#Win 1-up Cupcake Moulds

Guess what? Today is the 27th birthday of the much loved Super Mario!

You know… Super Mario? The little Italian guy in the red suit! Has a brother called Luigi and hangs about with a princess and a mushroom!

I’m 30 now but remember my childhood and how Super Mario had a huge part in it. It all started off with my little brother, he had what is now referred to as a retro Nintendo console and one of his first games was Super Mario. I still remember frustratingly trying to beat what we referred to as the big boss man at the end! I also have strong memories of collecting the coins by jumping up and down under these brick like things that sometime if you were lucky contained a 1up mushroom that gave you an extra life.

The Retro Nintendo

I’ve grown up with Super Mario in my life and it’s now become a big part of my children’s life too. As the years have pasted Super Mario has gone from strength to strength. My children love playing games like Super Mario Cart, Mario Olympics and more.

As to celebrate the Birthday of Super Mario, I’ve been given an awesome prize for my readers by the fabulous Just Mustard.

Win one of 2 sets of 1-up Cupcake Moulds.

These fantastic moulds are based on the mushroom character from the retro video games. They will certainly give your cupcakes a really super edge.

To win here’s how!

Compulsory actions

Follow clairelouise82 and @justmustard then tweet:

“It’s Super Mario’s b’day I want to win a 1-Up cupcake mould with @clairelouise82 and @justmustard http://bit.ly/TX5nx1”

Then leave a comment telling us your twitter handle.

To gain extra entries here’s how…

1) Check out Just Mustard on Facebook and tell them you want a 1-up cupcake mould for Mario’s Birthday.

2) Follow @clairelouise82 on Instagram comment to let me know who you are

3) Follow clairelouise82 on pinterest and pin this competition comment to let me know how I can find it.

4) And use any of the share buttons below excluding email.

Important Leave a comment for each and every action you do. Please leave a contact such as a twitter handle or email.
Competition will close on the 1st October 2012 at 23:59 pm.

T&C: Winners will be drawn at random. Open to those in the UK only. Winners must respond to winning notification within 72hrs or winners maybe redrawn. The prize will be sent by the PR for Just Mustard, not A boy with Aspergers. All usual terms and conditions for A boy with Aspergers competitions will apply.

If events occur that render the competition itself or the awarding of the prize impossible due to reasons beyond the control of Just Mustard, Just Mustard reserves the right to change or withdraw the competition and/or prize at any time and the entrant agrees that no liability shall attach to Just Mustard or A boy with Aspergers as a result thereof.

Check out Loquax for more competitions

Aspergers and Birthdays

Well, it’s that time of year again! Little man is well on his way to becoming 12 and don’t we all know about it!

Now I love my son but what I don’t love is his constant banging on about his birthday… It’s driving me completely insane!

One of the traits of Aspergers Syndrome is that of obsessiveness.The tendency to go on and on about something of interest with no regard to the listener. Little man does this with his ‘special interest’ he also does this in the run up to his birthday! Now, I understand all children have the ability to become over excited about their birthday and most do! But for my little man this starts a little to early. His birthday is on the 1st October and he starts his birthday talk every July like clockwork.

This all starts with the searching and marking of items in the Argos catalogue. As his aged his discovered the beauty of the internet and now searches for his gifts on various different sites. Play.com and Amazon are just a few of the places he’ll look.

Over the past 2 months I’ve discovered at least 1 email per day in my inbox from the little man.The subject box always reads the same ‘G’s Birthday List’ I’ve actually had to create a folder just for his spam mail!

There does seem to be one or two differences this year compared to pervious years! He seems to be constantly changing his mind, going from one demand to the next! I seriously cannot keep up! Little man will normally get an idea of what he wants and then stick to it. This indecisive behaviour is something that combined with the constant birthday chatter is completely driving me bonkers!

Little man seems to have little concept of the value of money. Some of his requests have been dam right ludicrous when it comes to the cost. His requested everything from vintage slush puppy machines to real working shop tills. Then there’s the more “normal” requests like a Playstation 3 or a PC. These request are normally fine but money hasn’t been great these past few months and with a few weeks to go I’m hoping to get anything.

I remember when the Little man’s birthday and Christmas list would consists of a lot stranger items than anything of the above. He would ask for batteries, padlocks and even fizzy pop. I’m sure regular readers will already know this from my past posts on the subject.

As for what we are doing for his birthday, I just don’t know! His Aspergers makes surprises a no go and the need for me to get my butt in gear and start pulling a plan together is a must. I’ve been wracking my brains tonight and I’m just not getting that big bulb going off in my head!

So, heres hoping that one goes off very soon, because before you know it, it will be Christmas!

Did you know it was just 14 weeks to go?

