Are You a Fan of Mr. Busypants?

If you're a fan of Mr. Busypants and you haven't already done this, you must click on over to Facebook and join the Mr. Busypants fan page.

Not only will you get The Adventures of Mr. Busypants website updates fed to your Facebook page, where you can share with your friends a blog that keeps you laughing hysterically.

You're support is greatly appreciated. Let's go viral with Mr. Busypants on Facebook!

Jordan Food Services: Eating in Bulk

Back in my walk-a-thon planning days, I used to go to Gordan Food Services for individual packets of relish. For whatever reason, Sam's Club never carried them and there was a constituency of walkers who demanded it.

I never would have guessed that 10 years later I'd be faced with Jordan Food Services in the form of my little girl helping herself cave-woman style.

Dip anyone?

More Tuesdays with Jorie

Ice Hockey Mr. Busypants Style

Mr. Busypants recently discovered the joy of filling cups with water and making ice. Recently, he took one of my tupperware bowls and filled it with water, creating a giant hockey puck.

Here's how you play ice

hockey Mr. Busypants style.

Fill a tuperware bowl part way with water. Tuperware bowls are great because the bottom is as wide as the top, creating one, kick butt puck!

Freeze overnight.

Clear off the island or a table in the kitchen and line the sides with towels.

Spray a little water on the counter to help get things going.

Remove the giant puck from the freezer and push back and forth.

The more it melts, the wetter the table; the wetter the table, the more slippery the ice.

When the ice wears down, eat! Repeat.

More Magic Marker Monday

Surviving the Busy Antics of a Preschooler with Autism, Part 2

This is Part 2 of 2 posts on Surviving the Busy Antics of a Preschooler with Autism. Click here to view Part 1.

Schedules

are also vital to successful communication with a preschooler with autism. If he can see the order of events, he can anticipate fun activities, prepare for not-so-fun activities, and seek breaks when he needs them. For example, around Halloween, Mr. Busypants asked me about his birthday party (in January). To help frame a timeline that he could understand, we put together a verbal schedule: First Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then Mr. Busypants’ birthday. I even threw in “then Airplane, then Marco Island” for our vacation.

Once Christmas passed, the incessant questions resumed, so I wrote a schedule, creating a grid of eight days. Each line had the day’s activities like bus, school, therapy, bed, etc. Every time we completed an activity, he’d rush to his schedule to cross it off. Church was on the schedule for one evening, and he totally freaked when we didn’t go until I explained to him that we could still cross off church and get to “Marker” Island.

Capitalize on your child's creativity

Let’s face it, kids with autism are creative. Whether they’re making houses and a Freddy Kruger hand with pretzel sticks, or building towers and bridges among street mats and matchbox cars, these are masters-builders with any tools available.

Recently, Mr. Busypants discovered with a few recipe cards, a pencil, a box of crayons, and a stapler that he could write, illustrate and bind his own books. To nurture this obsession creativity, I cleared a space in the corner of my office for him with his own desk, a plastic five-drawer cabinet, and a colorful rug to mark his territory. Now when I work, he works. The incessant chatter (both to me and to himself) makes it difficult for me to grade papers, but working side-by-side with him is never, ever boring.

Google Google Google

Kids with autism think in pictures, so when Mr. Busypants needs a nudge to get his creativity going, he dictates Internet image searches to me. If he's interested in dinosaurs, we Google dinosaur images. Then we scroll through the pictures until he finds just the right one and proclaims “I like this!” and I print it for him. We’ve Googled transportation vehicles, every kind of animal—even a Lego toilet.

Downtime

Downtime is important for everyone, but kids with autism can over stimulate easily and need time to refresh. With Mr. Busypants, we noticed early on that downtime was vital; he even self-scheduled it. No kidding! The kid took three naps a day the first year. He’d wake up from nap three at 6 PM and be begging, I mean crawling-up-my-leg-grabbing-on-my-pants begging, me to put him to bed. Then for the next two hours my husband and I would hear him celebrating with hoots and hollers, a ritual we called “Good Times.”

