tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post577694569188189930..comments2023-10-18T08:13:44.850-07:00Comments on Rooster Calls: Walking the PlankUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-10516401697373479642010-05-19T20:34:41.916-07:002010-05-19T20:34:41.916-07:00This is so not okay. I'm sorry I'm just no...This is so not okay. I'm sorry I'm just now reading this. You've gotten tons of supportive comments, I hope things have improved. Thank god for this community.KALhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15212441008066693103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-7531785831070821182010-04-29T17:25:17.023-07:002010-04-29T17:25:17.023-07:00My son was recently diagnosed and right now he is ...My son was recently diagnosed and right now he is only 2 years old. I see people stare at us sometimes watching how Joseph behaves. I worry that as he grow older, his behaviors will be noticed even more. Then when he attends school, I wonder how he will be treated by his peers. My heart goes out to you...as you experience what I worry about the most. :(Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03159215559018184131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-39445860535856535332010-04-26T19:43:03.453-07:002010-04-26T19:43:03.453-07:00My heart goes out to you. I have a 12 year old son...My heart goes out to you. I have a 12 year old son and we take this walk almost every day. He has to remind me that he is normal and every one else is different.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-9073502836112643972010-04-25T08:02:39.848-07:002010-04-25T08:02:39.848-07:00Hang in there.. hugs... I agree start with the sch...Hang in there.. hugs... I agree start with the school!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-76022478158382174722010-04-24T23:40:58.512-07:002010-04-24T23:40:58.512-07:00Im late in reading this, sorry!
Keep your chin up...Im late in reading this, sorry!<br /><br />Keep your chin up, we all know what you are going through and we are sending love your way. <br /><br />Im so sorry this happened.Kathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02426597116071256019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-6750834658857916452010-04-24T15:33:47.924-07:002010-04-24T15:33:47.924-07:00Just wanted you to know I read and I care.Just wanted you to know I read and I care.Kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15728909660494660677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-75734572085933540342010-04-23T20:05:01.516-07:002010-04-23T20:05:01.516-07:00Oh, God. I wish I had words for you. I'm so so...Oh, God. I wish I had words for you. I'm so sorry. I am so saddened by those children and their treatment of your family. That's so not okay.Stimeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09685801693683588805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-1983630729888452042010-04-22T21:51:02.462-07:002010-04-22T21:51:02.462-07:00I'm so sorry. I know this pain all too well. I...I'm so sorry. I know this pain all too well. I found out - too late in the "game" - that you can write sensitivity training or disability awareness (for his peers) into his IEP, and then the school is obligated to make that happen. It just burns me that we have to do these things, when everyone should be respected, regardless of their differences, in the first place. Sending you a big ASD-mom hug.Tanya @ TeenAutismhttp://teenautism.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-29371770594978382412010-04-22T16:24:46.813-07:002010-04-22T16:24:46.813-07:00Those type people are not worth even associating w...Those type people are not worth even associating with anyway. You are doing the right thing by killing them with kindness. Children learn to isolate others who are different at all from their parents. Just keep your heart open for people who love you and your child the way he is and make sure he knows this too! My son was just diagnosed a few months ago in the autism spectrum so I look forward to reading your blog. Thank you for sharing. It will help you and others.<br />Best wishes,<br />Sharon and Happy Birthday to your beautiful special child!!Sharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04193785218843431961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-80134976511262503972010-04-22T16:23:41.598-07:002010-04-22T16:23:41.598-07:00Those type people are not worth even associating w...Those type people are not worth even associating with anyway. You are doing the right thing by killing them with kindness. Children learn to isolate others who are different at all from their parents. Just keep your heart open for people who love you and your child the way he is and make sure he knows this too! My son was just diagnosed a few months ago in the autism spectrum so I look forward to reading your blog. Thank you for sharing. It will help you and others.