Trains and Trains (#590)
31 January 2007
Can it be a coincidence that we have often lived near the train? Maybe this is why Charlie has never shown too much interest in... Read more →
January 2007
The Garbage Is Out (#589)
30 January 2007
Nothing like solving an Autismland mystery. For the past two days, Charlie has been taking out the garbage, without anyone requesting him too, and with... Read more →
What Will Charlie Say About Himself? (#588)
29 January 2007
From writing about Charlie so much online I have become even more aware of the difference between what I say about him, and who he... Read more →
One Word Can Make a Big Difference (#587)
28 January 2007
Single words can take on big meanings for Charlie. My mention of Jim's older sister means one word to Charlie, her dog. Charlie was fascinated... Read more →
Bowling Together (#586)
27 January 2007
"Does he have friends?" I always pause when people ask me that about Charlie. Do they mean "same-aged peers who he regularly sees and plays... Read more →
Hot Topics in Autismland (#585)
26 January 2007
As much as I was excited to start writing another autism blog back in April, I had a few hesitations, namely, what more did I... Read more →
Melody & Wail (#584)
25 January 2007
Familiar melody, low grunts. Melody, grunts. Charlie was singing in the shower, a tune I knew I should be able to identify. He sung the... Read more →
Hugg! (#583)
24 January 2007
This is Charlie's new word. Racing back and forth whump onto my bed and jump onto the couch he stops short. "Hugg!" On the highway... Read more →
I need break! (#582)
23 January 2007
It took Charlie some two and a half years to learn to say that. I don't mean to pronounce the sounds, the /n/ instead of... Read more →
Finely Tuned (#581)
22 January 2007
Charlie, as I have written before, is not drawn to computers. When he was younger, mechanical devices (automatic garage door openers in particular and garage... Read more →
Another Day in Autismland (#580)
21 January 2007
"I'm sorry we're meeting under these circumstances." The mother of an autistic boy a few years older than Charlie said that to me back in... Read more →
Back in Business (#579)
20 January 2007
"We are back in business!" Jim proclaimed as he took off his coat this evening. We had just come back from a day with Charlie's... Read more →
A Whole Lot of Family Going On (#578)
19 January 2007
Charlie made a low noise while waiting for his brown noodles in the restaurant. A man across the room looked up and smiled; he and... Read more →
Homing Instinct (#577)
18 January 2007
It was flurries and bits of crystalline snowflakes on my coat and Charlie's fish-fleece hat when we went for a walk to the train station... Read more →
Prune Juice and Fluff (#576)
17 January 2007
Both of these got all over the carpet in Charlie's room this afternoon, with the result that I spent some time scrubbing and picking and... Read more →
A Little More Free (#575)
16 January 2007
As a result of being stretched over his feet to his knees, lined up according to the edges of the linoleum right at the top... Read more →
Proteus in Autismland (#574)
15 January 2007
This is the central dilemma that I face when, Charlie asleep (melatonin has been working), I sit down at night to write: If I describe... Read more →
Trial, Error, Adjustment (#573)
14 January 2007
Since last Saturday, we have been giving Charlie half as much of one of his medications, Zoloft, after our visit with Charlie's pediatric neurologist. Charlie... Read more →
Being There with Charlie (#572)
13 January 2007
Standing rapt and just being there in the moment. That's how Jim told me Charlie stood in perfect attention when they chanced upon three conga... Read more →
A Small Lesson in Charlese (#571)
12 January 2007
"Walk squishy ball yes!" Charlie and I had just gone on a walk to the train this afternoon and were waiting for Jim to come... Read more →