Conclusion

Mr. Busypants still gets in his share of trouble, but I’ve learned to anticipate his busy times and work with him to occupy his mind—and hands—with meaningful and creative activities. I also wisely de-toyed his bedroom and try to stay ahead of him by “protecting the perimeter.” My basement is rarely picked up and my husband wants to gag every time he walks into my office (Mr. Busypants and I have a similar inability to keep our desks need and orderly), but I have a smart kid who uses his strengths to prepare for a bright future.

Surviving the Busy Antics of a Preschooler with Autism: Part 1

I'll be discussing this post and more on Special Needs Talk Radio. Click on the icon above to listen in.

From the time he learned to walk at 18 months, Mr. Busypants transformed from a docile, content little cherub to a master troublemaker scaling adventure by the seat of his little diaper-cushioned pants. From breaking a toilet with the flush of a mega block to repeated attempts to smuggle a McDonalds Big Mac semi-truck from daycare, Mr. Busypants kept me on high alert.

He was three and a half when I got pregnant with Miss Chattyshoes. When I needed to nap in the afternoons the first trimester, Mr. Busypants happily hung out with me in bed, usually watching Curious George or Little Einstein. But one particular afternoon, I woke up to find that he’d certainly been busy.

In the hallway outside my bedroom sat Mr. Busypants in complete dedication to the project before me. Facing one way, Mr. Busypants strategically arranged his balls in symmetrical clusters from large to small and facing the other he stacked boxes largest to smallest, and created a rush hour traffic jam with Matchbox cars. His magnum opus reminded me of both the closet scene in Poltergeist and the cabinet scene in Sleeping with the Enemy.

This was one of several projects he eagerly executed in grand detail that week. Others included spilling rice and potatoes all over the kitchen floor while I lay sick with a migraine and piling up all the objects in his bedroom (toys, books, furniture) not-so-neatly on his bed in the middle of the night. To survive the clean-up of these daily projects, I needed a good sense of humor and a list of coping mechanisms.

Take Pictures

When faced with picking up a meticulously constructed mega-mess, I found that taking pictures of Mr. Busypants’ works of genius s provided comic relief. Yes, I still had to sweep, pick up, relocate, sort, and restock on a regular basis, but I could also dazzle and dumbfound others with the physical evidence of my son’s antics. It surprised me how quickly these pictures added up; they're entertaining, they document my child's progress, and they are fun to share with others (like on my Facebook and Blogspot pages).

Write about it

Blogging and journaling helped me articulate the good, the bad, and the over-the-top. Soon after Mr. Busypants’ diagnosis, I started a blog to deal with my grief. Suddenly I found myself writing and those potentially distressing and frustrating situations became humorous anecdotes. This devastating diagnosis transformed into acceptance, and even enjoyment and celebration of my amazing and unique son. Writing from Mr. Busypant’s point of view also added character to these stories. Now, writing The Adventures of Mr. Busypants is a high point of my week.

Key Phrases and Schedules

Having a handful of helpful phrases that translate any potentially explosive situation into a meaningful exchange is essential when dealing with Mr. Busypants. He doesn’t always understand my phrasing, explanations, or commands suggestions, so it is crucial that I say things in terms he understands. Visuals to support these ideas are extremely helpful, although using them consistently helps transfer the image to his mind, so he can match it when he hears it.

“First this, then that” will frame the timing of events. If he knows we’re on our way to the gym, but I’m making an unplanned stop at the gas station, a meltdown can be avoided by explaining “First gas station, then gym” so that he knows that he isn’t missing out on a great time at the gym.

Click Here for Part 2 of this post, where we'll discuss schedules, how to capitalize on your kid's creativity, communicating with Google searches, and the importance of downtime.

Jorrible Behavior

What happens when I yell at Jorie about going into the street.

Utter defiance!

Heck no, I won't go!

Oh, unless you need me to pose for pictures.

Let me show off my good side.

Cheese!

Guest Artist Cate and Mr. Busypants' Fruits and Veggies

Today we have a special guest artist featured on Magic Marker Monday: Cate.

Cate is the daughter of my grad-school buddy, Michele, who got me the job at College 1 nine years ago. The kids and I visited Michele and her kiddos a couple of weeks ago. It was a long-overdue visit as the last time I saw her, she had two kids. Now she has four. She hadn't met Miss Chattyshoes either.