<br />Best wishes,<br />Sharon and Happy Birthday to your beautiful special child!!Sharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04193785218843431961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-77722103560110530132010-04-22T16:23:41.599-07:002010-04-22T16:23:41.599-07:00i remember being at the receiving end of this...a ...i remember being at the receiving end of this...a little one, not fitting in, receiving lots of bruises, some scars, mostly on the playground. what was strange: eventually they sent me to school counselor. i kept running into bully problems, so they had me talk with a counselor. <br /><br />it didn't occur to me until years later to ask: why was i the one being sent for counseling? the bullies did their thing...the school perpetuated their violence by indicating i was the one in need of help. school, it was a strange place. that was the early 80's, i hope it's better now. kids are clearly just as cruel, but i'm hoping schools are getting better at managing this. i don't know.mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13570838005937684429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-24455334779687370872010-04-22T12:15:45.573-07:002010-04-22T12:15:45.573-07:00I am so, so sorry this happened to your son and to...I am so, so sorry this happened to your son and to your husband.<br /><br />However, I agree with CippaLippa that it's not necessarily true that these kids are learning this attitude directly from their parents. It's kind of like the recent work that indicates that racial prejudice is 'natural' to some extent (I got this from the recent book _Nurture Shock_). Even little kids, even kids from liberal non-prejudiced families, form their own opinions about who is like them and who is not, who is okay and who is not. Apparently it's not enough for liberal parents to read books featuring characters of different races, send their child to a multi-racial school, etc.; they have to EXPLICITLY say that people of different colors are just as good, that people with different behaviors and ways of seeing the world are just as good. <br /><br />It's entirely possible that some of the parents of the children there would be horrified at their behavior. I certainly hope so. It's 'natural', after all, for little kids to hit each other when they're angry, but just because it's natural doesn't mean it's OK in a civilized society. I'm going to go over this again tonight with my son; it's never OK to treat another person badly like that.Beth RDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-43639917650457651292010-04-22T07:55:56.010-07:002010-04-22T07:55:56.010-07:00This is what I fear each and every day for my daug...This is what I fear each and every day for my daughter. We haven't encountered it yet, but I'm sure our day will come. <br /><br />Hugs and love and lots of prayers for you and your family.One Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11022628732240788049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-73130243969654389122010-04-22T05:46:08.410-07:002010-04-22T05:46:08.410-07:00We've not felt the blatant sting which you and...We've not felt the blatant sting which you and your husband have experienced, but we know it is there, unspoken, in the shadows and whispers which we can't see nor hear. My wife and I have turned that hurt, rejection and discrimination into advocacy (might I dare say anger) and we are unrlenting with the schools, government, neighbors, friends, families in our efforts to ensure our Olivia is accepted for who she is - a beautiful 7 y/o with a heart as big as Mt. Washington. Figuratively speaking, we'll punch anyone in the nose who even dares to question her inclusion or acceptance....Hang in there, stay tough and by all means, don't let the bastards get you down!Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02957456257250327726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-23787377374108350382010-04-22T04:08:52.142-07:002010-04-22T04:08:52.142-07:00Oh Gayle, your post made me cry. I love you guys a...Oh Gayle, your post made me cry. I love you guys and I love Rooster too.Gwynethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16328287662160030727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-35687727545975718152010-04-21T22:32:56.714-07:002010-04-21T22:32:56.714-07:00While it must have been absolutely awful for you a...While it must have been absolutely awful for you and your husband to have heard this, you now know that many of us have been in a similar position. You spoke up and now you know you are not alone. We currently have a parent that is trying very hard to get my son kicked out of the mainstream classroom and has "instructed" her son to treat my son like his is some evil being who never does anything good. I wish there were answers to get loony parents to treat people with humanity. The good think is that there are many parents of typical kids who are open to hearing about your story and provide encouragement and support without judgement. You just have to find them....they are out there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-42119827098128129972010-04-21T22:29:38.964-07:002010-04-21T22:29:38.964-07:00oh dear u r the lukiest parents that GOD blessed u...oh dear u r the lukiest parents that GOD blessed u with such children as he knows that u r the one who can look after his speacial children.Dont be sad one day who are saying they are not normal will say they are speacialAnd ur lucky as u can show your talents through these children.Love and to your family.