Build-a-Bear Workshop Fun Packs Review

Build a Bear workshops are pretty awesome, with store’s located all over the country, your bound to have heard of them before. My children love anything Build-a-Bear Workshop® and as a parent I think its pretty cool too! The fact you can visit a store, pick and stuff a bear, (inserting a heart with a wish attached) shop for it’s clothing and accessories then take it home is pretty exciting for a child and is a fantastic idea. We love it so much that my daughter recently had a Build-a-Bear Workshop® Birthday Party, she’s 9 and I worried maybe she was a tad to old for this now! Well, she loved it, and continues suggesting we pop in every time we’re out shopping in Bromley.

Admittedly, it cost a bit of money to be building bears on a regular basis, yes here and there, birthdays, Christmas, treats, but every week, my daughter has little chance of success! However, it seems that Build-a-Bear Workshop® have the perfect solution!

The Build-a-Bear Fun Packs are an all new and exciting pocket-money range of miniatures. All 12 bears that make up this exciting collection, all feature in their full size at Build-a-Bear Workshop® meaning your child gets the same great quality, just in a mini vision of its original form.

Just like the original bears, each comes with a heart to insert. These however, are not just any heart but a friendship heart.

The Friendship Heart series comes with one of six colourful hearts that each has a special meaning . Fill your Furry Friend with Love (red), Strength (green), Courage (purple), Happiness (yellow), Dreams (blue), or Honesty (orange). The special BABW Heart Ceremony is included so that each child can bring their Furry Friend to life.

Fun Packs cost £5.99 and include…

Mini Furry Friend

Heart and ceremony instructions

t-shirt

fabric sticker set

trading cards

Collectors guide with activities and an online code to use at www.bearville.com

Ok, £5.99 is in my opinion, a tad over priced, considering these are really small! Nonetheless, you do get a lot in your fun pack and kids do seem to love them. If Alice-Sara wants to spend her pocket-money on fun packs, I wont argue!

The best part for me, is that these are not blind foil packaged, you will therefore not end up with a load of doubles, which wouldn’t have been ideal at price of £5.99.

Alice seems to like them, keeping it on a shelf in her bedroom with all her bigger bears, I can quite honestly see her ending up with a shelf full soon enough!

The trading cards have not come in use as yet! This is because none of Alice’s friends seem to not have acquired a fun pack of their own as yet. If this does happen, I know she will likely enjoy this aspect, she is a bit like her older brother who has Aspergers syndrome, she loves to form a collection.

Check them out for yourself, what’s more, there are lots of special offers taking place at Build-a-Bear Workshop® especially for the Easter period. The latest one I’ve discovered is a Free Egg decorating kit, with every purchase of £20 or more.

Disclaimer, we were not paid for this review, though we were given a free fun pack to conduct this review. All opinions remain my own.

A Christmas party- Mummy blogger style

8

DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS

Well, it’s a whole week since the Tots100 Christmas party at Butlin’s (where does the time go)? So… I thought it was about time I shared with you all the positives of our family trip, my overall thoughts on the Butlin’s resort located in West Sussex’s Bognor Regis, plus fill you in on all the gossip from the Tots100 Christmas meal & afternoons festive activities.

 Some of you may have read my last post which mainly focused on my sons difficulties in his inability to adapt to the new surroundings, he was therefore unable to settle during the break and as a result he became quite challenging. It didn’t seem right, nor fair to write about my overall experience at Butlin’s or my thoughts and documentation on the Tots100 Christmas party! Basically that was a real negative post and to mix the two just wouldn’t have worked, nonetheless I had to write it, clear my head, move on and hopefully  learn from it! 

 On a lighter note, we were incredibly lucky to be given the chance to go to Butlin’s especially during such a festive period! It was the Christmas fantasy weekend and as a result there was a great deal going on. As the Tots100 party was being held at the Butlin’s resort, attendees were given an awesome deal on a weekend stay in one of its two lovely hotels, and what’s more the family could come along too (something I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to afford to do at this expensive time of year). 

 We got booked to stay at the Ocean hotel which has beautiful views over looking the sea front. Now I have been to the Bognor resort before but this was some years back and the first hotel was just in the process of being built. It had changed somewhat and seemed that bit classier (if you know what I mean). 

 I don’t know what I expected in terms of the hotel, what with it being part of the resort as I’ve only every stayed in the apartments on pervious visits. We didn’t arrive on the resort till gone 11pm Friday night, as we approached the entrance to the hotel, my somewhat whining tired children suddenly become wide eyed and excited. Harley absolutely loved the Snowmen that line the walkway into the hotel and spent most of the weekend saying, “Look Snowman” every time we passed them. 

 The Ocean was fabulous what with its Disco lifts and magical lighting… Yes, you may think it sounds a little tacky but it really wasn’t, it was far from it in fact! The Ocean really did have all the makings of a top hotel that catered for both Children and adults, what with it’s beautiful spa and restaurant, you could even hire games and DVDs from reception. Little man did love the lighting in the room, it was really calming and would actually be great in any sensory room. As you lay in the bath the lights above the bath would slowly change from one colour to the next, one minute you were bathing in a heavenly red tub, then the next you were soaking in a blue lagoon. Little man was so drawn by this feature that for once he was the first person in the tub (seriously I normally have to carry him and force him in the bath kicking and screaming, so this was a welcomed change). We also had the same mood lighting above the bed which looked extremely impressive. 

