Haircut succcess!

Connor has never liked to get his hair cut. With his sensory issues, he's always been very freaked out by it. I had been having my cousin cut his hair, but she lives an hour from here, and it was getting hard to get there.

Then I found Heather. She's another mom who belongs to an online autism support group here in Pittsburgh. When I asked for recommendations for local haircutters, she responded, and said she does it in the home. The mother of a child with autism herself, she knows the challenges of getting haircuts. A licensed beautician, she started this in-home service because she was hearing so many moms say they were having bad experiences in salons.

She came this morning to cut Connor's hair, and I must say, this is the best experience (and hair cut)he's ever had. Being in his own home, and with someone who took a lot of time to talk him through it and make it fun for him, was the key to haircut success for him. And Heather did an excellent job. God bless her for doing this for kids with autism! Thanks Heather!

Cool hockey league.....

We've been working on teaching Connor how to ice skate. He's also started taking an interest in hockey, not only because he's seen daddy play it, but also because he's been watching the Pens play.

Yesterday, I learned about a hockey associated called American Special Hockey. It was established for kids with various disabilities who may not otherwise be able to play on a regular hockey league.

We inquired about it, and the guy who formed the association called me himself, which I thought was wonderful since I'm sure he's a busy man. This program is in all 50 states. They just started a program at Neville Island ice arena, so I'm signing Connor up. It's totally free for the first year, and equipment and funding is subsidized, in part, by the Pittsburgh Penguins (which just makes me love those guys more).

If you want to learn more about them, visit their website at www.americanspecialhockey.org

Things mothers teach us....

I got this from a friend this week, and it was too funny not to share:

25 REASONS I OWE MY MOTHER

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.'If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.'

2. My mother taught me RELIGION. 'You better pray that will come out of the carpet.'

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.'If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!'

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.'Because I said so, that's why.'

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.'If you fall out of that swing and break your neck,you're not going to the store with me.'

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.'Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident.'

7. My mother taught me IRONY'Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.'

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.'Shut your mouth and eat your supper.'

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.'Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!'

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.'You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone.'

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.'This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.'

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.'If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!'

13 My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.'I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.'

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.'Stop acting like your father!'

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.'There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do.'

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.'Just wait until we get home.'

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.'You are going to get it when you get home!'

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.'If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to stick that way.'

19. My mother taught me ESP.'Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?'

20. My mother taught me HUMOR.'When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me.'

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.'If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up.'

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.'You're just like your father.'

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.'Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?'

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.'When you get to be my age, you'll understand.'

25 My mother taught me about JUSTICE' One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!'

OK, so it didn't work.....

Those of you who follow my Facebook page know that I have come to believe that me watching the Pens=a Pens loss every time. So when the playoffs started, I watched the first two games. We all know what happened in those. So I missed the third game and BAM! They win. I think to myself....maybe there is something to this. So I don't watch game 4. And BAM! They win. Now I'm paranoid. So game 5 rolls around and I decide I'd better not jinx them, so I don't watch. And darn if they didn't lose anyway. And badly. I went back and watched the game the next day and I must say, I was stunned at just how bad it was. As a friend told me, Jagr and LeMieux could have been playing and it wouldn't have helped, that's how bad it was. I think he had a point. :)
So, my conundrum is whether I should watch game 6. Still thinking about that one.

Oh really?

http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/107149/the-hardest-jobs-to-fill-in-america?mod=career-leadership

This was the most ridiculous story I've ever read. As an unemployed journalist, I was embarassed for the reporter who wrote this story. She did not do a very good job researching it. The very report she cites as evidence for her claims goes on to say quite the contrary. Maybe she should have read past the first paragraph. And to think that I can't find a job in my field right now. In addition, as someone who has an engineer in the family who is out of work, I find this entire story doubly insulting.

Members only....

I love it when our zoo has a members' only event. Last night, they had an evening event that was supposed to unveil their new sand shark tank. As you can see from the top photo, they were hard to see. A zoo worker said they had cleaned the tank, which always makes it cloudy like that. Probably wasn't the brightest thing they've ever done considering they were trying to showcase the sharks.

We had a little peacock roaming around, too. He was cute. He seemed totally unphased by all the people crowding around. And he loved the little boy who kept feeding him crackers. :) And nicest of all were the giraffes. The zoo didn't have any for awhile because one of their original two died, and the other one got so depressed, it died, too. They recently got two new ones. They were a sight for sore eyes.

Supposedly, they have a new exhibit that includes meerkats. We didn't see it last night, but then again, we only had an hour and a half, and that wasn't enough time. I suspect it's part of the Kid's Kingdom area, as that's the only place we didn't make it to last night. If anyone sees them, let me know where they are so we can scope them out next time!

Out of the mouths of babes....

So, I've been trying to help Connor work on his social interactions with other kids. He tends to get so excited when he sees other kids that his behavior gets a little obnoxious. He can chase when kids don't want to be chased, and he really has a hard time keeping his hands to himself. Most kids don't like that sort of thing, so I've been working hard to get him to stop doing those things.

Yesterday we went to Pine Park. He was doing really well, keeping his hands to himself and taking turns nicely. But I found myself reminding him to take his turn, no pushing, etc. After about 20 minutes of this, he turned to me, put both hands on his little hips and proclaimed loudly "Mommy, you are a very bossy girl." Two other moms standing nearby almost peed themselves they were laughing so hard. So just call me Miss Bossy. :)