Run Thru The Park

I'm PUMPED!!!

I get to go camping with a bunch of bikers in an enormous field, with a live band and what I hope is to be many families with kids on the autism spectrum.  It's a motorcycle/poker run weekend! Wooohooooo!!!

My hubby and I with our five bambinos (last year)

The camera couldn't capture the entire group of bikers...  this is the right half of the group (last year)

What the...  Someone call 911.  Lou's fallen off her rocker and hit her head.  She's gone bonkers. Where is Mike?

Well, Mike went with me last year.  So did my kids (and yes, they survived, and what's even better, they had a FANTASTIC time!).

We met some pretty funtastic people, people I hope I get to meet up with again this year.

The Ride Thru The Park began three years ago.  The first year, these look bad do good folks did the run to raise money for a family with a newly diagnosed child on the autism spectrum.  These folks had never seen autism before, and worried about their friend and what the diagnoses meant not only for her child, but for the entire family.  Watching her struggle, and not knowing what to do to help as it seemed whatever works for the neurotypical children didn't work for this kiddo or make things worse.  The bikers learned while their hearts were in the right place, they desperately wanted to help, it seemed autism exceeded their skill set and decided to do what they knew best:  RIDE!

OK...  How the bleepidy, bleep, bleep does leather and bikes do good for autism?  It works when you play a poker run and split the winnings in half:  one half for the winner and the other half is given as a donation to people who need it who DO have the skill set to help!  Taaaadaaaa!!!

For the second year's Ride Thru The Park, these look bad do good amazing folks decided to spread the joy to a grassroots kind of group that give all proceeds back to the autism community...  I don't know how they found us, but they did, and I am grateful.  This year marks their 3rd Ride Thru The Park year, and they hope to continue every year to make it bigger and better.

Here's the rules of the game:

THERE ARE NO RULES!!!  bahahahaha, love it!  I'm not the kind of girl who does play by the rules anyway!  And even better, and I'm totally excite about this part, because as you all know, I'm the Queen of Klutzes and there's no way a bike would survive me trying to ride it, the run accommodates Ghost Riders!!!  Yeah all right, I didn't know what that meant either, so I asked Shawna if that meant we turned into Nicolas Cage, erupting in flames riding a bike and becoming a lean, mean killing machine, to which of course she just shook her head and mumbled under her breath.  I think I heard an OMG, and in what moment of insanity did I agree...  but it's OK, we're still friends, she's just decided to introduce me to the rest of her friends and potential new ones as an acquaintance twice removed.

Anyhow, ahem (I know something you don't, te-hee-hee), a Ghost Rider is someone who doesn't ride through the run, but drives a vehicle (woo-hoo!!!  That's me!!!) in the run!  Funtastic!  This means everyone can join in 100% in the run, and stand to win half the winnings!  And if you can't drive (for example, our kids), you can STILL participate and roll for an eligible hand!  A win win for everyone!

Cost:  20.00 per rider, and $10.00 per Ghost Rider, payable at registration before the run.

For more information or questions you may have, please contact Shawna at https://www.facebook.com/RunThruThePark/

Anyways, back to last year's event, the fun part for everyone was putting aside all stigmas about autism and bikers alike and getting to know each other.

It was tricky at first.  Some of them had a perception of what autism was and were nervous, but once they met my kiddos, they felt at ease and carried on with the kids like anyone else.  My kids had a perception of them too, because people quickly jump from Harley's to a motorcycle gang like Hell's Angels.  They quickly learned that couldn't be farther from the truth.  By the end of the day, my kids were all over them!

Yeah, even I got in there, it wasn't moving so the bike was safe ;)

I met a family who came riding in to support us all after witnessing the birth of their niece.  I'm serious.  They waited at the hospital for the birth, got to say hello to baby and hold her, then ran out the hospital doors to come to this amazing event.  Talk about dedication!  Another man came all the way from Alberta to show his support - amazing!

We had some vendors out there too selling autism awareness items!  It was amazing!  And then the games for the kids...

There was a small splash pool surrounded by tires, a tire toss, a number of interactive kid games with prizes...  A huge bonfire (go big or go home folks!), a fantastic live band and fun for adults too.
If you're already a member of Autism Winnipeg PACE Facebook Group, check out the photo album called "Run Through The Park:  August 27th, 2016."  I know, I know...  I spelled it properly last year when naming the photo album, but in my defense, I was super excited to get all the pictures up to show everyone what a great time we had!!!  It was sooooo good!!!

