have pains, he does need to know that Gluten is a no-no. So - we wait, and we see.
Coming soon...the 6th birthday party - Star Wars style! I sure hope it turns out as fun as I have it in my head! Look for those pictures after this weekend.
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| Add caption |
So far, so good - he hasn't complained of any stomach pains. I see this is an opportunity to learn a valuable lesson. While I don't want him to have pains, he does need to know that Gluten is a no-no. So - we wait, and we see.
Coming soon...the 6th birthday party - Star Wars style! I sure hope it turns out as fun as I have it in my head! Look for those pictures after this weekend.
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