Comments on: A Cold Walk, Hands Free (For the Most Part) http://www.blisstree.com/articles/a-cold-walk-hands-free-for-the-most-part/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:00:41 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Top Posts from the Past Two Weeks http://www.blisstree.com/articles/a-cold-walk-hands-free-for-the-most-part/comment-page-1/#comment-564961 Top Posts from the Past Two Weeks Sun, 14 Dec 2008 02:57:34 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/a-cold-walk-hands-free-for-the-most-part/#comment-564961 [...] of treatments and of what’s an appropriate education for an autistic student, we took a hands-free cold walk last weekend to see the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Plaza, and passed a wall of snowflakes [...] [...] of treatments and of what’s an appropriate education for an autistic student, we took a hands-free cold walk last weekend to see the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Plaza, and passed a wall of snowflakes [...]

]]> By: bonnie http://www.blisstree.com/articles/a-cold-walk-hands-free-for-the-most-part/comment-page-1/#comment-564760 bonnie Tue, 09 Dec 2008 02:51:03 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/a-cold-walk-hands-free-for-the-most-part/#comment-564760 Independence rocks doesn't it, in any form! Casey has decided he is too old to hold hands although I do what I call the "wedding" hold of the arm, which he accepts. I too make sure in public places such as stores and such I don't hold on to him, just a lot of under the breath direction, which he picks up! Independence rocks doesn’t it, in any form! Casey has decided he is too old to hold hands although I do what I call the “wedding” hold of the arm, which he accepts. I too make sure in public places such as stores and such I don’t hold on to him, just a lot of under the breath direction, which he picks up!

]]> By: Shannon Des Roches Rosa http://www.blisstree.com/articles/a-cold-walk-hands-free-for-the-most-part/comment-page-1/#comment-564756 Shannon Des Roches Rosa Tue, 09 Dec 2008 01:24:12 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/a-cold-walk-hands-free-for-the-most-part/#comment-564756 My aspiration is for me and Leelo to be as great as you and Charlie! What a wonderful outing. (For now I will continue to hold Leelo's hand during walks. Very tightly.) My aspiration is for me and Leelo to be as great as you and Charlie! What a wonderful outing.

(For now I will continue to hold Leelo’s hand during walks. Very tightly.)

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/a-cold-walk-hands-free-for-the-most-part/comment-page-1/#comment-563766 Kristina Chew, PhD Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:59:54 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/a-cold-walk-hands-free-for-the-most-part/#comment-563766 @Roger, thank you for the song---now it's playing over and over in my mind----- It was quite a feeling to be walking into a cold wind and mostly worrying about being cold----and hearing Charlie humming and hurrying behind us. @Roger, thank you for the song—now it’s playing over and over in my mind—–

It was quite a feeling to be walking into a cold wind and mostly worrying about being cold—-and hearing Charlie humming and hurrying behind us.

]]> By: Roger http://www.blisstree.com/articles/a-cold-walk-hands-free-for-the-most-part/comment-page-1/#comment-564746 Roger Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:24:16 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/a-cold-walk-hands-free-for-the-most-part/#comment-564746 Boy can I relate to this!The sensory overload issues when you are trying to cross a busy street are terrible!As with eloping,you just sort of zone out,and set your foot out into the traffic,hoping for the best. It was not until I hit my 20s,that I began to learn to watch out for traffic,and it's still very hard.Ray Davies said it pretty well: Standing on an island In the middle of the road. Traffic either side of me, Which way will I go? I should've stayed at home, I should have never come outside. Now I wish I never tried To cross the other side. I'm in a state (state) State of confusion My sister,who has a combination of HFA,and bipolar,would never walk or sit with anybody.Even as a toddler. Boy can I relate to this!The sensory overload issues when you are trying to cross a busy street are terrible!As with eloping,you just sort of zone out,and set your foot out into the traffic,hoping for the best.

It was not until I hit my 20s,that I began to learn to watch out for traffic,and it’s still very hard.Ray Davies said it pretty well:
Standing on an island
In the middle of the road.
Traffic either side of me,
Which way will I go?
I should’ve stayed at home,
I should have never come outside.
Now I wish I never tried
To cross the other side.
I’m in a state (state)
State of confusion

My sister,who has a combination of HFA,and bipolar,would never walk or sit with anybody.Even as a toddler.

]]> By: Rose http://www.blisstree.com/articles/a-cold-walk-hands-free-for-the-most-part/comment-page-1/#comment-560584 Rose Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:46:27 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/a-cold-walk-hands-free-for-the-most-part/#comment-560584 I don't usually cry, but this "struggle for independence/need to know you're there" performance by Charlie got to me. Thanks, Kristina, for just putting it into words. I don’t usually cry, but this “struggle for independence/need to know you’re there” performance by Charlie got to me. Thanks, Kristina, for just putting it into words.

]]> By: Fearless Females http://www.blisstree.com/articles/a-cold-walk-hands-free-for-the-most-part/comment-page-1/#comment-560561 Fearless Females Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:49:06 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/a-cold-walk-hands-free-for-the-most-part/#comment-560561 I loved your story. You are a perfect-matched family of three. this story also reminds me of my son and his recent needs for similar independence. However, we drive more than we walk, usually. But when we are walking back to our parking space, Nick will sprint to where we parked even if he is out of my view, but always not before a quick yell ahead to watch out for cars...Nick will not (and I repeat…not) allow me to grab his hand anymore (being 14 it’s understandable—we were all like that with our parents!!). All we can do is what you have found that works for his safety. I am also glad that you mentioned the bike rides can be a bit hair-raising---I had wondered that for you. All we can do is keep on teaching--while letting go a little more-- and they will learn. It's one of the hardest parts of parenting. I loved your story. You are a perfect-matched family of three. this story also reminds me of my son and his recent needs for similar independence. However, we drive more than we walk, usually. But when we are walking back to our parking space, Nick will sprint to where we parked even if he is out of my view, but always not before a quick yell ahead to watch out for cars…Nick will not (and I repeat…not) allow me to grab his hand anymore (being 14 it’s understandable—we were all like that with our parents!!). All we can do is what you have found that works for his safety. I am also glad that you mentioned the bike rides can be a bit hair-raising—I had wondered that for you.

All we can do is keep on teaching–while letting go a little more– and they will learn. It’s one of the hardest parts of parenting.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.blisstree.com/articles/a-cold-walk-hands-free-for-the-most-part/comment-page-1/#comment-564716 Jennifer Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:24:02 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/a-cold-walk-hands-free-for-the-most-part/#comment-564716 Thank you for sharing. What great images I have of you three. I want so much for Jake to have freedom and independence, and worry so much that the minute I give it to him he will be hurt. Thank you for sharing. What great images I have of you three.

I want so much for Jake to have freedom and independence, and worry so much that the minute I give it to him he will be hurt.

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