Comments on: The Hardest Words http://aroomofmamasown.com/2009/04/the-hardest-words/ Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:04:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Kelley http://aroomofmamasown.com/2009/04/the-hardest-words/comment-page-1/#comment-5605 Kelley Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:09:38 +0000 http://aroomofmamasown.com/?p=1402#comment-5605 Ya know, there's nothing fake about these kids, is there? They can see the situation for what it really is, and deal with it in a real way instead of the canned way so many of the rest of us would. What a beautiful story. Ya know, there's nothing fake about these kids, is there? They can see the situation for what it really is, and deal with it in a real way instead of the canned way so many of the rest of us would. What a beautiful story.

]]> By: melissa http://aroomofmamasown.com/2009/04/the-hardest-words/comment-page-1/#comment-5593 melissa Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:28:59 +0000 http://aroomofmamasown.com/?p=1402#comment-5593 that was a sweet story!!! xo that was a sweet story!!!
xo

]]> By: Margaux http://aroomofmamasown.com/2009/04/the-hardest-words/comment-page-1/#comment-5588 Margaux Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:06:15 +0000 http://aroomofmamasown.com/?p=1402#comment-5588 Sounds like Austen "gets it" more than most of us. Caroline mentioned on my "Tissues" post that, in nursing school, she learned that you're never supposed to say "I'm sorry" to a person who's grieving or in distress because it sounds trite and really does nothing to soothe. Austen's method sounds much more heartfelt. Sounds like Austen "gets it" more than most of us. Caroline mentioned on my "Tissues" post that, in nursing school, she learned that you're never supposed to say "I'm sorry" to a person who's grieving or in distress because it sounds trite and really does nothing to soothe. Austen's method sounds much more heartfelt.

]]> By: Yvonne http://aroomofmamasown.com/2009/04/the-hardest-words/comment-page-1/#comment-5585 Yvonne Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:12:56 +0000 http://aroomofmamasown.com/?p=1402#comment-5585 When I was a freshman in college, I suffered through a horrible bout with depression. During that time, I remember "polite coversation" was the hardest for me. I attended a small college where everyone you passed said "hello, how are you?" I felt it was so fake because if I had really told them how I was doing, they wouldn't have wanted to hear. And saying 'thank you' was hard too, but I don't know why. I didn't want people to do anything for me so thanking them seemed fake too. And "sorry" was hugely hard as well because I couldn't deal with any type of failure on my part and "sorry" seemed to mean I had failed. But it was never that I didn't feel sorry or that I didn't feel thankful; I was just holding on to myself so tightly that it was hard to give anything away for fear of loosing everything. It sounds as though you are giving Austen the space he needs to learn "politeness" in his own way and in his own time. Perhaps he will always be more honest with his politeness than the rest of us are and that's okay too. When I was a freshman in college, I suffered through a horrible bout with depression. During that time, I remember "polite coversation" was the hardest for me. I attended a small college where everyone you passed said "hello, how are you?" I felt it was so fake because if I had really told them how I was doing, they wouldn't have wanted to hear. And saying 'thank you' was hard too, but I don't know why. I didn't want people to do anything for me so thanking them seemed fake too. And "sorry" was hugely hard as well because I couldn't deal with any type of failure on my part and "sorry" seemed to mean I had failed. But it was never that I didn't feel sorry or that I didn't feel thankful; I was just holding on to myself so tightly that it was hard to give anything away for fear of loosing everything.

It sounds as though you are giving Austen the space he needs to learn "politeness" in his own way and in his own time. Perhaps he will always be more honest with his politeness than the rest of us are and that's okay too.

]]> By: Mary P Jones http://aroomofmamasown.com/2009/04/the-hardest-words/comment-page-1/#comment-5583 Mary P Jones Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:10:49 +0000 http://aroomofmamasown.com/?p=1402#comment-5583 Cate, it must be an American thing. It's a fairly well-known board game over here. There are numbered cards, and you drawn a number and move your piece that number of spaces with the goal of getting around the board to your home. If you draw a Sorry card, you can bump someone else back to the start and take their place on the board. Cate, it must be an American thing. It's a fairly well-known board game over here. There are numbered cards, and you drawn a number and move your piece that number of spaces with the goal of getting around the board to your home. If you draw a Sorry card, you can bump someone else back to the start and take their place on the board.