Cate is an incredibly gifted artist and was eager to showcase her work. She has been published on other sites (well, her first-grade teacher's site anyway), so I was eager to book her guest appearance. Below are three of her favorite pieces, which she chose with care among her many masterpieces.

Firefly

Catie-bug the Lady Bug

Girl and Blue Dog (this is my favorite!)

Now, for all the Mr. Busypants fans out there, I would be remiss if I didn't publish something of his. The kid may refuse to eat fruits and veggies, but he's no afraid to draw and label them.

See past installments of Magic Marker Monday.

Pretzel Art and the Faith of a Kid with Autism

In the bulletin this Sunday, the staff at my church requested we email special stories about our kid's growth in Christ. Having a young child with autism, sometimes that's a difficult request to address. We're never quite sure what he understands, although let's face it, Alex (aka Mr. Busypants), is ALWAYS surprising us.

The greatest testimony of his faith comes in the form of Pretzel Art. One afternoon, while Jorie (aka Miss Chattyshoes), was napping and I was busy in my office working, Alex stormed into my office excited and demanding attention.

"Mommy! Mommy! Look at this. Look in the dining room," he shouted with exuberance.

I came running, wondering what he could have possibly concocted. I mean, take a look at what I'm up against when he gets ideas.

I looked in awe at his creation and listened intently as he explained each individual project within this pretzel-shaped masterpiece.

I'm taken by the church. I mean really, the kid's only regularly attended two buildings for church: one was in a high school, and our current church is a hideous brown office building (although beautifully remodeled on the inside; I think there's a spiritual metaphor somewhere here.)

And yet Mr. I-think-in-pictures and I-take-what-I-see-literally connected the CROSS to the CHURCH.

That's Christ in MY KID!

So post this on your Facebook page and Twitter that: Jesus is Lord.

Go viral with Pretzel Art!

Anderson Family Travel Survival in the 21st Century

Our 40 minute drive home from the Fourth of July celebration we recently attended was a nightmare. Mr. Busypants bossed Miss Chattyshoes around. Miss Chattyshoes, knowing exactly how to push her brother's buttons, screeched in a high-pitched voice. This caused Mr. Busypants to cry as his ears hear a high-pitch at a volume equal to dogs.

There was no shutting either of them up.

We yelled. We threatened. We ignored. We yelled some more. We had flashbacks to our childhood, knowing full well that we would never aggravate our siblings in this way.

Ridiculous.

It got to the point where all the yelling intensified the drama, both kids crying. I finally crawled in the back and put my arms around each kid, comforting them into quiet.

It worked.

Yes, Scott and I are already dreading the 20 hour drive to Orlando this November. If we can't stand 20 minutes in the car with these two, how will we survive 20 hours?

The Divider

Our first thought: building a major divider. Now my husband, construction genius that he is, will think big, I'm sure. He'll create some solid, seat to ceiling divider leaving the kids in their own separate cubicles for the trip.

I, on the other hand, discovered the pillow barrier on my way to visiting my friend, Michele--an hour and 15 min. drive north.

It worked wonders. The kids could still see each other, but the pile of pillows somehow acted as an invisible shield against aggravating, fighting, and general sibling rivalry. And bonus--when Mr. Busypants was tired, he just leaned over and had enough support to rest.

The Entertainment

Often we marvel at how we survived road trips back in the 70s without a DVD player, but remember, we didn't have car seats and didn't wear seat belts. It was perfectly legal (I think?) and certainly socially acceptable to climb back and forth between the back seat and the way back of the old green Plymouth station wagon (or whatever your family's version of this vehicle was).

Not only will we have a DVD player double screen set up, so each kid need not look to the left or right for entertainment, but Scott will have his video iPod stocked with movies while I will have my iPhone stocked with movies AND games. With a hand-held device in each chubby little hand, the kids have no reason to look anywhere but down.

The Obvious Staples

Of course, technology will need a backup, so we'll be armed with an array of books, toys, snacks, and comfort objects like blankets, babies, and binkys. There's nothing like a nuk in the face to keep Miss Chattyshoes' chatting under wraps. And for Mr. Busypants, his "small blanket" signifies a corner of the blanket goes to the nose, the index finger points up, and the thumb goes into mouth. He can spend hours in this position.

