Re: gifts

[Guest guest]

Tim wants a nintendo 64 play station and a certain

motorbike game. He saw it in a catalog. I will burn

all the catalogs after christmas for shure. Well, I

bought the play station; all in all 200$ worth. Then a

couple of Disney movies. That ought to be it since he

get stuff all year around.

n

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[Guest guest]

> What are you giving for Christmas?

Thea, I'm pretty sure you said you're getting a LeapPad...

Who and what else?

Desperately seeking suggestions...

Jacquie <

i'd love to get kailey a leap pad, but i'll be lucky if i can get her the magna

doodle i have on layaway :'(

" Isn't it wonderful how each of us on this earth was created just a little bit

different? " - Linus

" I gave up trying to understand people long ago. Now I just let them try to

understand me. " - Snoopy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/24/01 4:10:02 PM Eastern Standard Time,

gracekeh@... writes:

>

> I would also like to pose a question to you guys: What has been the most

> meaningful gift that you have given to your children's teachers? Please

> keep in mind that I do not - I repeat, do NOT - want to make them anything,

> meaning or not LOL!!!!

>

>

One year I gave gift certificates to Cracker Barrel so they could go out to

lunch together over Christmas vacation. I've also given calendars/notecards

that match (Current) and Yankee candles.

Pam

Mom to and Conor

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[Guest guest]

what i have on layaway, seriously...

for kailey:

magna doodle

kelly playground

kelly doll to go with kelly playground

for trevor:

magna doodle

wild west playset

for both:

300pc " lincoln logs "

2 1/2 gallon bubble gum machine shaped fish tank

that's it...

i put down $10 and still owe $79

i'm very very sad :'(

" Isn't it wonderful how each of us on this earth was created just a little bit

different? " - Linus

" I gave up trying to understand people long ago. Now I just let them try to

understand me. " - Snoopy

[Guest guest]

--Jacquie,

The leapfrog is actually for , but, watch them fight over it.

I got an easybake oven, looks like a microwave, and some craft

kits, and cds. I got him the simcoaster. I was also thinking of one

of those inexpensive ballpits. I probably really should consider 2

pairs of boxing gloves they might come in handy too.

Thea

- In parenting_autism@y..., " The Hunny Family " <vhunnius@l...> wrote:

> What are you giving for Christmas?

>

> Thea, I'm pretty sure you said you're getting a LeapPad...

>

> Who and what else?

>

> Desperately seeking suggestions...

>

> Jacquie

> mom to , 5

> Parenting Autism moderator

> " Am I the only one who allows his mind to prance outside the box? "

> --Dale Gribble,

from King Of The Hill

[Guest guest]

I am definitely getting a little " something " for everyone who comes in

contact with at his two schools: teachers, aides, SLPs, OT . . . and

the bus driver and bus aide. Last year I designed some really neat t-shirts

and canvas bags for them . . . but this year money is too tight and I'm not

feeling in the " creative " mood. So I will probably get everyone a tree

ornament or something else from a craft store.

-BJ

[Guest guest]

For all the kids: software. More edugames. They can't get enough, and

they're getting a ton out of them.

Clay: (NT kids don't count...) New goalie pads. Period. That's more

than everything else combined...eurgh.

: Full set of ice hockey gear. Here's the thing, before you roll

your eyes: he's got the strength and coordination, just not the idea

of " keep your feet down and stay low or you'll fall on your ass. " I

think because my wife and I hold him up when we go to the rink. So my

plan is to put shinners, pants, elbows, shoulders, gloves, and a

helmet on him...and just let him fall as much as he wants until he

gets it. He's *in love* with skating already, I can only imagine how

much more he'd enjoy it if he could really do it...lol. Anyway,

Mission makes this nifty little set for under a hundred bucks with

everything plus a cool little hockey bag of his own.

Syd: Puzzles (he loves), some books, and toddler roller blades. And I

ordered him an art-center set that is like a whole studio in one

plastic set. It's mostly self-contained (read: clean and tidy) and he

absolutely loves to paint and draw with markers. He can literally sit

for an hour and draw, if he's got enough paper. The only other time

he's still for that long is when he's asleep, and it's barely as

long...lol.

Cheers,

> What are you giving for Christmas?

>

> Thea, I'm pretty sure you said you're getting a LeapPad...