 There was loads to do, so much I only wished we had more time (well if the Little man wasn’t so challenging that is)! Sadly we didn’t get to go swimming and this did result in a few tears. Little man had in fact forgotten his trunks but a trip into town via a little train that ran along the sea front fixed that problem (the town is just a 10 minute walk from resort if you don’t fancy the little train) sadly by the time we arrived at the swimming baths known as ‘Splash Waterworld’ It was closing, I must admit I did expect it stay open a little later then it did. 

 There was still lots more to do and discover, Harley even enjoyed his second birthday on site with friends such as Barney and Baby Bop, Fireman Sam, Pingu and his all time favourite ‘Bob the builder’ Yes, it was a little tots idea of paradise. 

 The fact it was Christmas fantasy weekend made it all the more special! Children could meet Santa in his magical wonderland, get up close to real reindeers, have their pictures taken in an oversized snow globe and meet Bojorn the huge white mechanical Polar Bear. 

 There were shows throughout the day right through till the end of the evening. By day tiny tots could enjoy the puppet shows in the skyline and families could watch Panto together at centre stage. In the evening we enjoyed tribute acts such as Lady Gaga who was so good Little man couldn’t get over the fact it wasn’t actually her and all the children seemed to enjoy the Abba sing along and once it that was all over Little man and his sister had fun making the odd request to the DJ and getting her to wish their baby brother a very happy 2nd Birthday, which I thought was really sweet. If that was enough Centre Stage also has a pretty funky show shop where you can buy everything from bubble blasting guns, flashing necklaces, funky coloured wigs, fairy wings and glow bracelets (just checkout the photos below, as you can see my daughter was really feeling the dressing up vibe). 

 Saturday was the day of the Tots100 Christmas party, it was broken down into two sessions, which worked well for me because of the children. First you had a festive afternoon of mince pies, mulled wine and some fun festive activities and later in the evening it was drinks at a cocktail bar before heading of to Butlin’s newest restaurant Tuner’s a more finer dinning option. 

 The Christmas party was a bloggers only occasion which meant no Little one’s (Thank goodness, as I can’t imagine what my fellow bloggers would have made of the Little man’s mood). First it was planned that their father would accompany us to Butlins but he feel ill which meant I got to invite my very Lovely friend Donna to join us, who thankfully being such a close friend has experienced one or two of Little man’s worse meltdowns to date. Regardless, I was still worried that while gone they may somehow go to far maybe leave her hanging upside down from a Christmas tree or something! 

 Of course I was a tad late for the afternoon’s fun, Little man was practically hanging from my ankles begging me not to go and in no uncertain terms telling me how selfish I was for leaving, while Harley was so over tired he was throwing his own wobbler. Alice-Sara, my daughter however seemed quite relaxed in terms of she didn’t bat an eye lid as I left, just sat chilling in the kids den watching some children’s television show. Once there I was greeted by the lovely Sally Whittle writer of ‘Who’s the mummy‘ and the lovely lady behind the Mad blog awards, had planed the whole thing for us load of mummy bloggers. Sally is a woman who I owe a lot of thank you’s to, she really does some pretty special stuff and along with the Mad blog awards has now given me two great memories to grow old with. 

 Once inside I joined a team who had just started decorating a christmas tree, the challenge… to use your imagination and create a spectacularly decorated tree with the use of shop brought decorations alongside craft materials which would require us to think outside the box. Competing against four other teams we had just one hour and I’m pleased to say we won 🙂 even if the shoe blogger did pinch wrapped gifts from around another teams tree, to which Karen from all about the boys gave us all a good telling off for:)

 Before the evenings dinner it was back to the hotel for a few hours (in which I was pleased to discovered my friend was thankful still alive) before getting changed in to something a little more glam and heading back out again, while my friend took the children to see a show. 

 I first joined my fellow bloggers for one or two cocktails that I must add where scummy, then it was off to Tuners to eat. There were 36 of us in all, 35 mummy bloggers and one daddy blogger all taking up too long rows of tables, I got to sit with Lou from bloggomy who I got to meet for the first time at the Mad blog awards and it was lovely to catch up over a glass of white and a festive feast. 

 Tuners opened it’s doors in 2011 and is named after the famous chef Brain tuner who helped create the restaurant which is advertised as affordable fine dinning. The restaurant boast some top chefs such as Nigel Davis (formerly of the ivy) cooking its six course Christmas dinner. 

 I really did have an enjoyable evening though I really did feel a little sad at not being able to join some of the bloggers such as the lovely Romanian mum, who went on for drinks and dancing after the meal! Sadly with my children, I really did need to get back and save my friend from any meltdowns or sibling punch ups.

