Tis the season
Like the song goes, "it is the most wonderful time of the year."
I used to relish the holidays. I got into the baking, and the shopping and the parties and the fun. I still do but it is a little different now.
Doing the holiday's Aspie-style is a litte different. We are very "traditional" only doing it our Aspie- way. The Aspie-way is not what many people do. We have the fun, but it is a little more controlled and organized.
There was a letter that was posted once. I used to send it out every year, until my son outgrew it. Now it seems like he has his own way of thinking the holidays should be celebrated.
For example, the year my Dad passed away was not a time for me to be thinking "Christmas". I didn't even want to bother with a tree or lights. Our son said, "What? What about the tradition of the Nativity being in the family room? We have to decorate it is the holidays." Kind of like being consistent with other venues in his life, being consistent with the holidays is a big deal. He has his tree, fully decorated in his room, the house, even the bathroom has fancy towels and the kitties wearing their Santa costumes on Christmat day. It is fun, and although kind of wearing....it is our little tradition. Getting the tree up with the base spinner and then deciding what ornaments to put on it.....it is our little tradition.
Thinking of that; I should get a pic of our cats with the costumes. It is a riot.
The same goes with him baking cookies for the neighbors, and taking them on nice plates. They keep the plates (no refills, sorry).wW get to spread a little holiday cheer and try to be nice at the same time. Keeping that in mind, we are also trying to keep our "secret charities" really secret. We were recently accused of being "graceless" and doing things for "public acclaim" because of that we decided as a family to go around and do nice things for people w/out telling them or anyone else. Not telling you anymore than that; if you want your Aspie to think outside the box it might help to engage them in a "secret helper" idea. It has encouraged our son to think about how to help in the community and what others may need to feel like they are appreciated.
I don;t know if this will encourage you to think about helping others, getting out of your box and tear off the wrapping. I hope it makes you smile a bit, come up with traditions that work for your family and realize one thing. Christmas in Aspie-land isn't all stress and struggle. There is a lot of fun to be had as long as you relax and have a good time with the planning too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMtuVP8Mj4o
I used to relish the holidays. I got into the baking, and the shopping and the parties and the fun. I still do but it is a little different now.
Doing the holiday's Aspie-style is a litte different. We are very "traditional" only doing it our Aspie- way. The Aspie-way is not what many people do. We have the fun, but it is a little more controlled and organized.
There was a letter that was posted once. I used to send it out every year, until my son outgrew it. Now it seems like he has his own way of thinking the holidays should be celebrated.
For example, the year my Dad passed away was not a time for me to be thinking "Christmas". I didn't even want to bother with a tree or lights. Our son said, "What? What about the tradition of the Nativity being in the family room? We have to decorate it is the holidays." Kind of like being consistent with other venues in his life, being consistent with the holidays is a big deal. He has his tree, fully decorated in his room, the house, even the bathroom has fancy towels and the kitties wearing their Santa costumes on Christmat day. It is fun, and although kind of wearing....it is our little tradition. Getting the tree up with the base spinner and then deciding what ornaments to put on it.....it is our little tradition.
Thinking of that; I should get a pic of our cats with the costumes. It is a riot.
The same goes with him baking cookies for the neighbors, and taking them on nice plates. They keep the plates (no refills, sorry).wW get to spread a little holiday cheer and try to be nice at the same time. Keeping that in mind, we are also trying to keep our "secret charities" really secret. We were recently accused of being "graceless" and doing things for "public acclaim" because of that we decided as a family to go around and do nice things for people w/out telling them or anyone else. Not telling you anymore than that; if you want your Aspie to think outside the box it might help to engage them in a "secret helper" idea. It has encouraged our son to think about how to help in the community and what others may need to feel like they are appreciated.
I don;t know if this will encourage you to think about helping others, getting out of your box and tear off the wrapping. I hope it makes you smile a bit, come up with traditions that work for your family and realize one thing. Christmas in Aspie-land isn't all stress and struggle. There is a lot of fun to be had as long as you relax and have a good time with the planning too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMtuVP8Mj4o