The Stops

I just told a friend the other day I was dreading the fact that Miss Chattyshoes will probably be potty trained by the time we go to Florida. Oh, the rest stops, the "I have to go pottys," and the 17 much-needed pairs of pants for the inevitable accidents along the way.

One thing I planned for on a trip to Branson, MO with the kids and my sister-in-law was the McDonalds map. Yes people, that's right. You can go to the McDonalds Trip Planner, plot your route, and bring up a chart that maps out all the McDonalds restaurants (and playlands) along the way.

The Overnight

When Mr. Busypants was two, we took him on a trip to Hawaii (life's rough!) Since we were visiting three islands, we decided that we absolutely did not want to lug a pack-n-play to and from airports as we island hopped.

Instead, we bought a kid's pop tent and the little guy slept snugly in there. Just be aware--this is VERY important--that not all kid's tents have zippers. Zippers are a must. In fact, Miss Chattyshoes will be going into tent-sleeping training very shortly as I will be flying with BOTH KIDS, by myself, to California to visit my aunt and my cousin for 10 days.

Pop-tent: Priceless!

Related Links:

8 Tips for a Successful Road Trip

Travel Advice from babysafetravel.com

Traveling with a Child with Autism

Jorie Spelling: Fashion Diva

I admit it, last season I watched 90210. Being a nostalgic, Beverly Hills 90210 fan, I had to see what 30 somethings Kelly and Brenda looked like as they became adult role models to a new, edgier generation of West Beverly students.

Of course, who could forget our favorite teenage virgin, Donna Martin, who in one accidental-nonetheless-drunken prom night nearly lost theprivilege to graduate?

I can still hear the chanting: "Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!"

I've got my own little sweetie turned rebel on my hands. If I didn't know better, I'd think she took lessons from my extensive teen drama DVD collection, which includes

• the 80s black comedy Heathers, (which coincidentally landed Shannen Dohrety her role as Brenda when Tori Spelling saw the film and pitched Dohrety to her dad);
• Jawbreakers, the 1990s Heathers wannabe with Julie Benz (Buffy the Vampire Slayerand Rosewell), Rebecca Gayheart (former 90210er) and bad girl Rose McGowan (ironically Shannen's replacement sister on Charmed);
• and the more recently popular, bitchy-high-school chick flick, Mean Girls, released before anorexia, bleached hair, and her spoiled Hollywood brat image got the best of Lindsey Lohan.

On the Fourth, Jorie arrived at the Westels, a family friend, decked out in full celebration mode (see photo in header). Taking a cue from the Heathers, whose signature past time was croquet (a civilized yet vicious sport), Jorie grabbed a croquet stick out of the ground and repeatedly poked guest Don Wood in the back. How very!

For months, well before she turned 2, if she asked for something, and even thought you'd say no, she's throw herself on the floor in full temper-tantrum mode. More recently, however, her latest Mean Girls act is the little pitches. She gets this raging twinkle in her eye and starts digging into little pockets of flesh with her sharp little fingers. Smurf bites are the ultimate toddler torture device.

Much like our dearly loved Donna, Jorie has a knack for fashion. Just about every morning we battle over an adorable, matching baby-doll top and shorts that I've chosen verses a Miss Jorie's favorite: a brown, Laura Ingalls looking prairie dress from Gymboree, which would be fine if it weren't 90 degrees out. Sometimes I can coax her down from the fashion ledge by offering her one of Miss Sassypants' hand-me-downs. Other times, I sneak her downstairs with an outfit stuffed under my shirt, knowing she'll be more willing to succumb if she's not within 10 feet of her closet.

Speaking of closets, oh, how she loves her closet. She often demands that I pick her up to bring her within reach of her wardrobe assortment. Then she runs her hands over each individual piece, humming a softly as she lavishes over her belongings. Sometimes she yanks a favorite off the hanger (typically its her Marco Island hooded sweatshirt or her Miss Sassypants striped, hooded sweater) and other times she leaves me endlessly holding her up, so she can tactically admire each garment repeatedly, like Marcia Brady, brushing her hair 100 strokes.