 All in all despite my stress and parenting dilemmas while at Butlin’s, I really am pleased I went and will definitely be going again…. Someday! 

Related articles

• Never Ever Again (aspergersinfo.wordpress.com)
• Preparing my child with Aspergers for our family festive break (aspergersinfo.wordpress.com)
• We’re planning a break away (aspergersinfo.wordpress.com)

This ones for you Little man

 There was lip gloss, cleavage and killer heels. Fancy frocks, satin bags and the odd freshly pressed suit! Soho didn’t know what hit it when the mummy bloggers and one or two daddy bloggers, came to town!

 The occasion? Why, the Mad blog awards of course!

 The theme was “GLAM” and Glam it was! There was some serious hot dresses on display with shoes you longed to adopt and take home as your own.

 I spent much of Friday afternoon in the salon, where my long locks were chopped and replaced with a shorter but nicer restyle.

Then It was a mad dash to the beautiful Radisson  Edwardian Kenilworth hotel in London’s west end. It was here, I got ready for the long-awaited big night ahead. Jeans and a tee were swapped  for a floor sweeping, black satin grown, black stilettos and sparkly, shimmering makeup. With a generous spray of Jean Paul Gaultier & little black clutch in hand, I was all set!

 On arrival at the Talk Talk experience centre Soho, I was greeted by a photographer who took a couple of full length pictures before allowing me to scramble off reaching for a glass of white. It was clear on arrival that Sally and the sponsors had gone all out to create an amazing event for us bloggers.

 I met some awesome bloggers, one’s I had met before but overjoyed to meet again, others I knew from online and had wanted to meet for ages and some I was yet to discover. The atmosphere was electric, and as the wine bottles emptied the laughter grew stronger. With each award came a spectrum of reactions and emotions. There were tears, laughter, gasps & roars of applause.

 When the little gold envelope was opened and I heard the words “A boy with Aspergers” my  tummy became a flutter of butterflies and my eyes watered every so very slightly. Yes, stood there with my little glass award in one hand, a microphone in the other, all I could say was

“OMG I’VE WON”

which was followed by a muttered ,

“I don’t know what to say but thank you”

Yes, the word “Thank You” was repeated several times before I scooted off.

Louise (@bobbity666) left, Me & my lovely award centre, Jenny (@Edspire)

No, of course I hadn’t  prepared a speech, that meant I had considered myself a winner. I didn’t even want to think along that line, So with no speech I stood like a donut . There was so many things I wanted to say, they were buried in my head unable to flow out. Nonetheless I would like to think there’s a way to make up for my lack of spoken words by doing what I do best…. Sharing my thoughts and emotions through my writing!

 So, without further delay, here’s what I should have said on collection of my award for the Most inspiring blogger!

 Huge thank you to all that nominated and voted for me to win, those in cyberspace as well as my lovely family and friends You lot are truly amazing, please go about your day today knowing you made this mum and blogger smile a massive smile.

 Sally Whittle (@swhittle) I just can’t thank you enough! Not just for Friday night but the whole experience, it’s just been amazing for me! From the day I discovered I was nominated to the night I collected my winning award I’ve just had such a ball. Yourself with the help of Jen, Parentdish, Talk-Talk and all the other Mad sponsors, made me and so many others feel really special, thank you to you all for making this brilliant event possible.

The lovely Sally Whittle who made it all happen.

  Special thanks to Mothercare, the sponsor of my winning category, “Most Inspiring blogger”

 Sending a big thank you to TK Maxx, Helen (@HelenGunter) & Polly (@p_hibb) for the beautiful dress, shoes and accessories that were perfect for me and helped me to feel comfortable and confident on the night!

 Thanks to my fellow finalist, who helped create an amazing reading list, I’ve uncovered so many great blogs to read. An extra special thank you to the finalist in my category “Most Inspiring” who have all been so lovely to me, your all incredible  and I will continue to read you’re inspiring blogs.

Kylie (@kykaree) it was lovely to see you again, you looked ravishing.

 Massive Thank you to my personal sponsor OptiBac Probiotics, ( who have not only given me support and encouragement but introduced my family to their fantastic products that have been of great benefit to all, but exceptional for my son who has Asperger’s syndrome. lastly thank you OptiBac for covering my hotel expenses at the fabulous Radisson Edwardian hotel, avoiding a half cut merry mum, night busing it through London (don’t think the children would have appreciated waking to a half-drunken mum on the sofa) so thank you.

An added thank you to Soyraya who is part of the OptiBac team and is just the loveliest person you can ever wish to work with when working with a brand.

 Lastly ( Yes, I know! Bet you’re glad I was speechless on the night, anyone would thing I’d won an Oscar) nonetheless I have to thank my three beautiful Children, especially Little Man (aka A boy with aspergers) for giving me the inspiration to write and share our story, the highs and the heartbreaking lows that have brought us to where we are now (a much better place).

