Guest guest Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Way to go, Elie!!!! Re: Xmas is a coming - but so is Hanukah >>Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2006 16:50:15 -0000 >> >>Sara, >> >>Pete has gone to our local JCC summer camp for years now (Jewsih >>Community Center, y'all) and this is the one summer camp in my area >>that accepts even the most challenging kids. They have pretty well >>trained staff, and always loads of youmg men as junior counselors, so >>Pete has always had good peer models around him all summer long. >> >>Now, for most of the typical campers, there has been a lot of Judaica >>that is part of the themes, programs, etc. But for the kids with >>special needs who haven't been mainstreamed, I felt sad as they began >>to drop out more of the Hebrew songs and some of the Shabbat customs, >>etc., than when we first started out with them 8 years ago. I was >>proud of the fact the Pete would attempt to sing as much as he could >>imitate. I know they have challah for Shabbat, but beyond that, about >>all he came home singing was " Shabbat, shalom, HEY! " It was actually >>pretty cute, and when we attended a friend of his' Bar Mitzvah (this >>is a young man with autism) we were very honored to share this special >>day with the family and friends. Later on, a few folks came up to us >>and said " I didn't realize you were Jewish " . Well, I certainly feel >>that Judaism is part of my spiritual ancestry. >> >>But I know what you mean about the issues involved here. You are SO >>right about just the issue of going to see Santa. Just not >>appropriate at this age! >> >>And then the other horn of the dilemma- I just busted out laughing >>when I read moments ago that Elie was determined to go see Santa >>today, no matter what. What I love about it is that he knows what he >>wants and he is making his decisions known. He has a plan of action! >> How cool is that?? >> >> Pete is also gaining more understanding of things that were >>meaningless in past years. Santa is gaining more weight (sorry bad >>pun) is his eyes, and there is no way I can explain to him about the >>fairy tale part of it. St. he would " get " maybe as a saint. >> He seems to understand about Christmas - the Nativity. But then, we >>always emphasized that. >> >>I get burned up when folks at school urge him to cheer for major >>professional sports teams that are not " our " family's favorites. >>It's just weird- it's like you have to undo the wrong input. And like >>Elie, Pete could go on and on repeating the same thing forever, and >>then people think that we all love those teams. Pete will cheer for >>everybody! >> >>Lovely and lively exchange, everyone. I think it is wonderful that we >>can discuss this stuff. >> >>God Bless Us, Every One! >> >> Beth Mum ot Pete (aka Ben) age 16 central Ohio (GO BUCKS!) >> >> >> >> > >> > It is really funny how distressed this Santa thing haas made me. I >>had told >> > the teacher that I no longer got upset if Elie came home with red >>and green >> > decorations - we could cope. When my grown children were small, I >>told them >> > that we didn't make Xmas trees, wreaths, etc- that these were not >> > appropriate for our house. But I thought I had mellowed since Elie >> " really >> > didn't know the difference " . HA - HA - he knows there is a >>difference, and >> > if let to make a choice, he would be Santa Claus and red and green. >> > >> > So perforce, I am making a bigger deal over Hanukah than my inclination >> > would be. >> > >> > And after the blast I got from some one on this list about Xmas - I am >> > remind again that Hanukah is all about assimilation (thus losing ones >> > identity) and religious freedom - you do your thing and i will do >>mine and >> > we will be understanding of each person's view of the world. >> > >> > How can we expect the world to accept our children as they are, if >>we cannot >> > accept each other as we are?? >> > >> > >> > >> > Sara - Choose to make lemonade, not complain about the lemons. >> > >> > >> > >> > >>ttp://sportmaps.live.com/index.html?source=hmemailtaglinenov06 & FORM=MGAC01 >> > >> >> >> >> >>-------------------------------------------------- >>Checkout our homepage for information, bookmarks, and photos >>of >>our kids. Share favorite bookmarks, ideas, and other information by >>including them. Don't forget, messages are a permanent record of the >>archives for our list. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ >>-------------------------------------------- >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Isn't it just fascinating how our kids can just amaze us like that? My dad passed away the same year Jordan was born (within two months of her birth) so she never met him, however, one day out of the blue, she looked up at a picture I have of him on my wall and said " Pa Scarpelli " . Where she got that I have no idea.. but God does work in mysterious ways. Judi S. Re: Xmas is a coming - but so is Hanukah > >Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2006 16:50:15 -0000 > > > >Sara, > > > >Pete has gone to our local JCC summer camp for years now (Jewsih > >Community Center, y'all) and this is the one summer camp in my area > >that accepts even the most challenging kids. They have pretty well > >trained staff, and always loads of youmg men as junior counselors, so > >Pete has always had good peer models around him all summer long. > > > >Now, for most of the typical campers, there has been a lot of Judaica > >that is part of the themes, programs, etc. But for the kids with > >special needs who haven't been mainstreamed, I felt sad as they began > >to drop out more of the Hebrew songs and some of the Shabbat customs, > >etc., than when we first started out with them 8 years ago. I was > >proud of the fact the Pete would attempt to sing as much as he could > >imitate. I know they have challah for Shabbat, but beyond that, about > >all he came home singing was " Shabbat, shalom, HEY! " It was actually > >pretty cute, and when we attended a friend of his' Bar Mitzvah (this > >is a young man with autism) we were very honored to share this special > >day with the family and friends. Later on, a few folks came up to us > >and said " I didn't realize you were Jewish " . Well, I certainly feel > >that Judaism is part of my spiritual ancestry. > > > >But I know what you mean about the issues involved here. You are SO > >right about just the issue of going to see Santa. Just not > >appropriate at this age! > > > >And then the other horn of the dilemma- I just busted out laughing > >when I read moments ago that Elie was determined to go see Santa > >today, no matter what. What I love about it is that he knows what he > >wants and he is making his decisions known. He has a plan of action! > > How cool is that?? > > > > Pete is also gaining more understanding of things that were > >meaningless in past years. Santa is gaining more weight (sorry bad > >pun) is his eyes, and there is no way I can explain to him about the > >fairy tale part of it. St. he would " get " maybe as a saint. > > He seems to understand about Christmas - the Nativity. But then, we > >always emphasized that. > > > >I get burned up when folks at school urge him to cheer for major > >professional sports teams that are not " our " family's favorites. > >It's just weird- it's like you have to undo the wrong input. And like > >Elie, Pete could go on and on repeating the same thing forever, and > >then people think that we all love those teams. Pete will cheer for > >everybody! > > > >Lovely and lively exchange, everyone. I think it is wonderful that we > >can discuss this stuff. > > > >God Bless Us, Every One! > > > > Beth Mum ot Pete (aka Ben) age 16 central Ohio (GO BUCKS!) > > > > > > > > > > > > It is really funny how distressed this Santa thing haas made me. I > >had told > > > the teacher that I no longer got upset if Elie came home with red > >and green > > > decorations - we could cope. When my grown children were small, I > >told them > > > that we didn't make Xmas trees, wreaths, etc- that these were not > > > appropriate for our house. But I thought I had mellowed since Elie > > " really > > > didn't know the difference " . HA - HA - he knows there is a > >difference, and > > > if let to make a choice, he would be Santa Claus and red and green. > > > > > > So perforce, I am making a bigger deal over Hanukah than my inclination > > > would be. > > > > > > And after the blast I got from some one on this list about Xmas - I am > > > remind again that Hanukah is all about assimilation (thus losing ones > > > identity) and religious freedom - you do your thing and i will do > >mine and > > > we will be understanding of each person's view of the world. > > > > > > How can we expect the world to accept our children as they are, if > >we cannot > > > accept each other as we are?? > > > > > > > > > > > > Sara - Choose to make lemonade, not complain about the lemons. > > > > > > > > > > > > > >ttp://sportmaps.live.com/index.html?source=hmemailtaglinenov06 & FORM=MGAC01 > > > > > > > > > > > > >-------------------------------------------------- > >Checkout our homepage for information, bookmarks, and photos of > >our kids. Share favorite bookmarks, ideas, and other information by > >including them. Don't forget, messages are a permanent record of the > >archives for our list. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ > >-------------------------------------------- > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 In a message dated 12/12/2006 9:05:35 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, charlyne1121@... writes: I am tired of trying to defend myself. Oh well, better days. Sounds like you could use a Calgon Bath too!!! Blessings, W in CT homeschooling mom to AJ (12), (8), ^l^, (just turned 5, Trisomy 18 mosaic aka syndrome) and Birgitta (age 3, adoption finalized 2/1/05 !!, Trisomy 21 aka Down's Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Autism, SID ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Hi Sara, Thanks for my smile for the day. Elie knows what's up. I had a crappy day at an IEP meeting for Zeb. I am in the middle school burn out with these meetings. I am tired of trying to defend myself. Oh well, better