>

> Who and what else?

>

> Desperately seeking suggestions...

>

> Jacquie

> mom to , 5

> Parenting Autism moderator

> " Am I the only one who allows his mind to prance outside the box? "

> --Dale Gribble, from

King Of The Hill

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/24/2001 3:25:07 PM Central Standard Time,

gracekeh@... writes:

<< I never even considered getting them truly official Xmas presents this

year.

I don't know why. Perhaps it's because I remember how enthralled they were

with their gifts last year <NOT!>.... Maybe because they could care less,

but still - - that is pretty crappy of me.

Grace >>

Well, we had some pretty unsuccessful X-Mas gift openings the last three

years.

Heck, last year you couldn't even say Christmas, or Santa Claus etc. to Sam

without a complete meltdown.

But, we kept trying. Mainly, for the sake of Alec. But Abbie certainly

enjoyed her things...she loves dolls and all the girlie things.

This year, like I've posted before, Sam has a list he will recite....and has

agreed to sit on Santa's lap. We'll see how that goes.

There were the first couple of years where all Sam did was play with the

boxes his things came in.

In short Grace, it's getting better and it will be better for you too....for

all of us...we are just too dedicated of a bunch of parents on this list for

things not to get better. And I include everyone.

Let's face it. As far as parents go, we are the cream of the crop. The

reason why we are is because we are always second guessing ourselves...not

taking our child rearing for granted.

So Grace, hang in there. Keep trying. IMHO, your lack of enthusiam is just

another part of the grieving we all have gone through, will go through or are

going through. After all, part of my biggest dreams for my kids was the

excitement I envisioned they would have, (and me also), with them coming down

Christmas morning and seeing all the neat stuff.

Chin up Grace, you're doing real good.

Ron

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/24/2001 5:31:54 PM Central Standard Time,

vhunnius@... writes:

<< am completely disillusioned with Christmas now. Each toy looks like a

potential stim or an expensive paperweight.

:-(

Jacquie

>>

I know this one Jacquie...I don't know how many toys were thrown aside or

broken in the last couple of years. This year, with Sam able to tell us is

(I hope) going to be different. We are definitely sticking with his

interests....

Lots of Matchbox stuff...(fairly cheap and tough) a Leap Pad and figurines...

Sam is actually developing an imagination.

I'm also under the impression, that more might not be good. I think in the

past year, we tended to get the kids more...maybe to make up for other things

they are missing...who knows. But I think it was overwhelming..especially

for Sam.

Ron...whose heart gets broken every year for his kids at X-Mas

[Guest guest]

> I never even considered getting them truly official Xmas presents this year.

> I don't know why. Perhaps it's because I remember how enthralled they were

> with their gifts last year <NOT!>.... Maybe because they could care less,

> but still - - that is pretty crappy of me.

I feel the same way, Grace. That's why I started this thread -- to get some

ideas from parents of other autistic kids, rather than by 's fleeting

interest in that commercial or that item in a catalogue...

I am completely disillusioned with Christmas now. Each toy looks like a

potential stim or an expensive paperweight.

:-(

Jacquie

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/24/2001 6:50:06 PM Central Standard Time,

bunnytiner@... writes:

<< I know exactly where you are coming from here because I felt like that

about Putter who did not seem to notice presents anyway. He did not open

them and, while I got pretty good at picking out what he would like, he

never used it immediately. So it was very disappointing.

But I always had to wrap stuff for him because his siblings did care. So

for Christmas when he was three and a half, I wrapped his presents and he

didn't give a hoot. I was sad.

On his fourth birthday, just a couple of months later, well, not even two

months really, I asked my other kids if I should wrap Putter's presents.

They felt I should because they felt he should be treated like a family

member.

And, it almost brings tears to my eyes, but the next day for the first time

EVER he unwrapped three of his presents. My feelings that day were

indescribable. I had so much newfound hope in him; it was one of his first

breakthroughs.

And when I thought about how close I came to missing it entirely by not

wrapping the presents, I got chills.

So don't deprive yourself, Grace. One day it will happen and you don't want

to miss it. Wrap the presents; don't miss the excitement when it really

happens.

Salli

>>

As usual Salli, well said

Ron

[Guest guest]

No

> wrapping or anything.

> I never even considered getting them truly official Xmas presents this

year.