Little Man (aka A boy with Aspergers)

“This Little man, this one’s for you! Happy 11th Birthday!”

 As for the “Blogger of the year” I didn’t win this, So don’t panic, I’m not about to reel of any more speeches,  though I would like to congratulate Anna Ranson (@imaginationTree) who was crowned the Mad blogger of the year for her fabulous blog, “The Imagination Tree”

 Well, done

(No hard feelings, that is unless I see you walking the streets alone 🙂 Don’t panic, It’s just a joke)

 I was also super pleased for Lisa (@MummyWhisperer) and Ruth, (@geekmummy) not only where they dressed by TK Maxx meaning I got to meet them during the run up to the awards, they are also fellow winners.

Lisa (Mummy Whisper) Sally Whittle

Ruth (Geek Mummy) collecting her award.

Huge Congratulations girls.

  A highlight to this already wonderful evening was  meeting the lovely Karen (@allaboutheboys). Gosh, Karen had the most stunning shoes, she has taste that’s for sure! Also the lovely Jenny (better known on twitter as @edspire) a real gem with great dress sense. These are two ladies who are genuinely really lovely both on and off-line!

 There are many others I had the pleasure to chat with, far to many to name.

 The rest of the night went by in a haze of excitement and alcohol, after an eventful taxi ride back to the hotel (long story) and a quick change of clothes I headed to a local bar in Covent Garden with these awesome lot, @SuperAmazingMum who was live blogging  (We finally met 3rd time lucky), @michelletwinmum (who had the best eye makeup by far), @seasiderclare (really sweet and friendly),@alforalenyna (who made me laugh so much I almost passed urine) and last but not least @bobbity666 who with Jenny I spent most the evening with and would love to meet again.

Michelle (@michelletwinmum), Clare (@seasiderclare)  (@alforalenyna)

Michelle, Louise (bobbity666)

The very lovely Super amazing mum (Live blogger) we finally meet &  so worth the wait

We had a lush few bottles of wine that we all sat and drunk into the small hours of Saturday morning, before heading for some over priced but yummy fast food (in an alcohol intoxicated kind of way) before walking back to the hotel and parting.

 As I lay on my massive double bed with luxurious velvet throw I drifted of to sleep dreaming about the full English that would greet me in a few hours time, only that didn’t go to plan!

 Waking up with a maid looking over me at 11.35 am was so not the plan!

“Oh no you sleep to late, you must check out”

For a moment I stared at her

“Who the hell are you and where the f*** am I?”

Was what first thought that came to mind, before  it hit me! I suddenly found myself doing things in fast forward (Benny Hill style) jumping up throwing belongings into bags, cat licking instead of showering and getting out of there looking rough, slightly hung over and gutted about my breakie, yet excited about seeing the kids and giving a (Not so little Man) a Happy birthday kiss.

 So, there it is! I mingled, drank, scared a maid with my sticking up Barnet and panda eyes and WON myself a Mad blog 

Not bad for one night ha?

 To see the full list of winners click HERE

Tonight is the night

Can you believe it, today is the day of the Mad blog awards Ceremony where the winners will be revealed.

I will be done up to the nines in my new dress and overly high shoes. Lots of makeup is needed (a paper bag even) as I’m sure I will have great big bags hanging from under my eyes, the kind bigger enough to carry a weeks shopping in!

Of course I haven’t had a wink of sleep, not even a tiny bit. We currently don’t have any melatonin for Little Man, (not that it does much good anyway) so these last few nights have been pretty trying.

My Sponsor OptiBac Probiotics have provided me with a beautiful hotel for tonight, so I’m not only looking forward to the awards but also a good bloody nights sleep!

Tomorrow is another big day in our household! It’s the Little man’s 11th Birthday.

This year I found we’ve had less strange gift request, such as padlocks, batteries and Dr pepper. This has been replaced with the request for money!

Sadly Little man seems to think the stuff falls out of the sky and I nearly killed myself laughing when he calmly yet politely requested the grand old sum of £400 (No my finger didn’t slip and accidently add an extra 0)!

Having Aspergers means little man normally has no shame in requesting the things he wants. Most children don’t, when the request is being made at their parents, yet little man will make such request to anyone who will listen!

His been requesting different sums of cash from a host of family members these past few weeks, so much so, that it’s driving me a tad loopy.

Another thing my son has a tendency to do, has done for as long as I can remember, is,

“ Ask friends and relatives bearing gifts, how much did it cost”

It’s times like these I feel to cover his mouth so he cannot speak. Someone gives him a present and I hold my breath in till I almost pass-out in the hope he doesn’t ask!

Of course I’ve explained that it is indeed rude, my child’s rigid thinking disallows him to see my point, he can’t get my way of thinking so therefore continues on his mission to find out the cost of his birthday presents and won’t rest in till he has.