Anyways, Here's a few more pictures to show you a snippet of the fun times we had! I really hope you can come this year, we're inviting riders and families to come out and show your support to riders and families living with autism.  Camping on the premises is an option you should take, there will be facilities for all your needs, but you must bring your own food and drink, and tents or trailers.  Fees are only $10.00 per tent or trailer!  You can't beat this for camping fees PLUS a lot of entertainment!

Because we're all young 

Remember the red wagon?

Start off shy, but in the end, they all come down to the basics...  I wanna play!

How about I take you out for a nice dinner baby?  Oh look at that, let's start our date now!

Get a great tee-shirt!

Everybody is a winner!

There were many more games, but I don't have any of those pictures to share, my favorite being riding up on a bike with the passenger catching a hot-dog in their mouth as they rode under the hot-dogs. I'll try to get good pictures this year, or better yet, come out and see it yourself!!!


As in the past, consider yourselves hugged,

Lou

Another One Bites The Dust

Ahhh yes, it's a tough week for Mr. Dayton.  Dayton's beloved educational assistant's last day of work was yesterday.  Today, he got to watch his grandma Karen move her belongings out of grandpa's home and leave for Colorado on her new life, and Big Mamma starts her new job on Monday.  Poor kid...

Hold up...  Did I say grandma Karen is leaving us?  Yes...  Even grandparents have marital issues.  Grandma Karen has been gone since September when her mom passed away, and today was the first time we've seen her since her terrible ordeal...  Losing a parent is never easy, no matter how old you are.

Dayton of course is confused...

Last night:  "Dayton, we're going to grandpa's tomorrow morning to help grandma move out.  I'd like to be there early, so I was thinking we'd get up at the same time we normally do to get ready for school and..."
"THERE'S NO SCHOOL TOMORROW!!!"
"I know babe, I was just saying that..."
"No, there's no school tomorrow, no, I'm not getting up early, no grandma moving out.  She has to stay."
"Babe, it's not up to us..."
"Her not have a choice, just like I don't.  No school tomorrow."
Ugh.

So off we went to grandpa's place this morning, only to be the last of the family to arrive.  Dayton's uncles and aunties were already there, and so was grandma Karen, who glanced at us and said:  "Oh good, there's more of you..."

I lost it.  I'm not proud of it, but remember how I was saying that a year ago, I would cry when someone hurt my feelings, or Dayton's feelings, and I would try to reason with the person as I am a people pleaser.  Now I've become Lou's evil twin Lola; not caring who I hurt, leaving a path of destruction behind me.  I snapped back at her:  "Well, you'd think you'd be happy to see your family again!"  She didn't speak to me again.

As I sat on the living room floor with the rest of the family, I felt completely uncomfortable.  So it seemed did grandma Karen.  She walked around the place like death warmed over.  I can't say I blame her, knowing that everyone present was there for grandpa; loyalty lines were drawn, and blood is thicker than water, right?  I felt a little bad for her.  But she did hurt my baby...

"Grandma's not gonna leave me mamma, she loves me."
"Babe, this has nothing to do with you.  This is stupid grown up stuff."
"Mamma, she loves me.  She told me she did."
"I don't think that's changed babe.  She does love you, but things have changed for her.  She has to go back home.  It's not about you, it's about her."
"Is this why Mrs. H. (his educational assistant) had to go too?  Stupid grown up stuff?"
"Pretty much babe.  Stupid grown up stuff."
"But you said you love me, and you never leave me mamma.  That's what you said."
"That's different babe.  Grandma does love you, and she is leaving, but she's not leaving you."
"How you say she not leaving me when she leaving?"
Grrrr...

So I lost my cool.  I'm not happy about it.  I'm especially not happy that my babe saw me lose my cool.  I'm not happy that our family's been turned upside down, and that Dayton's lost his grandma.

This twin sister Lola is not who I am.  I'm not this person, and I don't like her.