> I don't know why. Perhaps it's because I remember how enthralled they were

> with their gifts last year <NOT!>.... Maybe because they could care less,

> but still - - that is pretty crappy of me.

Grace:

I know exactly where you are coming from here because I felt like that

about Putter who did not seem to notice presents anyway. He did not open

them and, while I got pretty good at picking out what he would like, he

never used it immediately. So it was very disappointing.

But I always had to wrap stuff for him because his siblings did care. So

for Christmas when he was three and a half, I wrapped his presents and he

didn't give a hoot. I was sad.

On his fourth birthday, just a couple of months later, well, not even two

months really, I asked my other kids if I should wrap Putter's presents.

They felt I should because they felt he should be treated like a family

member.

And, it almost brings tears to my eyes, but the next day for the first time

EVER he unwrapped three of his presents. My feelings that day were

indescribable. I had so much newfound hope in him; it was one of his first

breakthroughs.

And when I thought about how close I came to missing it entirely by not

wrapping the presents, I got chills.

So don't deprive yourself, Grace. One day it will happen and you don't want

to miss it. Wrap the presents; don't miss the excitement when it really

happens.

Salli

[Guest guest]

I have it easy here; my wife is the manager of a very popular

bath/fragrance chain store and gets 40% off...lol.

She always buys the teachers very cool giftsets with bath gel's,

lotions, loofahs, etc...

> > I am pondering the same issue, Jacquie.

> > Except I don't care what I get for anyone else this year --- it's

> the

> > teachers at my girls' school that I am concerned about.

> > is the main teacher. But there are 6 other teachers that

> also

> > " teach " my children and are just as interactive with them,

although

> I

> > believe they are referred to as aides rather than " teachers " . In

> any case,

> > in my eyes, they are all heroes. I am leaning toward getting all

7

> of them

> > something identical, equal in worth. Initially, I was thinking I

> would get

> > something better for alone, but then it didn't make sense.

> > I want to give them something that has meaning, but I don't know

> what that

> > could be.

> >

> > I would also like to pose a question to you guys: What has been

> the most

> > meaningful gift that you have given to your children's teachers?

> Please

> > keep in mind that I do not - I repeat, do NOT - want to make them

> anything,

> > meaning or not LOL!!!!

> >

> > Grace

> >

> >

> >

> > gifts

> >

> >

> > > What are you giving for Christmas?

> > >

> > > Thea, I'm pretty sure you said you're getting a LeapPad...

> > >

> > > Who and what else?

> > >

> > > Desperately seeking suggestions...

> > >

> > > Jacquie

> > > mom to , 5

> > > Parenting Autism moderator

> > > " Am I the only one who allows his mind to prance outside the

box? "

> > > --Dale Gribble,

> from King

> > Of The Hill

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I got Mitchel a puzzle map of the US, A talking Sully doll (from Monsters, Inc)

some parts to his train, some power ranger stuff.

Kerri

gifts

What are you giving for Christmas?

Thea, I'm pretty sure you said you're getting a LeapPad...

Who and what else?

Desperately seeking suggestions...

Jacquie

mom to , 5

Parenting Autism moderator

" Am I the only one who allows his mind to prance outside the box? "

--Dale Gribble, from King Of

The Hill

[Guest guest]

I got Mitchel a puzzle map of the US, A talking Sully doll (from Monsters, Inc)

some parts to his train, some power ranger stuff.

Kerri

gifts

What are you giving for Christmas?

Thea, I'm pretty sure you said you're getting a LeapPad...

Who and what else?

Desperately seeking suggestions...

Jacquie

mom to , 5

Parenting Autism moderator

" Am I the only one who allows his mind to prance outside the box? "

--Dale Gribble, from King Of

The Hill

[Guest guest]

I got Mitchel a puzzle map of the US, A talking Sully doll (from Monsters, Inc)

some parts to his train, some power ranger stuff.

Kerri

gifts

What are you giving for Christmas?

Thea, I'm pretty sure you said you're getting a LeapPad...

Who and what else?

Desperately seeking suggestions...

Jacquie

mom to , 5

Parenting Autism moderator

" Am I the only one who allows his mind to prance outside the box? "

--Dale Gribble, from King Of

The Hill

[Guest guest]

Everything Sonic

a 4-wheeled scooter

an Etch-a-sketch

as Easy Bake Oven

A Snoopy Snow cone machine

Several software packages....

um...there will be more...just don't know what yet.

