Let the Summer Begin...

Tomorrow is July 1^st.  It is the first day of summer in Riley World which means it is time to get the summer “fun” going again. 

As you can imagine Riley is so not thrilled.

While we have continued with some of Riley’s summer “fun” from last year over the winter, we have not been as ummm consistent as we should have been.

In my defence when you have a child/teen who has significant communication challenges (like Riley) and they communicate something with clear intent whether verbally or using a communication device…THIS. IS. HUGE!!! 

Of course in order to reinforce the positive communication your child/teen has shown, you reward them by honouring their request. A given. Right??  Absolutely.

Theeennnn…after the first dozen or so times the waters start to get murky. Riley, like most, is one smart cookie. Once he started to see the power of “I communicate a want/desire/need. You respond by giving me what I want.” life in Riley World began to mellow. Yes at 19 we still have the occasional meltdown (sorry) but they are not happening hourly/daily any more (there IS light at the end of the tunnel).

Riley still fools surprises me at times with his uncanny ability to seemingly operate under the radar and then out-of-the-blue come out with this:

R:    You can do some laundry?

Me:  Uhhh okay. I can do the laundry?!?!  (Very confused)

R:    Oh…okay.  (Relieved voice)

Later I figured out the reason he was asking was that he was out of underwear. Hard to believe if you read last summer’s post I know.   

After the first 3 or 4 times I added a little something to the conversation:

R:    You can do some laundry? 

Me:  Sure.  I’ll do laundry when you’re at school. 

R:    You can do some laundry when I’m at school.  (Happy voice this time. Uh-oh…)

See what I did there???  After 15 years in Riley World I still made a rookie mistake. While trying to give Riley more language I also gave him ammunition to use against me. Gah!

The conversation then moved to this:

R:    You can do some laundry when I’m...followed by at school/work/on an outing? 

Sneaky monkey. Yes I fell for it a couple of times. Not to worry I now come back with:

Me:  Sure. I’ll do laundry when you’re fill in the blank and you can help me fold it when you get home.  Bazinga!  

How has your summer been going so far?  I am hoping to catch up blogging about all of Riley's end of high school activities this coming week. You're excited I know.  :D

Riley World Enters Adulthood...

What a crazy couple of weeks! If you follow me on FB...wait...whaaa...you don't?!?!?   Oh.   Ummm...this is a little awkward. Weeelllll...you can either click on the FB icon over on the right or any of these red words and you will be kept in the loop on the latest news in Riley World.  :)

Today will be Riley's last day of high school FOR. EVER. aaand he will be turning 19! Gah!

I know I have been promising to blog about all his grad festivities. To be honest it has been more overwhelming than I expected so I have been operating on a day-by-day basis and staying offline for the most part. Once I get my head wrapped around everything I am sure I will be able to blog about it or ummm...not. Eeep.

But for today...it is a special birthday in Riley World so that is what we are celebrating. If you manage to stay tuned in for the entire ~3-1/2 minutes you will get to see some of those soon-to-be blogged about moments.

How was THAT for a teaser???

Click here or on the photo to see a slideshow/video of the first 19 Chapters in Riley World **

Happy 19th Birthday Riley-man! We are all so proud of you!

** I apologize for missing TH and KP...I could not "locate" pics of you and R.  :(

A Trip to Home Depot

It has been a busy 10 days in Riley World. 14 years of school and we are almost done. Yes…when I think about it too much I freak out. So instead, when not Candy Crushing, I have opted to stay offline for the most part. It is a coping mechanism that works for me.

A friend sent this in an email and it gave me a good chuckle so I decided what better time for another #FridayFunny post. It serves two purposes. One...I am posting something and two...I get to make fun of spread the humour amongst the male population because I am an equal opportunity blogger. You’re welcome. 

Hope this starts your weekend off with a smile too!

A MAN'S AGE, AS DETERMINED BY A TRIP TO HOME DEPOT 

You are in the middle of a few projects at your home: putting in a new fence, painting the basement walls, putting in a new garden. You are hot and sweaty, covered in dust, lawn clippings, dirt and paint. You have your old work clothes on. You know the outfit -- shorts with the hole in the crotch, old T-shirt with a stain from who-knows-what, and an old pair of tennis shoes.

Right in the middle of these projects you realize you need to run to Home Depot for supplies.

Depending on your age you might do the following:

In your 20s:
Stop what you are doing. Shave, take a shower, blow dry your hair, brush your teeth, floss and put on clean clothes. Check yourself in the mirror and flex. Add a dab of your favorite cologne because, you never know, you just might meet some hot chick while standing in the checkout line.

And yes, you went to school with the pretty girl running the register.

In your 30s:
Stop what you are doing, put on clean shorts and shirt. Change your shoes. You married the hot chick so no need for much else. Wash your hands and comb your hair. Check yourself in the mirror. Still got it. Add a shot of your favourite cologne to cover the smell.

The cute girl running the register is the kid sister to someone you went to school with.

In your 40s:
Stop what you are doing. Put on a sweatshirt that is long enough to cover the hole in the crotch of your shorts. Put on different shoes and a hat. Wash your hands. Your bottle of Brute is almost empty, so don't waste any of it on a trip to Home Depot. Check yourself in the mirror and do more sucking in than flexing.