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-70837124462122747642010-04-21T18:22:18.852-07:002010-04-21T18:22:18.852-07:00I want to comment by telling a different anecdote,...I want to comment by telling a different anecdote, one about sexual orientation and kids' perceptions. My daughter is growing in a very liberal family; her aunt is happily gay, and I have raised both of my children making sure to mention that they will someday fall in love with a boy, or with a girl, whoever they'll choose. <br />Well, even in our enlightened household, we have already had a couple of incidents in which my now 8-yo daughter has come up saying that being gay is not normal. In one instance, she taunted a boy in her (Berkeley) school because he has two moms. <br />I am writing this because I am not entirely sure the blame should be put on parents only; kids have an inner need for conformity that will make them say awful things at times. This might not relieve your pain, and it should not diminish your anger at what happened. But "normalcy" is a concept that kids struggle with as much as adults do, and I think that talking to them (the kids in your son's school - and maybe their parents) could help a lot. And then talking about it again. And again. And again. I hope my daughter will grow open-minded and accepting of all kinds of lives and of "normalcies", because we help her being so. But it will happen only if someone around her keeps talking about difference, and only by constantly exposing her to it. <br /><br />As for birthday parties: my daughter (the same one) is very popular in school. Yet only two people from her class showed up at her birthday party last year. I think that's just the way it goes. Good luck!CippaLippahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10212748967532662959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-47675334717981113132010-04-21T18:02:00.034-07:002010-04-21T18:02:00.034-07:00We Australian ASD parents are enraged on your beha...We Australian ASD parents are enraged on your behalf. <br /><br />It is never OK to let words like these become acceptable.<br /><br />And if the kids don't understand that, it's time for us grown ups to step in and help.Valerie Foleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17144896658431548065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-81131847702699567262010-04-21T17:20:50.992-07:002010-04-21T17:20:50.992-07:00I am another mom who was with your family today on...I am another mom who was with your family today on that playground. I hope the principal is going to take action. Perhaps it is time to send the school counselor to that classroom for some empathy training for the students?Annanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-89886176262674544422010-04-21T17:05:46.896-07:002010-04-21T17:05:46.896-07:00Your better than me I have just decided that its b...Your better than me I have just decided that its better for us to just celebrate my sons B-Day with family only,we go to a indoor waterpark that he loves I can't deal with kids and parents that think a child that is different means they can be rude.Hang in there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-36685287454484601212010-04-21T14:39:27.113-07:002010-04-21T14:39:27.113-07:00So sorry for your struggles....
The parents need t...So sorry for your struggles....<br />The parents need to be educated and then the chain of education will continue on to their kids.<br />Easier said than done, huh?<br />One thing that I've learned with my daughter is that I, as her mom, am her #1 advocate. It is my job to stand up for her, no one else is going to do it.<br />It sounds like you handled the situation perfectly! Hang in there.A pair and a sparehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564480924438954722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-22615039321110129322010-04-21T14:16:45.232-07:002010-04-21T14:16:45.232-07:00My heart hurts for you and your boy and your husba...My heart hurts for you and your boy and your husband. Bless you as you try to teach those who would hurt.gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08242071379361512021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-72499491114011844262010-04-21T13:57:29.960-07:002010-04-21T13:57:29.960-07:00I'm so sorry. Have you been able to reach the ...I'm so sorry. Have you been able to reach the principle/teacher and talk about it? What a horrible experience for your little one. Makes me so sad.Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05224247762774860763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545465610500649673.post-79346300468386940422010-04-21T13:03:27.147-07:002010-04-21T13:03:27.147-07:00=( I just came across your blog today. I guess t...=( I just came across your blog today. I guess the thing that stuns me the most is these kids were so young. I guess I thought kids that young would be more accepting. <br /><br />My son was just diagnosed with autism a month ago and this post hit very close to home. I will be praying for your family.The Lestershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10892396877354043038noreply@blogger.com