Changing Routine And A Boat Trip

Sometimes I forget that J is a very easy going young man. I do tell people how wonderful he is at accepting quite big changes at times ; moving house being a major upheaval, and moving schools too.

J will now relay off in rote fashion all about the next day's lessons at his school. He says it as a continuous sentence, and will re-start if he is interrupted.

Last Wednesday, after he had returned from school, he began reeling off Thursday's activities. He gathered his swim trunks, a towel, and a bag, for which he does every Wednesday evening, as he knows it's swimming the following day.
On the Tuesday I had been informed that all of his class would be having a trip out on a local boat, that caters solely for children and adults with a disability, (and their carers, family, siblings etc). It is a charity funded boat, and so there is never a cost to the people using it. Also written in the book was the fact he would not be going swimming.

The boat 

So, when he told me all of Thursday's itinerary, and I saw the swimming kit all ready, I wasn't sure how to broach it with him. It's not as simple as telling him, "no swimming J".
I contemplated letting him take his kit in, writing in his 'home - school' book that I allowed him to, to save on his distress at there being no swimming.
But, I wanted to try something different. I didn't know how he would react, or whether indeed if he would understand.

When he had finished reciting all of Thursday's events, I added at the end, "no swimming J, J is going on a boat!"
He repeated his sentence again, with the swimming included still.
So I added at the end, "no swimming! J is going on a boat with V (one of his teachers)."
He then repeated, "boat tomorrow. V." And then he said all of the children's in his class' name too.
His next roll call of Thursday then omitted the swimming, and added in the boat. I was thrilled!

He repeated all of this again, many times through the evening, and also the next morning.
He repeats each days activities and events anyway a fair bit, so it wasn't unusual, or a sign to me that he was distressed by the change.

I knew he would love the boat, as he took a trip on it last year with his class, and then through that, I managed to contact the boat people directly and arranged a trip for him, his brothers (one who has vision impairment and nystagmus), my mother (their Nanna), and myself.
We had a spectacular day out on it, and the captain took us around the visiting Queen Victoria ship that was in dock. We were right at the base of the Queen Victoria, and it was incredible to look up at it. The captain then took us up and down the water, at a leisurely pace, and being such a glorious day, we had the sun shimmering upon the sea, and a beautiful cool breeze in our hair.

J viewing the Queen Victoria in dock

Sure enough, the message back to me via the communication book said he had loved the trip, and had even had a turn at steering the boat.

I have already booked for another trip for his birthday in a few days time, and this was booked before I was informed about the class trip.
The lucky boy will be on the boat twice in as many weeks!

You Gotta Love The Twitter Platform Of Fame

It seems nowadays I have so very little 'spare' time to sit and type a post for this blog. I use Twitter a fair bit now, as it's quick to do.

I have kept up to date with all the latest news and trending stories, and this one has caught my attention...

"Honey can't complete the autism assessment as she is too busy being a complete t**t. But the s**t mum assessment is complete." 

"Honey is completing a story about three little pigs. She identifies strongly with this animal"

(This is in regards to the tweet above she wrote. Comparing an autistic child to a pig.)

"ED STOP LOOKING AT US, you are weird. Look at people not a machine. Try and act off the spectrum"

These are, predictably, the words spoken from a woman who appears to be (via her copious tweetings)  a mix between a schadenfreude and narcissist. Anyone is within her target, and her 'fans' all find it incredibly funny when she attacks another sector of society she despises - until she attacks something close to them. Then it's not so funny anymore.

For me I find it best to take her commentating with a pinch of salt, as I can see it's done for shock value with a side of self adulation.
There have been many before her - think Colin Brewer and his 'killing newborn disabled children by smashing their heads against a wall' comment.

Do her comments about autism hurt me? No.
Do her comments about special needs hurt me? No.
Why?
Because I am the person immersed in the world of autism and special needs, and I can see just how beautiful and inspiring it is, and I feel sorry for her that she chooses not to see that. She sees the stereotype and not the truth. That is her choice. I can't influence that.
But, her comments do hurt those who have autism and special needs, and potentially their family and friends.
The pleasure she appears to take from that is something I cannot identify with at all.

I believe the words she writes are wrong and hurtful, but while there is a media circus, and 'fans' who glorify this kind of behaviour, she has a platform, and is earning good money, fame, and the much craved for attention.
The name of this woman :- Katie Hopkins.

Like her views and statements she makes daily, this one is my opinion. I choose not to use defamatory, hurtful, unkind, or rude words about her, as I am not that kind of person. The words schadenfreude and narcissist were used in context with the overview of her use of words towards others ( if you have the time to scroll through the endless tweeting on her page).



And that is all I have to say about this woman and this story.