days. Charlyne Mom to Zeb 13 DS/OCD/ASD? sara cohen wrote: So we get to school. The cafeteria is right inside the front door. We walk in and there is a table set up recruiting for the army - 3 young men - all over 6 ft tall in fatigues signing up or giving out literature. Elie walks over - on his way to class mind you- and says Hey soldiers. Give me a high five! Glad to see you fighting men!!! I have NO idea where that came from - inside of 2 seconds he was back on his favorite phrase of the day about Santa and presents, but for a second - here was recognition of something in the reeal worl. And he doesn't go to the base with us, Bob doesn't wear a uniform anymore. Sara - Choose to make lemonade, not complain about the lemons. >From: " erie54pa " >Reply-To: >To: >Subject: Re: Xmas is a coming - but so is Hanukah >Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2006 16:50:15 -0000 > >Sara, > >Pete has gone to our local JCC summer camp for years now (Jewsih >Community Center, y'all) and this is the one summer camp in my area >that accepts even the most challenging kids. They have pretty well >trained staff, and always loads of youmg men as junior counselors, so >Pete has always had good peer models around him all summer long. > >Now, for most of the typical campers, there has been a lot of Judaica >that is part of the themes, programs, etc. But for the kids with >special needs who haven't been mainstreamed, I felt sad as they began >to drop out more of the Hebrew songs and some of the Shabbat customs, >etc., than when we first started out with them 8 years ago. I was >proud of the fact the Pete would attempt to sing as much as he could >imitate. I know they have challah for Shabbat, but beyond that, about >all he came home singing was " Shabbat, shalom, HEY! " It was actually >pretty cute, and when we attended a friend of his' Bar Mitzvah (this >is a young man with autism) we were very honored to share this special >day with the family and friends. Later on, a few folks came up to us >and said " I didn't realize you were Jewish " . Well, I certainly feel >that Judaism is part of my spiritual ancestry. > >But I know what you mean about the issues involved here. You are SO >right about just the issue of going to see Santa. Just not >appropriate at this age! > >And then the other horn of the dilemma- I just busted out laughing >when I read moments ago that Elie was determined to go see Santa >today, no matter what. What I love about it is that he knows what he >wants and he is making his decisions known. He has a plan of action! > How cool is that?? > > Pete is also gaining more understanding of things that were >meaningless in past years. Santa is gaining more weight (sorry bad >pun) is his eyes, and there is no way I can explain to him about the >fairy tale part of it. St. he would " get " maybe as a saint. > He seems to understand about Christmas - the Nativity. But then, we >always emphasized that. > >I get burned up when folks at school urge him to cheer for major >professional sports teams that are not " our " family's favorites. >It's just weird- it's like you have to undo the wrong input. And like >Elie, Pete could go on and on repeating the same thing forever, and >then people think that we all love those teams. Pete will cheer for >everybody! > >Lovely and lively exchange, everyone. I think it is wonderful that we >can discuss this stuff. > >God Bless Us, Every One! > > Beth Mum ot Pete (aka Ben) age 16 central Ohio (GO BUCKS!) > > > > > > > It is really funny how distressed this Santa thing haas made me. I >had told > > the teacher that I no longer got upset if Elie came home with red >and green > > decorations - we could cope. When my grown children were small, I >told them > > that we didn't make Xmas trees, wreaths, etc- that these were not > > appropriate for our house. But I thought I had mellowed since Elie > " really > > didn't know the difference " . HA - HA - he knows there is a >difference, and > > if let to make a choice, he would be Santa Claus and red and green. > > > > So perforce, I am making a bigger deal over Hanukah than my inclination > > would be. > > > > And after the blast I got from some one on this list about Xmas - I am > > remind again that Hanukah is all about assimilation (thus losing ones > > identity) and religious freedom - you do your thing and i will do >mine and > > we will be understanding of each person's view of the world. > > > > How can we expect the world to accept our children as they are, if >we cannot > > accept each other as we are?? > > > > > > > > Sara - Choose to make lemonade, not complain about the lemons. > > > > > > > > >ttp://sportmaps.live.com/index.html?source=hmemailtaglinenov06 & FORM=MGAC01 > > > > > > >-------------------------------------------------- >Checkout our homepage for information, bookmarks, and photos of >our kids. Share favorite bookmarks, ideas, and other information by >including them. Don't forget, messages are a permanent record of the >archives for our list. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ >-------------------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.