This year he is off for a day out in London with his friend My younger sister will be doing the honours in accompanying them. Me, I’m not invited! He actually went about making his birthday plans without me! Charming I know! So I’ve decided to treat him to a nice Chinese meal in the evening.

So, that’s my Little update from my little world.

I cannot continue for I am simply zombied out, so apologise if this post is a load of meaningless rubbish!

If you fancy finding out how myself and the other finalist get on at the Mad awards tonight (that’s if I manage to stay awake through it) then you can follow the live blog where there will be live commentary and pictures posted throughout! This kicks off at 6pm this evening (Friday 30th September) just click HERE.

As easy as child’s play

google image

Play, A god given right for all children!

 Its importance is critical to the development of every child regardless of, Class, age, race, gender or ability!

 With every game of peek a boo, every story told and building block added to a carefully constructed tower, your child learns something new & exciting.

 A child may not speak or be able to hear, he may not walk, they may be even confined to a wheelchair, nonetheless this doesn’t mean the child will benefit from play any-less, regardless of a child’s disability, they should be encouraged in play, and will enjoy it like any other child.

 As a mother to three children, I really love playing and interacting with my children, whether its make-believe, a board game or something else all together! Though yes, I do admit it’s not always easy to find the time, yet its something I consider important so try to make it a priority (something we engage in a few times a week minimum).

 As most regular readers will know, my eldest son has Aspergers syndrome which forms part of the autism spectrum. At almost 11 years old, Little man was my first-born, when I was at the tender age of 18. I noticed pretty early on in little mans life that his play style was somewhat different from what I considered to be typical play for a child his age.

 My daughter didn’t come into our lives for a further two and a bit years, meaning I had plenty of one on one time with my developing baby. Games such as Peek a Boo or sing alongs didn’t give of that WOW factor for Little man, instead they sent him into a howling frenzy. 

 Regardless of the above I persisted in my quest, a road of discovery, encouraging my child to engage in interactive play. I knew he got enjoyment from playing alone, I didn’t discourage, though I didn’t reframe from interactive play either! I’m convinced this has been of some benefit to my child now his older. 

 Play helps feed a child’s imagination helping it grow, it allows a child to use creativity while helping them to connect to their surroundings and adapt play to their environment. I believe that play can help a child learn certain roles and requirements while aiding the development of dexterity, physical, cognitive strength.

When your child is on the autism spectrum, play may not be what you typically expect it to be!

 Yes, I learnt the hard way, don’t we all? 

 I learnt that my child didn’t actually require all the latest toys that the boy next door was playing with. My expectations both before and after Little man was born were unrealistic, I had naively assumed that all children played the same way! Play was play, nothing more, nothing less, It all amounted to the same thing! God I had a shock awaiting me and a hell of a lot to learn.

I had no intention on lying to my friends and family when I announced that Little man loved Bob the builder only to end up with a house full of Bob merchandise come Christmas! In some respects I think I half convinced myself it was the case, well he had at least glanced in the direction of the tool kit I had brought him!  It wasn’t just Bob the builder, I was a mother moving with the times & quite honestly the latest craze that I quite often learnt about from the gloating neighbour who would quite often proudly inform me about the latest Spiderman bike her son was now whizzing around on! The next week Little man would have that very same bike, though it remained in the cupboard by the front door only ever seeing the light of day once, twice if you include the day I awkwardly tried to get it home on the bus. This was one of hundreds of toys that were both a waste of time and yes money!

 Looking back as I write this I get a glimpse of how bloody crazy I was! Yes, total denial sweep through me.

 It was only once I had taken a few steps back and observed the situation that both myself and especially little man began to benefit.

 I note… No, Little man did not like playing with Cars (though he quite does today) he did however love spinning the wheels over and over again! I decided that actually that was OK.

 I note… No, Little man did not love Bob the builder (though I only wish I had kept all that merchandise as my youngest is Bob gaga) though he did love Thomas the tank. I decided again, that was fine!

  I discovered that between the ages of 2 and 7 Little man only ever really played with train sets and transport mats despite his bedroom now looking like the Disney store!

 Finally I excepted this!

 I stopped focusing on that Little boy next door, therefore letting go of that, “My child should be playing with that toy” scenario! I focused on the Little man instead and what I saw was no longer what I felt I needed to see through my own stereotypical rigidness, I now saw Little man for the child he actually was! I successfully learnt my first very valuable lesson about play! 

 “Play is unique there is no right or wrong way of doing it”! 

 By stepping into Little man’s world while taking small steps to engage with him in this child lead play I noticed he slowly became more interactive, wanting me to take an interest in his games. 

 Yes, all along I just needed to go with the flow (so to speak) I needed to embrace and celebrate his interest, a massive milestone

 Oh, and did I mention that big credit should be given to my wonderful daughter? Siblings can actually be a massive source of learning  for the child on the spectrum, Alice-Sara certainly was!