Another favorite is the infamous pink polka-dot blouse, which is her first pick whenever its clean. (In fact, she's wearing it right now and more than happy to smile for the camera to prove it.)

My favorite Jorie Martin Original, of course, is the princess pull-up under a bit too-small flowered Onesie, with a pair of her brother's Sponge Bob underwear to square off the look. Now that I wish I had a picture of.

Tuesdays with Jorie

Under Construction

Pardon the mess. I'm still a little under construction. A few things just need clean up, like the links above.

I LOVE MY REDESIGN!!!!!!

Rainbow Writings and Redesigns

I love this scan of Mr. Busypant's rainbow writing that he did in school earlier this year. It's so colorful and neat. Whenever I look at his collective group of works, I get so excited at all the progress he's made over the years. It's been hard work!

I'm also proud of the progress I've made on this blog. It's reopened a love for writing that I had misplaced when I first got pregnant with Miss Chattyshoes. I felt so crumby during that pregnancy and I let that interfere with the writing habit I'd established earlier. For two years straight, I wrote every day, then for two years straight I didn't. It feels great to be back in the habit, even if I still don't have time to indulge daily.

Check out all these great highlights:

• I've had over 3,000 visits since I started in late February.
• I have nearly 50 blogposts on this blog.
• I have a second blog, The Writer in Me - Teaching, Writing, Living, that is establishing itself as an online teaching website.
• I have an awesome blog partner, Beth Gainer, who I have the privilege of collaborating with on a regular basis. We have lots of blogging plans in our future.

And soon, I'll have my blog redesign in place. I just approved the last of the final edits, paid, and sent my username/password to the designer, Diana Rambles of Custom Blog Designs, so if you're not looking at my redesign right now, check back; it will be up soon.

Diana's awesome to work with. She has amazing ideas and combined them with all my ideas into something tangible and beautiful. I love my new design. Her prices are reasonable, she's diligent in getting things done, and she's super sweet. You can't afford NOT to hire her if you're looking to redesign your own blog.

Which reminds me, she also created a background for my Twitter page, which should also be up shortly.

To celebrate, please leave comment letting me know what you think and if you're not already following, consider doing so. It would be a privilege to have you join the ranks. I would LOVE to see 50 followers added this week, so if you love my blog, pass the link on to your friends.

Thanks so much for reading.

Working out of the Panera Office

Moms in the 21st century try to do it all: balance a career, raising the kids from home, and keeping the household together. I'm one of those WSAHMs (working stay-at-home moms). Since my daughter Jorie, now 2, was born, I've found it increasingly difficult to balance it all. And with today's economy including a salary reduction to our budget, it's become important that I take all the work I can get.

I am very fortunate to get more work than I can take these days, and being spread so thin, it's important for me to work overtime to maintain balance in my life--and sanity for that matter.

My solution: A solid morning routine and the Panera office.

Each morning I wake up at 6 AM and start my day with my Bible study. I find that spending time with God almost magically gets my priorities for the day in line. My heart and mind become more capable of handling the day's events and I'm less irritable, stressed, and overwhelmed.

Next, I try (and only do it about half the time if not less) to workout for 20-30 minutes in the morning to get the adrenalineflowing. I always feel so much better physically after a quick workout. It's great to achieve a sense of accomplishment before the kids even wake up.

Two days a week, I schedule a babysitter to watch the kids from 9 AM to 3 PM and I work out of the Panera office. It's a great location. The dining room is large, so I can usually find a nice, quiet table next to an electrical outlet to set up shop. With a bagel and OJ for breakfast (ya gotta get something), I'm ready to tackle the day's work: grading papers, planning classes, emailing students, and whatever else is on the menu.

To accompany my laptop, I have my husband's Verizon card, so I'm sure to always have a reliable signal. I have a portable, cordless mouse that plugs in easily, and all my files on my beloved flash drive. I wheel in my office in a black, leather computer case, armed with my textbooks, papers, and, of course, my microphone in case I need to correspond with a student via Skype. I've also been known to record a podcast or two.

