Jack's Jem:
This post will in part explain why there has not been any jems in a while. Since spring break here Jack has been having a rough time. Until this last week he has been refusing to do any work either at school or at home. Some of you know that he has always had a problem understanding why he can't do things the way he wants to, but this was different. The more we pushed the harder he pushed back, and we just could not figure out why. All he would say is it was unfair that he had to do any work (ie... homework, chores, etc)! It is import to note here that he comes by some stubbornness honestly because both sides of his family are stubborn, I mean we are really stubborn! Jack has set a new standard for the family that may never reached again, and that is probably a good thing.
Now he kept up insisting that he did not need to do any work. Now keep in mind that during this time he had toys and electronics time taken way, and even at two times was spanked. He was punished in every conceivable way we could think of short of water boarding (ok, we didn't go that far but I don't think it would have worked if we had tried it). We even resorted to bribery. Nothing seemed to derail him from his course of doing nothing. Meanwhile his teachers and us could not figure out why he was so determined not to do any work. He had had plenty of opportunities to tell us what was going on, because we asked him all the time why he did not what to do any work and all we got was it was terrible that he had to do any.
Well last week everything came to a head and we had a melt down of monumental proportions over him having to help me make his bed. For those of you who have not experience an autistic child's meltdown there comes a point were there is nothing that will stop it other than space and time. Well, we went beyond that point by miles. I was even told that I was a disgrace and disappointing as a father and not by my wife for once (just kidding, love you honey).
So where is all of this going and how in the world could this be funny, well put down anything you might be drinking. I finally, after kicking him out of his room and taking everything from him and making him sleep on the floor at the end of my bed, got an explanation: (drum roll please):
Jack: "On the Garfield cartoon, Garfield said [to the audience] see if you sit around on the couch and do nothing you can have a TV show too"
Well Garfield is now on permanent hiatus from the TV and things have improved since we have explained to Jack that is not how it works. Ok, I am lying to him a little because that is the only way to explain how the Jersey Shore got on to TV, but that is a discussion for later. I just up he uses his determination for good.
Enjoy, and good luck with everyone's TV careers
The Dad