 Alice-Sara was that child who played like I also assumed all children did! She played the way I always expected the Little guy would!

 Through sheer willingness and determination his younger sibling did something wonderful without really knowing it! She introduced her older brother to role-play! She taught him the value of this type of play and helped him develop the tools needed to engage in it!

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 It is this aspect of play that I firmly believe is the true instrument needed for a child with Aspergers to progress.

 I don’t know if Alice-Sara just longed for this type of interactive play from her older brother, but as a small child she fought to get it, and she did!

 OK, it isn’t perfect, as much as he is able to engage in such play it is still largely ritualistic and he can become overly controlling often using his younger sibling as a play object, yet his come a long way!

 However ritualistic and Un-spontaneous his play maybe, his sister has successfully taught him how to play schools (a game he still plays today, though it always involves a school “bus”) he also loves playing shop keepers and hospitals (if his the ambulance driver of course)! 

This variety of play offers so much to the child on the spectrum. The child will learn important social interaction skills, and a number of other important life skills they will acquire in life. 

 I’ve seen my Little man go from the child who really did prefer the box as opposed to the toy that came in it at Christmas (mainly due to what I was giving him) to a child who now enjoys play so much more and through he still does it alone, he is much more willing to play with his peers even if they don’t always oblige to him joining in. 

 Yes, he still has them “odd” items on his Birthday and Christmas wish list; Batteries padlocks, neon electric fly zapping lights; and 20 cans of DR pepper to name a few; yet he also loves, computers, lego, model buses and trains, bikes, scooters, board games and magic tricks. 

 Recently I saw a worrying statement 

“As easy as child’s play don’t apply to children with autism”

 “That is bum fluff!”

 “Just because it isn’t typical doesn’t mean it isn’t magical!” 

I learnt that the hard way, I hope you don’t!

Birthday wishes

To say this is a belated birthday post is understatement!

My little man, as of the first of October 2010 was one year older. Yes, his now into the double figures, where have the years gone?. This can only mean one thing! “I’m getting “Old” Of course we all get older, I just never saw it coming quite so fast. I have been visited by the wrinkle fairy already, and didn’t that come & slap me in the face lately! Late nights really don’t do me any favours.

Ok I’m not “Old” as such (Though I often feel it) and I’m guessing women older than me are going to be thinking, “Shut up, try being my age” once I say I’m 28! But really, how fast the years have passed, how life has changed, and how at times I still find myself dumbfound that the little blonde girl with bunches in her hair and little freckles across her nose, attended the very same primary school that two of her children do now, some seventeen years later! I never guessed my life would be the way it is today. It’s not a bad life and god I’m not complaining because I wouldn’t change a thing (Well maybe a few dodgy hair cuts & some pretty funky get up) I love what I have and I’m so lucky to have three beautiful children that though may keep me on my toes! But I’m still crazy in love with em.

An emotional rollercoaster

I don’t even know how to begin this blog! There is so much in my head right now, I’m finding it hard to put into words. My emotions are so muddled, I honestly have no idea what lies ahead. I feel I’m on a rollercoaster that I can’t get off. Will it ever stop?

I look at Little man and for a minute I catch him smiling. His looking through the Argos catalogue as it’s almost his birthday. He never asks for things that most children ask for.. We have had a list consisting of batteries, padlocks and electric fly lights in the past. (Fly lights are the things you hang in restaurants. The fly is attracted to the light and ends up pretty much fried on his quest to have a closer look) This year he has his heart set on a trailer that connects to his bike. His plan is to load his sister or baby brother in the back, and then take them for a ride… Sounds sweets I agree, but there is more to it! Of course this trailer will become a bus. He said it will make a perfect bus. “I love it mum look” Yes.. its fair to say I’ve heard this throughout the day. His excited I’ll give him that. Still Its pretty nice to she him this way as these past few days have been challenging. I’m not saying his overly challenging behavioural wise! His been more emotional than anything.

Work we were given for him to do a home (His on another two-day exclusion from school) had him in tears. Maths work was fine but when it came to writing the definition of words that he would need to search for in the dictionary, he was in tears. It seems that dictation is something he really struggles with! After a few minutes I decided this wasn’t going to happen. Why press him on something that was clearly too much for him! I’ve decided to try to solve the problem by creating the same work on a word document so he can do it on the computer. He seemed keen for me to give it a try when suggested.

