I would like to see these topics addr...
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I would like to see these topics addr...
| Tue, 05-01-2007 - 2:08pm |
I would like to see these topics addressed in Chat:
- Managing difficult behaviors
- Picky eaters
- By age group (pschoolers, tweens, etc)
- Sleep issues
- Multiple co-morbid DXed
- Quirky Moms
- Dealing with the NT world (for both kids and moms)
- School issues (we could see if Steph is interested in being a "guest host")
- Coming to terms with Diagnosis
- I don't want "topics". I'm happy with an unstructured free-for all
You will be able to change your vote.

Ack - we could only pick one?!?! I chose picky eater as I suppose that's our biggest issue right now with my 11yo. 7 1/2yo is a picky eater as well, but has a bigger variety than his 11yo brother.
Managine behavior issues is a very close second. Age group differentiations (if that's even a word) would be interesting too. I have different issues with my 7yo vs my 11yo just because of their ages. Puberty is one big one we'll be up against very shortly with my 11yo. ack!!!
Since I'm new though, I won't complain about whatever is done :)
I voted for the free-for-all, but I'd like to explain why. I have a few reasons.
First, I feel like the board is the best place to deal with specific issues. It provides a format where we can compose our responses and explain what we mean clearly and concicely. In chat the conversation can get confused and it goes by so quickly that slower readers may not be able to keep up. There's also the lingo thing. In chat we see a lot more inside jokes and references that others who are newer to the group may not get. We use those references because it's a faster way of saying something, and it's also a matter of personaility.
But mostly, I come to chat to get to know my 'sister' members. Sometimes it feels like I know some of your kids better than I do you. I'm here to support your kids, but I'm primarily here to support you. Mom first... or Dad (for you male lurkers). In chat personality shines through a lot more and it's a chance to get to know each other in a more realistic sense. I think trying to structure the topics and conversations would take away from that.
Lastly, and to my logical mind this ultimately seems most important... In chat we usually don't address issues at all, not in any serious way and that's a good way for us to blow off steam. We get to just be Renee, or Candes, or Paula, or whoever you happen to be, not the Autism Mom. We get to just be girls for an hour or so before heading back off to the regular inflexable routine. BUT, sometimes a member comes in and needs to talk about a very specific issue thier having right then, right there. Sometimes someone's having crisis, it doesn't matter what kind, and we need to be open and available to help them through it without making them feel like they interupted a constructive topic. I know when I'm having an emotional emergency I find it easier to interupt Paula and Dee's latest attempt to teach the girls Gaelic than I would a Q&A on IEPs or an exchange on behavioral management.
Anyhoo, those are my thoughts on it. I wouldn't mind seeing any or all of the stated issues started as official group topics under Question Of The Week, and then if someone feels the need to make a comment on them or ask a question about them while in chat that's fine. But I'd like to see chat stay unstructured officially, and open to whatever is happening that day.
And if I should be overruled and topics be instated, then I would officially like to submit my request to make Cabana Boys a topic we eventually get to.
~Candes
I pretty much agree with Candes - I was in chat last week and it was nice just sitting back and chatting.
Hmmmm.
It seems most people like the free-for-all.
Any other comments?
-Paula
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com