]]> By: Cate Subrosa http://aroomofmamasown.com/2009/04/the-hardest-words/comment-page-1/#comment-5582 Cate Subrosa Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:12:25 +0000 http://aroomofmamasown.com/?p=1402#comment-5582 That is so cool. Austen is such a fascinating kid. I am intrigued by this game "sorry" - never heard of that one. That is so cool. Austen is such a fascinating kid.

I am intrigued by this game "sorry" - never heard of that one.

]]> By: Tanya @ TeenAutism http://aroomofmamasown.com/2009/04/the-hardest-words/comment-page-1/#comment-5581 Tanya @ TeenAutism Wed, 08 Apr 2009 06:03:28 +0000 http://aroomofmamasown.com/?p=1402#comment-5581 Nigel is exactly the same way about terms of politeness. He had difficulty understanding them at first because they were not nouns or verbs or adjectives. Now he seems to understand them, and their purpose, but most of the time he forgets to say them. How wonderful of Austen to give you the Sorry card, for so many reasons. Simply beautiful! Nigel is exactly the same way about terms of politeness. He had difficulty understanding them at first because they were not nouns or verbs or adjectives. Now he seems to understand them, and their purpose, but most of the time he forgets to say them.

How wonderful of Austen to give you the Sorry card, for so many reasons. Simply beautiful!

]]> By: Headless Mom http://aroomofmamasown.com/2009/04/the-hardest-words/comment-page-1/#comment-5579 Headless Mom Wed, 08 Apr 2009 05:34:39 +0000 http://aroomofmamasown.com/?p=1402#comment-5579 There is a girl in my son's class that is different. (I don't know her specific diagnosis and don't know another word to describe her. Please forgive me if different is wrong here.) Anyway, I overhear the other kids saying things like "[She] learns things differently than we do. Don't say that!" when sticking up for her. I love it. They get her because she's always been around them. They play with her, work with her, and overlook her awkward behaviors because she's just another kid in their class. It's awesome. There is a girl in my son's class that is different. (I don't know her specific diagnosis and don't know another word to describe her. Please forgive me if different is wrong here.) Anyway, I overhear the other kids saying things like "[She] learns things differently than we do. Don't say that!" when sticking up for her. I love it. They get her because she's always been around them. They play with her, work with her, and overlook her awkward behaviors because she's just another kid in their class.

It's awesome.

]]> By: Jade http://aroomofmamasown.com/2009/04/the-hardest-words/comment-page-1/#comment-5578 Jade Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:02:43 +0000 http://aroomofmamasown.com/?p=1402#comment-5578 I love the stories you share about your kids. I learn a lot from the sweet stories you share about Austen. I love the stories you share about your kids. I learn a lot from the sweet stories you share about Austen.

]]> By: Sophie in the Moonlight http://aroomofmamasown.com/2009/04/the-hardest-words/comment-page-1/#comment-5577 Sophie in the Moonlight Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:44:44 +0000 http://aroomofmamasown.com/?p=1402#comment-5577 Tears well in my eyes for Austen's authenticity. i find myself thinking, too, how many people would never allow themselves to see this side of him because their eyes are so fixated on the autism label. Boy, are they missing out. Neurotypical is so, so ... typical. Despite Austen's many challenges, he has a unique and genuine way of seeing his world. I love hearing about him. Your shiny, wonderful little tea pot. ;) Big Smooches to both of you. Tears well in my eyes for Austen's authenticity.

i find myself thinking, too, how many people would never allow themselves to see this side of him because their eyes are so fixated on the autism label. Boy, are they missing out. Neurotypical is so, so ... typical. Despite Austen's many challenges, he has a unique and genuine way of seeing his world. I love hearing about him. Your shiny, wonderful little tea pot. ;)

Big Smooches to both of you.

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