Late yesterday evening Little man wondered downstairs again in tears! When I asked what was the matter he tells me his head hurts. As is sister has been feeling ill recently, we were out of medicine. Lucky his father was round as he went of to the local supermarket that thankfully closes at midnight. Little man was in a ball on the sofa saying “Please god, please god make it go away” I really do think the last few days must be grating on him, that or his gave himself a headache with all his shouting 🙂 I hate to see any of the children unwell or in pain, its horrible feeling so helpless. Thanks to dad Little man had some medicine and though it didn’t go completely, it took the edge off. We headed off to bed and little man jumped in beside me. We had to make sure the room was in complete darkness (He loves sleeping in complete darkness, but he said this will also help with his head) He must have been so worn out as within a few minutes he was out for the count. Surprised! Very much so! Little man very rarely drops off without running through a few bus routes (Writing this I can hear the faint sound of beeping and the words Elephant & castle station) I couldn’t be his teacher along side all them other children. Hats of to the classroom teacher. Maybe playing teacher was my reason for sleeping so well 🙂

So…. Tuesday Little man will return to school! A reintegration meeting will be held on that morning before he heads back off to class. It’s always difficult for little man to reintegrate back into school, and I have everything crossed it’s better than other times in the past. After the meeting I will then be heading of to the library to hopefully complete my NAS training modules by the given deadline. It seems that lately time isn’t on my side, everything typically happens at once and it just never seems to stop.

As I mention briefly in my last post, the LEA’s Sen panel has informed me the request for the statutory assessment won’t be heard by the panel till the 30th of this month. It just angers me that it’s been delayed! I really can’t see why it wasn’t put in on time for the panel meeting that took place on the 16th (Or there about that date) It’s seems all the reports were sent to the LEA, all but the assess one from the school. I’m puzzled as it was decided the school would submit the assess one back on the 5th of July. This was at least three weeks before the summer holidays.

Mediation date has still not been agreed on by the LEA. I guess they are waiting to see if the Sen panel now decides to go ahead and make a statutory assessment. If this is the case, they do assess, then mediation wont actually be needed. The Sen process is a long slow one, getting any LEA to take notice of your child has to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. (That and giving birth, though giving birth is a hell of a lot quicker) You hear other parents saying how it isn’t easy and how you should be prepared for one very long process. “YER RIGHT, HOW HARD CAN IT BE?? AFTER ALL MY CHILD IS MAKING ZERO PROGRESS IN HIS CURRENT PLACEMENT. THESE PEOPLE ARE OBLIGATED TO SEE THAT HIS NEEDS ARE MET, RIGHT?” I am now one of them parents who knows that this s**t isn’t easy. So what do we do to get these so-called professionals to listen? Dont look at me for answers, I’m all out!

Well…. Someone did give me an idea! It’s not the first time I’ve heard it or even considered it myself , it’s just an idea I consider to be a tad tricky… Video recording! For us it’s not as easy as one would think. This idea scares the hell out of me. Now with Little mans agreement it’s Ok…But of course a child can act somewhat different in front of a camera they know is there. (He don’t really like being filmed unless it’s him doing the filming, Yes he often wonders of with your iPhone, then holds the phone in front of his face as he tries to rap about buses) Ok so I should hide the camera and somehow hope he doesn’t find it. It would provide some pretty spectacular footage of our wonderful morning routine. Even better how about our early evenings, If his not with his friend his laid out on the stairs screaming abuse at me 😦  Thankfully this don’t always last the night. Oh yes he sometimes settles till bedtime when he then converts into this double-decker bus (194 and 53 at present) So whats my issue? Why don’t I fancy this as a good idea? Well.. Two reasons! Reason one… What mother enjoys spying on her own child? What mother wants to break their childs trust and privacy? (That was one answer not two :)) Second…. Would you wanna be in my shoes when (and I mean when) he finds out? My son hates being watched, unless his acting the clown or doing something he want’s attention for. I only recently discovered that for some children on the spectrum, looking at them can almost seem like you’re trying to look inside them. Little man often complains about his sister looking at him (It don’t help when he see her as his enemy) I can just picture the scene if he was to catch me in the act. He can often go on for hours about something and this would be no exception.

I just feel unless your child, family and mental health have been hung out to dry, you just don’t get anywhere. What do they want, need to see before doing the right thing? They say that the most important thing for any child is a good start in education. Do they only mean this if you’re stopping your child from attending school? Little man isn’t the only one! Millions of children face this battle. Some will come through it Ok, having managed to get some sort of education, others become damaged with rock bottom Low self-esteem with no prospects…

… I’M SORRY BUT I DON’T WANT THAT FOR MY CHILD.

  

A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY.

Wow I really could not of asked for a better birthday, It was perfect, Just the way I wished for it to be.

I woke up pretty early. Being the first member of the household up and about I made myself a nice cup of tea and settled down on the sofa and started to read a magazine. Just then I heard little feet making there way down the stair’s It was little man and Alice. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUMMY” So sweet, they had made me a card each and Alice gave me a teddy and little man had me a plant which he had got for me when out with my sister yesterday. What a lovely  way to start my birthday. Later that day they greeted me again with some stunning red roses. Bless um, how cute. Who ever said children with Aspergers have little feeling’s were wrong. My little man is full of them him and his little sister Alice gave me a wonderful day.

THANK YOU G AND ALICE, MUMMY LOVES YOU VERY MUCH 🙂