Penny :-)

[Guest guest]

> <hanging head in shame>

No it isn't Grace. Like everything else, it is what it is. It's

hard to pick out " stuff " for kids when you don't know what they'll

actually play with.

Jacqui has a closet full of " stuff " that never gets used. Even if I

suggest we play this or that, forget it if at the moment something

else is on her plate.

So I understand.

Penny - Who screwed her son out of the Easter Bunny one year. Now

THAT was horrible.

[Guest guest]

:

Boy can I relate. I have my yearly layaway at Walmart, just for JD it is

$92.00. I havent done anything for my girls yet, they are 12 and 15, so I am

going to try to talk to them and hope they understand about everything that

has gone on in the last few months.

Explaining to an 8 year old autistic child isnt the easiest thing to do.

When I filled out the paperwork for reduced lunches at JD's school, the

principal told me that he is eligible for some Make A Wish Christmas gift

program where I put the name of a specific present that he wants around

$10.00 on a piece of paper and somewhere it is hung on a tree and if someone

picks his, they buy him that gift. When she told me she signed him up, it

was one of those embarrassing yet, oh well, this way he will get one good toy

kind of deal thing.

Believe it or not, I love the doll from Barbies. She is my absolute

favorite. For awhile everytime a new one would come out that had some

meaning I would get her (or else Tommy, I love him too). Of course that was

in the days when I had a little money to spend on things like that. I wish

we had left one or two in the boxes, I could send them to you for her to

open. Sorry.

P.S. I will say a little prayer that you are able to get your layaway out.

I really wish I could help you in some way.

, 40, Columbus, OH

Bipolar, Borderline Personality Disorder, and????

Mom to:

, 15, probably Bipolar

Annie, 12, so far so good!

JD, 8, Autism, severe ADHD, maybe bipolar, AND

my reason for getting out of bed each day!!!

[Guest guest]

:

Boy can I relate. I have my yearly layaway at Walmart, just for JD it is

$92.00. I havent done anything for my girls yet, they are 12 and 15, so I am

going to try to talk to them and hope they understand about everything that

has gone on in the last few months.

Explaining to an 8 year old autistic child isnt the easiest thing to do.

When I filled out the paperwork for reduced lunches at JD's school, the

principal told me that he is eligible for some Make A Wish Christmas gift

program where I put the name of a specific present that he wants around

$10.00 on a piece of paper and somewhere it is hung on a tree and if someone

picks his, they buy him that gift. When she told me she signed him up, it

was one of those embarrassing yet, oh well, this way he will get one good toy

kind of deal thing.

Believe it or not, I love the doll from Barbies. She is my absolute

favorite. For awhile everytime a new one would come out that had some

meaning I would get her (or else Tommy, I love him too). Of course that was

in the days when I had a little money to spend on things like that. I wish

we had left one or two in the boxes, I could send them to you for her to

open. Sorry.

P.S. I will say a little prayer that you are able to get your layaway out.

I really wish I could help you in some way.

, 40, Columbus, OH

Bipolar, Borderline Personality Disorder, and????

Mom to:

, 15, probably Bipolar

Annie, 12, so far so good!

JD, 8, Autism, severe ADHD, maybe bipolar, AND

my reason for getting out of bed each day!!!

[Guest guest]

:

Boy can I relate. I have my yearly layaway at Walmart, just for JD it is

$92.00. I havent done anything for my girls yet, they are 12 and 15, so I am

going to try to talk to them and hope they understand about everything that

has gone on in the last few months.

Explaining to an 8 year old autistic child isnt the easiest thing to do.

When I filled out the paperwork for reduced lunches at JD's school, the

principal told me that he is eligible for some Make A Wish Christmas gift

program where I put the name of a specific present that he wants around

$10.00 on a piece of paper and somewhere it is hung on a tree and if someone

picks his, they buy him that gift. When she told me she signed him up, it

was one of those embarrassing yet, oh well, this way he will get one good toy

kind of deal thing.

Believe it or not, I love the doll from Barbies. She is my absolute

favorite. For awhile everytime a new one would come out that had some

meaning I would get her (or else Tommy, I love him too). Of course that was

in the days when I had a little money to spend on things like that. I wish

we had left one or two in the boxes, I could send them to you for her to

open. Sorry.

