Rules (for David) by Cynthia Lord (2003).
Extended Book Review with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker.
NOTE: Excerpts from the book – (1% indicates location in the eReader version of the book, instead of page numbers).
Rules (for David) by Cynthia Lord (2003). Extended Review with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker
Lord, C. (2003) 1% Headline ~ "Rule: No Barbie dolls in the fish tank!" "One of my old Barbie dolls sits on the gravel, her arm raised in a friendly wave..."
< My Thoughts > "Rule: No Barbie dolls in the fish tank!"
Although this is a children’s novel, it truly shows the poignant side of autism from a sibling’s point of view. The novel lets the reader examine how there is more ‘ability’ than ‘disability’ evident in the main characters. Everyone has an opportunity to learn and to see the world world of autism through the eyes of others.
Green (2013) tells us that smaller families have more difficulties when dealing with the autistic child. Siblings have difficulties with feeling the loss of the normal sibling that s/he could have been.”
Lord, C. (2003) 8% (Catherine) I write down all David’s rules, so my ‘someday-he’ll-wake-up-a-regular-brother’ will know how the world works.
< My Thoughts > “…so my someday-he’ll-wake-up-a-regular-brother…”
Some say that persons with autism are “the new normal” because many persons with autism have normal or higher than normal intelligence, but lack the necessary social and emotional knowledge. Often, these persons are finding their place in society, especially in the world of technology. Because in the world of technology, you make your own rules… as long as they and the 5 basic rules are easy to follow –
“These Are the New (technology) Rules of Work,” retrieved online from www.fastcompany.com/3046127/the-new-rules-of-work
1. From your devices… wherever you are. (For our Sonny it would be lying and ‘working’ on the floor.)
2. You are on call 24/7… (Perfect for our Sonny, who only naps anyway. Rarely have we ever had a full night’s sleep.)
3. You go from gig to gig, project to project… (Or, room to room… as our Sonny does, running back & forth to hear his favorite part of Toy Story as it plays on a loop in his room).
4. The line between life & work is gradually disappearing… Live friends are replaced by social media. (Friends??? our Sonny’s friends are Woody & Buzz).
5. You work because you’re passionate about what you do… (Does 'intensely focused' ring a bell?).
Lord, C. (2003) 7% (David) “It’s Mom!” “Let’s go to the video store!”
(Catherine) “You’re going to OT,” I cover David’s mouth so people won’t hear him scream.
I am twelve now and can stay home if I want, but I still like to come.
< My Thoughts > "...but I still like to come."
Obviously, Catherine has learned to interpret her mother’s body language as ‘mom closing herself off’ and ‘settled in’ for the long wait.
Tsao, L., et al. (2012), remind us that while parenting in families of children with disabilities may include ‘favoring’ that child, parenting styles change over time. However, their siblings’ perceptions of that favoritism may persist. “Siblings may experience loneliness because parents do not provide enough age-appropriate communication and equal time spent with their neuro-typical children.”
< My Thoughts > "...siblings’ perceptions of that favoritism..."
Again, Tsao, et al. (2012) feel that “parents are less intimate with, and less nurturing to, their neuro-typical children.” Many family activities revolve around what her brother David may or may not be comfortable doing. But Catherine has put a positive spin on it by ‘taking out her sketchbook’ and finding things to sketch. This leads to meeting new people, which changes her world forever.
References:
Green, L. (2013). The Well-Being of Siblings of Individuals with Autism; Journal of Neurology; Vol. 2013:1-7
Tsao, L., Davenport, R., Schmiege, C. (2012). Supporting Siblings of Children with ASD; Journal of Early Childhood Education; Vol. 40:47-54.
Extended Book Review with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker.
NOTE: Excerpts from the book – (1% indicates location in the eReader version of the book, instead of page numbers).
Rules (for David) by Cynthia Lord (2003). Extended Review with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker
Lord, C. (2003) 1% Headline ~ "Rule: No Barbie dolls in the fish tank!" "One of my old Barbie dolls sits on the gravel, her arm raised in a friendly wave..."
< My Thoughts > "Rule: No Barbie dolls in the fish tank!"
Although this is a children’s novel, it truly shows the poignant side of autism from a sibling’s point of view. The novel lets the reader examine how there is more ‘ability’ than ‘disability’ evident in the main characters. Everyone has an opportunity to learn and to see the world world of autism through the eyes of others.
Green (2013) tells us that smaller families have more difficulties when dealing with the autistic child. Siblings have difficulties with feeling the loss of the normal sibling that s/he could have been.”
Lord, C. (2003) 8% (Catherine) I write down all David’s rules, so my ‘someday-he’ll-wake-up-a-regular-brother’ will know how the world works.
< My Thoughts > “…so my someday-he’ll-wake-up-a-regular-brother…”
Some say that persons with autism are “the new normal” because many persons with autism have normal or higher than normal intelligence, but lack the necessary social and emotional knowledge. Often, these persons are finding their place in society, especially in the world of technology. Because in the world of technology, you make your own rules… as long as they and the 5 basic rules are easy to follow –
“These Are the New (technology) Rules of Work,” retrieved online from www.fastcompany.com/3046127/the-new-rules-of-work
1. From your devices… wherever you are. (For our Sonny it would be lying and ‘working’ on the floor.)
2. You are on call 24/7… (Perfect for our Sonny, who only naps anyway. Rarely have we ever had a full night’s sleep.)
3. You go from gig to gig, project to project… (Or, room to room… as our Sonny does, running back & forth to hear his favorite part of Toy Story as it plays on a loop in his room).
4. The line between life & work is gradually disappearing… Live friends are replaced by social media. (Friends??? our Sonny’s friends are Woody & Buzz).
5. You work because you’re passionate about what you do… (Does 'intensely focused' ring a bell?).
Lord, C. (2003) 7% (David) “It’s Mom!” “Let’s go to the video store!”
(Catherine) “You’re going to OT,” I cover David’s mouth so people won’t hear him scream.
I am twelve now and can stay home if I want, but I still like to come.
< My Thoughts > "...but I still like to come."
Obviously, Catherine has learned to interpret her mother’s body language as ‘mom closing herself off’ and ‘settled in’ for the long wait.
Tsao, L., et al. (2012), remind us that while parenting in families of children with disabilities may include ‘favoring’ that child, parenting styles change over time. However, their siblings’ perceptions of that favoritism may persist. “Siblings may experience loneliness because parents do not provide enough age-appropriate communication and equal time spent with their neuro-typical children.”
< My Thoughts > "...siblings’ perceptions of that favoritism..."
Again, Tsao, et al. (2012) feel that “parents are less intimate with, and less nurturing to, their neuro-typical children.” Many family activities revolve around what her brother David may or may not be comfortable doing. But Catherine has put a positive spin on it by ‘taking out her sketchbook’ and finding things to sketch. This leads to meeting new people, which changes her world forever.
References:
Green, L. (2013). The Well-Being of Siblings of Individuals with Autism; Journal of Neurology; Vol. 2013:1-7
Tsao, L., Davenport, R., Schmiege, C. (2012). Supporting Siblings of Children with ASD; Journal of Early Childhood Education; Vol. 40:47-54.