Determination level: EPIC!

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

Advice for keeping a positive attitude!

Jacks Jem:

During our quarterly parent teacher conference this past week, I was glad to hear Jack does not keep his jems at home. The following is advice that Jack gave his teacher.  It's important to note that his teacher does not like Thursdays, so much so she calls them Friday eves.

Well the Thursday before last his teacher was not having a good day and Jack gave her the following advice:

Jack:  Did you drive to school today?

Teacher: Yes

Jack:  Well a least a piano did not fall on your car.

Now fast forward to this past Thursday and Jack checks on his Teacher and tells her well at least you haven't been hit in the face by a pie.

How can you argue with logic like that.  So if your having a bad day just think it could be worse a piano could land on your car or you could be hit in the face by a pie.  

Enjoy

the Dad

 

Who you gonna call?

Jack's Jem:

  Well the other day Jack and I were wrestling in the living room.  I finally got him pinned down (which is getting a little harder everyday) and was tickling him.  Jack finally told me,"Get off me or I am going to call the MARINES!"

   He was able to make good his escape because I was laughing.  Kind of makes me feel good that he felt that only the Marines could stop me.  Yep whose the man.

Semper Fi
The Dad

How to deal with something you don't like at work.

Jack's Jem:

  OK, I don't know if I would really suggest this technique for work, but if you did it could be funny. 

  A couple of nights ago the family was watching some TV together, and when the show ended the Mom told Jack to head up to bed.  This was the response from under a blanket on the couch:

" Jack is not available right now, please leave a message, BEEEEEPPPPPPP!"

The result was both parents trying not to laugh, and me leaving a message that got him up to bed. 

Enjoy

The Dad

Where and how not to get milk!

Jack's Jem:

  So I know it's been a little while since I have gotten a Jem posted, but I have been ridiculously busy with school. Jack has not let up though and I wish I had gotten them posted.  Here is the latest installment of the Jems that should help make up for the wait.

  So last weekend I decided to give the kids a treat Sunday morning and go get some doughnuts.  I did it just for the kids I swear. So I asked Jack if he wanted to go with me and initially he did not want to, but when I told him I wanted his help because we were doughnut hunting he decided it was a good idea. The hunting part proved to be pretty easy it was picking them out of the herd that got a little difficult especially when I had help.

  Now fast forward to just the other day and the Mom wants to go to the store and get milk. Well she asks Jack if he wants to go hunt milk with her, to which he says yes, and the following is a list of the hunting recommendations and advice that were provided by Jack on how to hunt said milk.  ( important note: there is a dairy on the University and Jack knows about it )

1. Get the milk to come to you:  Jack stands at the back door and attempts to call the cows to our house so we can milk them.  This option did not work and I think the neighbor might be a little concerned now.

2. Enlist help to get the milk.  Those of you who have followed this blog know this all started with the cat and guess who was drafted to assist in this effort.  This plan is a little complicated and I will endeavor to explain it since it is both brilliant and a little disturbing.  First build a catapult (no pun intended) then train the cat to milk a cow and carry the milk back to the house. Now load the cat on the catapult (ok I might have intended that one) and shoot the cat into the dairy to get the milk.  Unfortunately the time needed to train the very unwilling cat finally ruled out this plan.  I have a hard time not seeing a bad Disney cartoon when I think of this plan.

3.  With his other plans in ruins, Jack had to resort to the old fashion way of getting milk, going to the store.  What follows is the Mom's recounting of the conversation that took place during milk hunt.

     Evidently Jack felt that the Mom was not sufficiently knowledgeable on her milk facts to be an effective hunter, so he set out to fix that.  Jack explained where milk comes from and provided the Mom with a list of animals; cow, goat, etc, from whom you could milk.  That is until he came to the lowly Reindeer, (yes I said Reindeer) to which he explained don't provide milk they give eggnog!

I will forever see Santa milking his Reindeer every time I drink eggnog, if I ever do again.
Enjoy
The Dad