P.S. I will say a little prayer that you are able to get your layaway out.

I really wish I could help you in some way.

, 40, Columbus, OH

Bipolar, Borderline Personality Disorder, and????

Mom to:

, 15, probably Bipolar

Annie, 12, so far so good!

JD, 8, Autism, severe ADHD, maybe bipolar, AND

my reason for getting out of bed each day!!!

[Guest guest]

I agree with Salli. Last year was the first year Ebony showed any interest

in her presents and it was very precious. I hand over hand opened her

stocking presents with her and she loved them (little pooh characters that

she immediately started lining up all over the house! LOL!) She played

with them all day and it made my heart swell each time I saw her! She did

open about three regular presents with me too. She played with those for a

minute and them went back to the pooh character figurines. What a wonderful

thing!!

Tamara, mom to Ebony-4 yrs, ASD & -7 months

>From: Bosocks1@...

>Reply-To: parenting_autism

>To: parenting_autism

>Subject: Re: gifts

>Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2001 23:39:55 EST

>

>In a message dated 11/24/2001 6:50:06 PM Central Standard Time,

>bunnytiner@... writes:

>

><< I know exactly where you are coming from here because I felt like that

> about Putter who did not seem to notice presents anyway. He did not open

> them and, while I got pretty good at picking out what he would like, he

> never used it immediately. So it was very disappointing.

>

> But I always had to wrap stuff for him because his siblings did care. So

> for Christmas when he was three and a half, I wrapped his presents and he

> didn't give a hoot. I was sad.

>

> On his fourth birthday, just a couple of months later, well, not even two

> months really, I asked my other kids if I should wrap Putter's presents.

> They felt I should because they felt he should be treated like a family

> member.

>

> And, it almost brings tears to my eyes, but the next day for the first

>time

> EVER he unwrapped three of his presents. My feelings that day were

> indescribable. I had so much newfound hope in him; it was one of his

>first

> breakthroughs.

>

> And when I thought about how close I came to missing it entirely by not

> wrapping the presents, I got chills.

>

> So don't deprive yourself, Grace. One day it will happen and you don't

>want

> to miss it. Wrap the presents; don't miss the excitement when it really

> happens.

>

> Salli

>

> >>

>As usual Salli, well said

>

>Ron

_________________________________________________________________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

[Guest guest]

Well, reading all of the messages, I have been convinced that I should at

least try again.

I didn't wrap their birthday gifts, and I took them out to IHOP for their

birthday dinner because THAT WAS THEIR FAVORITE PLACE.

Christmas will probably be at my parents' house....so I guess I will just

wrap the thing I think they will like MOST. I am not holding my breath

though.

Funny how they love to shred paper - - - UNTIL IT BECOMES APPROPRIATE

BEHAVIOR, and then it's like they don't know how or why one would shred

paper.

Grace

Re: gifts

> >Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2001 23:39:55 EST

> >

> >In a message dated 11/24/2001 6:50:06 PM Central Standard Time,

> >bunnytiner@... writes:

> >

> ><< I know exactly where you are coming from here because I felt like that

> > about Putter who did not seem to notice presents anyway. He did not

open

> > them and, while I got pretty good at picking out what he would like, he

> > never used it immediately. So it was very disappointing.

> >

> > But I always had to wrap stuff for him because his siblings did care.

So

> > for Christmas when he was three and a half, I wrapped his presents and

he

> > didn't give a hoot. I was sad.

> >

> > On his fourth birthday, just a couple of months later, well, not even

two

> > months really, I asked my other kids if I should wrap Putter's

presents.

> > They felt I should because they felt he should be treated like a family

> > member.

> >

> > And, it almost brings tears to my eyes, but the next day for the first

> >time

> > EVER he unwrapped three of his presents. My feelings that day were

> > indescribable. I had so much newfound hope in him; it was one of his

> >first

> > breakthroughs.

> >

> > And when I thought about how close I came to missing it entirely by not

> > wrapping the presents, I got chills.

> >

> > So don't deprive yourself, Grace. One day it will happen and you don't

> >want

> > to miss it. Wrap the presents; don't miss the excitement when it

really

> > happens.

> >

> > Salli

> >

> > >>

> >As usual Salli, well said

> >

> >Ron

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

>

>

>