My assistant, the iPhone, comes with me so I can make phone calls, check my To Do List on reQall, record voice memos, or check my schedule for what's in store that week. I juggle personal tasks with iPhone applications like Shopper, where I can add to my grocery list and Lose It, where I can log in my calories.

The time I spend at Panera is precious: it's my time to get caught up and refresh so that I can be a better, more focused mom at home with my kids. I'd better hit publish and get to work: mybabysitter's on the clock and I need to get to work.

This post was originally published at my other blog The Writer in Me - Teaching, Writing, Living.

Creepy, Weirdo Babies

I am not a fan of talking animals. Watching the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe is not an option for me. Talking animals just freak me out.

Same goes for talking babies, or any digitally enhanced babies. But this YouTube video is pretty cleaver and hilarous, albeit with a touch of the creepy and weird.

I first saw this, by the way, at Mutterings of a Mindless Mommy's site.

I found another creepy and disturbing rendering of a baby on The Laughing Stork with Candy Kirby. Tell me this isn't hidious and strange. I dare ya.
I think I've scared you all enough now.

Jorie at the Spa

There's nothing quite like a warm soak in the tub. Of course, as a mom, I'm not often afforded that privilege, and even when I am, sometimes I'm not alone. That was the case last week when, after receiving a sample of spa products from Michele Leach, an old (yet extremely young-looking) friend of mine and Arbonne consultant, I couldn't resist, even if it meant sharing.

Jorie is really picking up on the ritual of getting reading in the morning. She watches me intently and rubs her chubby little cheeks as I wash my face, she sticks out her chunky little hands for lotion whenever I use mine, and she's discovered the amazing relaxation that comes with taking a bath.

Michele knows how I love Arbonne's spa line. Last year I bought the detoxifying rescue wash and re-mineralizing body lotion, but I only used it after the pool. I also got the purifying sea soak, but again, I rarely used it, not wanting to waste it. Then after finally using the weeks worth sample of the Re-9 skincare line, I became re-addicted to the products and started using the rescue wash and moisturizer daily, so when I got this sample, I was psyched for a relaxing bath.

Only I wasn't alone. Jorie was in full stalker mode.

First, I soaked in the soak with her. She just leaned on me and enjoyed the warmth of the water. And who knows how much of her own, natural botanicals she added to the bath. Then I moved on to the sample foaming seasalt scrub, which by the way, was totally invigorating. I loved how it lathered up and while it exfoliated my skin. The rescue wash left my hair (yes, you can use it as a shampoo) soft and fluffy. I topped the entire experience off with the renewing body gelee that came in the sample pack, all the while hooking Jorie up with a dollop of cheap moisturizer (I'm no dummy) on each little hand. (She demanded repeats several times, so to finish my spa regime in peace, I complied with her little demands.)

After my own primping, I brought Jorie over to the bed for what she calls a "ssage." All I have to do is say the word, and she looks over to the top of my husband's dresser where I keep the Arbonne Baby Care Body Oil, which she demands on a regular basis I massage onto her chunky little legs while she squeels in delight and relaxation. Primp the Princess.

Last week I had a garage sale with two of my good friends, Carrie and Amy. My generous neighbor Jenny was so good to me; she watched Jorie so I could sell in peace. Jenny did stop by the sale with another neighbor and all their kids (two boys and three toddlers.) One of Amy's daughter's items for sale was a Disney Princess vanity table. Jorie loved it, planting her cheeks onto the little stool and primping her hair and face in the mirror. For $4, I had to indulge her. After all, I was making a killing selling all her old baby gear, toys and clothes.

Now in addition to watching me get ready in the morning (while sitting by the sink brushing her teeth with my toothbrush and picking through my stuff), Princess Jorie has her own primping station in her room, where she stores play bottles of perfume and other products, colorful plastic jewelry, and random items like dollhouse babies and nuks.

In spite of the multiple clashes of hormones me and my little princess have on a daily basis, having a girl to primp with is so much fun. Of course, that will only last until she's old enough to steal all my products. According to my male gynecologist, who Jorie and I recently saw, she will turn on me like a pit bull when she's around 13. But until then, I'll enjoy our primping sessions and our fake product sharing.