The hot young thing running the register is your daughter's age and you feel weird about thinking she's spicy.

In your 50s:
Stop what you are doing. Put on a hat. Wipe the dirt off your hands onto your shirt. Change shoes because you don't want to get dog crap in your new sports car. Check yourself in the mirror and swear not to wear that shirt anymore because it makes you look fat.

The cutie running the register smiles when she sees you coming and you think you still have it. Then you remember -- the hat you have on is from Bubba's Bait & Beer Bar and it says, 'I Got Worms '

In your 60s:
Stop what you are doing. No need for a hat any more. Hose the dog crap off your shoes. The mirror was shattered when you were in your 50s. You hope you have underwear on so nothing hangs out the hole in your pants.

The girl running the register may be cute but you don't have your glasses on, so you're not sure.

In your 70s:
Stop what you are doing. Wait to go to Home Depot until the drug store has your prescriptions ready too. Don't even notice the dog crap on your shoes.

The young thing at the register stares at you and you realize your balls are hanging out the hole in your crotch.

In your 80s:
Stop what you are doing. Start again. Then stop again. Now you remember you need to go to Home Depot. Go to Wal-Mart instead. You went to school with the old lady greeter.

You wander around trying to remember what you are looking for. Then you fart out loud and think someone called your name.

In your 90s & beyond:
What's a home deep hoe? Something for my garden? Where am I? Who am I? Why am I reading this? Did I send it? Did you? Who farted?

TGIF!!!

PS  In case you missed it...my first #FridayFunny post was a diary of a women’s week at the gym with a personal trainer.

Looking Ahead...The Banquet

Riley will be finishing high school at the end of THIS MONTH! The grade 12 Banquet is being held this weekend. In my usual fashion I have been dealing with this by cowering in the fetal position in the furthest corner of my cave.

I did mange to come out and go shopping for some dress clothes for R a couple of weeks ago. No I did NOT take him. Seriously??? Have you not read anything I have written in the last year and a half?  Oh. Oh my. Sorry about that. See what happens when I start thinking about the next phase in Riley World.  Gah!  Breath…2…3…4.  

He will be decked out in a suit, tie and his Converse running shoes (I was given the nod by J2). I will make his usual dinner at home before we leave and we will pack cheerios, S & V chips and his iTouch. We will be sitting with some very important people and missing a few others. These people, who are so much more, have been Riley’s biggest supporters and have helped our family every step of the way.

It will be a night to celebrate and the end of an era. Bittersweet??  Are you kidding me! I am SO done!  :D  

Stay tuned for photos and more school memories in the coming weeks.

10 Things I First Notice About Someone #Monday Listicles

The things I first notice about someone have definitely changed over the years.  When I was a teenager I will admit that physical looks (be it a male or female) were at the top of the list. 

1.      Hair 

Oh how I would have died for my hair to have some body. With poker straight, wiry hair…I was never going to have hair like Farrah Fawcett and the long shag that guys were sporting back then...*sigh*

2.      A Colgate Smile

Or……maybe not.

3.      Eyes 

Guess who???

Once out in the working world, reality set in and life was nothing like an episode of the Love Boat or Fantasy Island. Physical looks moved down the list and were replaced with things like:  

4.      Personal Hygiene 

A crisp and clean smell would make me weak at the knees. 

5.      Sense of humour

6.      Personality:  Yes mom…your words did not fall on deaf ears after all. 

Marriage, motherhood and menopause were the next stages and with them came deep thoughts:

7.      

Pretty much says it all doesn't it...

8.      Will their vehicle accommodate a baby seat?

9.      Do they need a nose and ear trimmer?

10.   And most important these days…do they still buy green bananas? 

What things do you first notice about someone? 

Thanks to Donetta over at My Constant Thoughts for coming up with this week's topic.  Don't forget to pop over to Stasha's and see what everybody notices.

It's June...again!!!

The start of a new month in Riley World means we get a review of the upcoming month’s special occasions on a minute by minute basis until said special occasions are finished.

Last June the ditty went like this:

“It’s Father’s Day and my birthday in June. I can open my presents. I want to go to Daimasu* for my birthday. Who am I going to invite? I’m going to invite grandma, Uncle Stoo, Auntie Sharon, Sara and Scotty. What am I going to open? I’m going to open my presents.” 

* a Japanese restaurant

There has been a slight change to the mantra this year.

• He has added an additional “WH” question. Always a positive in Riley World.
• He has been busy writing and rewriting his birthday list. Development of fine motor skills..check! 

•  AND he has wanted to interact with us as opposed to just scripting. Lucky for us?? Ummm…not so much especially after the hundredth time.

R:         It’s June!  (in his excited voice)

            Father’s Day is in June. It’s my birthday in June.  (pause…waiting for response)

Me:       Yes. Father’s Day and your birthday are in June.

R:         Are you going to surprise me???  What are you going to surprise me with?

Me:       I don't know. What am I going to surprise you with?

R:         DVD’s. You're going to surprise with...he then proceeds to list off all the DVD’s on his birthday list!

Nothing like a "Surprise" in Riley World!