Communication Shutdown is happening on November 1, 2010 and this aims to raise awareness  about Autism in several countries all over the world.

Communication Shutdow also aims to have funds to help more than forty Autism Awareness groups in raising awareness about Autism. Here in the Philippines, the Autism Society of the Philippines is the beneficiary.

What is the essence of Communication Shutdown?

With around 4.5 billion social media users doing online things like chatting, updating  status using 140 characters or more, blogging, playing online games with real and virtual friends, commenting on websites, and making thoughts and ideas  known in the virtual world, communication has been easier, faster and more exciting than ever.

But have we ever paused to wander how people who have difficulties communicating with others feel like?

Have we ever wondered how the simple expression of needs are difficult to expressed?

Have we ever encountered people, children and adults diagnosed with autism, and wondered how they, with their limited social interaction skills  and  difficulties in communicating with others cope in the day to day demands of school work, home life and work situations?

On November 1, 2010, more than 40 autism charities and people  worldwide encourage everyone to experience the world in a different way—through the eyes and ears of people with autism.

How to join Communication Shutdown:

Communication Shutdown which aims to raise awareness and funds for autism charities in over 40 countries challenges everyone to shutdown their social media and communication networks starting November 1 12mn till 11:59pm.

Before you do Communication Shutdown, “LIKE” their Facebook page here.

We used to live without Twitter and Facebook so I guess one day of not logging in won’t make any difference.

“Most people can’t imagine what life would be without my Facebook or Twitter account!” says Ms. Cristina Estampador, Project Manager of Autism Society of the Philippines. “But then, that’s how life is for those with autism. They aren’t connected to the world—and theirs can be a very small world indeed—the way we take for granted. Disconnecting from my Facebook or Twitter accounts just for one day is a small sacrifice I can make, just to be able to help and support the campaign.”

More on Communication Shutdown: continue reading this entry »

“To be a star, you must shine your own light, follow your own path, and don’t worry about the darkness, for that is when the stars shine brightest”

photohunt

The kids are still school-bound, even if a lot are staying home and enjoying their semestral break. Some will have the week off next week.

What say the school? No sem break, no classes only on November 1 and 2. Much as I want to admire the school’s dedication to keeping them in school, I must say the children need rest.

The fact that my son had his first absence in school due to asthma means his body is reaching a point where he needs to rest.

I need to rest too. Waking up at 4-4:15am during school days (since June!) is no mean feat especially I choose to not go to back to sleep because I have to do real work (I’m a teacher!) and online work.

I would want to think I should be shedding those unwanted pounds by now, just thinking about how busy I am, without mulling on taking diet pills.

But no, because I am busy, I tend to take a bite here and there which causes the weight gain. Lack of sleep causes weight gain, this article says so.

No excuse for lack of sleep really, but waiting for the man of the house to arrive around 9 – 10pm and still be awake for his late dinner then waking up at 4am to cook packed lunch, i think this supermom needs to rest too.

Asthma season is here and my son has been sick since yesterday. He in fact didn’t go to school today when they should be having their semestral break by now because he was wheezing and a few steps he makes are enough to make him stop to catch his breath.

He hasn’t had any severe asthma attack like this in months. The cool-hot-cool weather is the culprit, plus exhaustion from school work and stresses that build up little by little.

He lost weight in just two days of being sick.

Yeah, when it should have been me losing weight because no matter how much I read about nutrisystem reviews, I am still can’t lose the excess weight.

Sometimes I’d feel frustrated when he doesn’t want to eat. I can’t force him to especially since he has a hard time breathing. Sigh.

Do you help your children with their homework?

My answer to to my question would be: it depends. IF it is my eldest daughter and she is asking me about scientific terms, terms like homeostasis, conjugated linoleic acid cla, allele, etc. or historical facts and figures which can all be a Google away, that would be fine. For help in her school projects, then yes, I will.

But if she asks me about the higher mathematical computation and formula then, no, I would have to beg off for I might even jeopardize her learning

For the two younger children, since they do their homework in school while waiting for the school service to arrive (which means waiting for one and a half hour before they start their way home, grrr…), I check their homework when they arrive. If they have quizzes, then I make reviewers for them to answer. If they are too sleepy, they will do these in  the morning when they arrive in school because they are arrive too early before the classrooms even open.

Helping your child with his/her homework is a two-way relationship. Not only does the child understand concepts he/she had difficulty understanding in class (providing the parents explained further), the parent also understands how his/her child learn. I know this for a fact because we homeschooled for three years

Homework help also serves as a bonding time for the parent(s) and child(ren) since they get to interact.

Guess who is this guy with a bushy mustache?

You can find him over here.