***

If you're at all interested in the products mentioned above, email Michele Leach to talk about them. She has some great tips on how to get these products at a lower cost. And please know, I wouldn't recommend just anybody's products on this blog. Michele is a trusted friend who will not stalk you into buying things.

My favorite Seasource Detox products are the Foaming Sea Salt Scrub and the Fortifying Hair Mask (which I didn't mention in the blog post but used a sample once and must have.)

More Tuesday with Jorie posts

Magic Marker Monday

It's a little fish in the big sea. Kind of reminiscent of Kindergarten.
It's hard to see, but he actually made the giraffe on another sheet of paper then cut it out and pasted it onto the white background for a 3D effect (which gets lost in the scan, I think.)

More Magic Marker Monday posts

The Fireworks, the Ditch, and the Cop Car

Today as I prepare to go to our annual Fourth of July gathering at Paul and Lois Westel's house, I am reminded of the debacle that was The Fourth of all Fourths last year.

Although in years previous, Mr. Busypants' world rocked as the result of community fireworks events, he was excited and intent on seeing them last year. He talked about it all stinking day.

My husband, Scott, and I left early to walk to the even, pushing Miss NotQuiteSoChattyYetShoes in her stroller. When Mr. Busypants arrived with his aunts a little later, he was ecctatic. That is, until the first loud Boom went off as the fireworks engineers or whatever they call them, put out a practice run.

Mr. Busypants FREAKED (note the all caps).

It became clear (to me at least) that we could not stay, so I stupidly volunteered to walk Mr. Busypants back to the Westels. My husband, even more stupidly, agreed.

We fought the crowds as we walked in the opposite direction, my hands plastered over his ears. He held my hands against those ears so tight that there was no chance I could remove them.

The farther away we got from Plesantdale Park in Willow Springs, the fewer people we encountered. And the darker it got. At times, Mr. Busypants would break from my grasp and just start running aimlessly like a dog trying to flee a gunfire range. I'd tackle him and hold him down to try to calm him, all the while being kicked and screamed at as he desperately sought cover.

This area is pretty residential and void of any commercial businesses for the most part. By the time complete darkness reached us, we had hit the last busy intersection in the area and the sidewalk had ended.

This left me essentially with a cell phone that would never be heard, a hysterical autistic five-year-old, and a pitch black, sidewalkless path ahead (yeah, street lights are pretty scarce in this area as well. We had passed the fire department a few blocks earlier, but in this condition, Mr. Busypants couldn't even consider turning back.

I was stripped down to nothing but prayer as a resource. And so I prayed that a police car would drive by and that I would be able to flag an officer down. Then I turned around, and there one sat at the last red light on our path, waiting for the green.

I knocked on his window and explained our situation, begging for a ride home as we were completely destitute. He was happy to help. As we drove away, I realized that Mr. Busypants was only wearing one of his Crocs. One shoe was a small price to pay (even if we did pay $30 for the pair at the Magic Kingdom) for our escape; there was no way in Hell I was going back to retrieve it.

The officer dropped us off at Paul and Lois', which was far enough away from the main attraction that although still panicked, the noise level was at least painless to my little guys ears. I thanked the officer profusely and went inside, where we watched the end of a Harry Potter film as we waited for the gang to come home. At some point, I realized that the other Croc was left in the police car.

A week later, the officer stopped by the Westels, leaving that lone Croc and a business card on the porch. I still have it.

Related Links

Fourth of July on Autism

Kids and Restaurants, Part 2

I'm so far behind with blogging right now. I posted my Monday post today and haven't written my Tuesday post yet. One class ended last week, two started this week, I'm at midterm for another class, and yet another is wrapping up next week.

Crazed is an understatement.

My blog buddy Margo, aka Writer Mom at Home, was gracious enough to allow me to guest blog on her site. Like me, she's been pretty swamped with work and has had a hard time keeping up. I was recently inspired by her post, Kids and Restaurants, knowing I've had my own trauma and drama tableside.

I know there are many families out there who take their kids to restaurants often, but we are not one of those families. Early in my parenting years (a whole six years ago), I decided that it was more work than it was worth to go to a restaurant since the task of enjoying a meal while keeping my little guy happy was insurmountable.

Check out Kids and Restaurants, Part 2 on Margo's site to read on.