So, to try and put a smile on both our faces, Dayton and I had what we call 'family night.'  We played the little version of Cranium (totally love it, I've modified it to have our own version), tried to play some yahtzee, and then daddy came back to Winnipeg from The Pas...  The two of them are currently arguing over the MW3 video game.  Lovely.  I think I'm going to make it an early night tonight.

Calgon, take me away!


Consider yourselves hugged,

Lou

Structure, Structure, And Structure Some More

As I've said on my previous post, I have decided to keep Dayton home for the rest of the school year (don't be saying "oh my God!"  We're pretty much at the end of the school year, it's really not that big of a deal.) I've decided to keep Dayton home because of the lack of structure at the end of the school year all schools go through, not just the school Dayton attends.

The last two weeks of school are usually the toughest for kids on the autism spectrum.  Well meaning teachers, principals and school divisions look at the last week or two of the school year as a time for celebrating the end of the year by treating the kids to a break so to speak.  Lots of free play time, movie time, entertainment, etc...  Everyone in the building, adults and children alike, are excited about the coming of summer break, and focus is not high on the priority list.  Unfortunately, for children on the autism spectrum, or kids with ADHD, ADD, ODD, OCD, etc.., this time of excitement is even more crucial for them to have their aid persistently present, their day structured ever more diligently, and their teachers on the ball at all times as they can sense everyone's excitement.  Like other children, they too want to celebrate, the problem is that when their routine get broken, they may not know what to do with themselves.  Dayton does not read social cues well, and his speech is delayed.  Communicating his 'feelings' is a struggle for him.  When he can't communicate what it is that he wants, doesn't recognize social cues or facial expressions, it's as though his primal brain takes over and he can not control his impulses.  Having structure in Dayton's day is crucial. 

Ever hear of the saying:  "Too much good can be a bad thing?"  Very much true in Dayton's case.  While he enjoys free play as much as any other kid, the free play itself needs to be structured and designed in a way he can handle.  I can't just take this little guy out to the park and set him loose.  That would be sheer heaven!  When he plays outside, I must schedule things with him and have his input.

"So we're going to go to the swings first, right momma?"
"Yes babe, always the swings first.  What would you like to do next?"
"Down the slide."
"OK, we'll use the slide after the swings, sounds good buddy.  And then what would you like to do?"
"Feed the birds."
"OK, so we're gonna hit the swings, hit the slide, then go see the birds.  What's after that?"
"Mamma, we don't hit the swings, we swing on them, and we don't hit the slide, we slide down them.  And I don't want to see the birds, I want to FEED the birds!!!"
Damn it!  I used an euphemism.  Well done mom.  "I'm sorry Dayton, you're right."  I just don't have the heart to try to teach him another euphemism today as he gets so frustrated when trying to make it make sense for himself.  A lesson for another day.

Free play at our home's playground with his buddies needs to be supervised and structured.  I love the bayblades!  There are rules to follow, spinning objects, and a way to behave during the game (Pull the cord, wait and watch.  No hands allowed to stop the spinning tops, and most kids with autism love spinning objects).

Another game with rules that Dayton loves is croquet.  This is a game that I can play with him and his friends, the more the merrier and his friends and foes love it when I break out the croquet (which Dayton is not able to pronounce correctly...  He calls it cocaine.  I just pray he doesn't go to school and tell them all he played cocaine with his mamma).  Croquet is so much fun!  Huge hammers with big balls and a track to conquer.  We also enjoy a good game of bean bag toss (haven't got a clue what it's really called, it's the game with two wooden planks with three holes in it, each team throws the bean bags into the holes to score and win the game).  Bocci Ball is another favorite of mine, not so much of Dayton's, but he will play it.  Again, rules to follow this game too.  Pick a color of ball you want to represent you, then try to throw your balls to the little white ball.  Closest to the white ball or the one who hits the white ball wins!

Not only are these games fun, but Dayton is now forced to interact with other children, giving him more opportunity to practice his social skills.  He must wait his turn, and when playing the bean bag toss, Dayton has to play as part of a 'team.'  Huge benefits for both of us!  Games with structure and rules provide Dayton with the opportunity to have a little fun and knowing the rules and expectations of the game keeps him nice and calm.  Until, that is, someone breaks the rules...  Which is why big mamma is always present, at arm's (or croquet hammer, I'm no dummy) length or less away. 


Consider yourselves hugged!!!

Lou