I am sure you have heard the question, "What do you get the person who has everything?". Well, around here is it usually, "What do you get someone who has autism?". From what I have read and heard you have probably thought the same thing. We started thinking about what to get Sir Dantes months ago. By the time to start shopping rolled around we had only two answers: something with wheels and something for his Nintendo game.

So, we got him a big yellow Tonka dump truck and John Deer tractor with a tailor on the the back. Then another truck was bought for his stocking. Surly there was something else besides trucks and Donkey Kong. Like most fine Americans I had to make the last minute run to the Wal Mart. But, it was at Wal Mart that I found the hopefully perfect gift: a Play School Doodle Sketch Pad.

Follow up:

Sir Dantes will be five in a couple of months and has yet not shown much of an interest in putting crayon or pencil to paper. He's done a couple of scripply things on the wall of his bedroom with a crayon, but when we try to get to him to color on a piece of paper or a coloring book we've had no luck. As you know, communication with a child on the scale is a challenge. Some of our children will never find a way to appropriately communicate. So far we have had limited success. He knows sign language, but will hardly every use it. He has an Ipod, but will hardly ever use it. And, we can't get him to want to write.

Well, the answer may have been found (typing with my fingers crossed). He loves this Doodle Pad. He immediately took it and drew a smiley face. I posted a picture of it on the Autism Epicenter facebook page. How sweet. He must be happy! I know I am happy. We hope it is the start of a long, long life of communication. Such a simple gift; they have been around for years. You know, you take the the "pen" attached to draw a picture and then pull/ push the little lever across the bottom to erase your picture. Then you can draw a new one.

Now, not to insult anyone's personal wealth at all, this gift was only about $15.00. More expensive than sign language but not as expensive as an IPod and all the applications needed. When we purchased Sir Dantes the IPod last year it really put a strain on our budget for a few months. We recovered from the purchase and felt that we did the right thing because we were investing in our son's future. However, he doesn't like to use it. After all the time and effort...he doesn't want to do anything but play the games. I know, I know...you have heard a lot of this before. I just want Sir Dantes to speak so bad!!!

I want to hear him say, "I love you mommy". I want him to come ask me for a cup of milk or juice or help tying his shoe. Anything would be better than nothing. Don't cha' think? So, even if he is never going to talk I'll take writing it down. I don't care if it takes 20 minutes to have a small conversation about tying his shoes. Sigh! So enter the Doodle Pad. Perhaps, just perhaps, the start. I may getting to excited that he drew a smiley face and projecting all my hopes into this toy. Maybe...

So, anyway Sir Dantes also got a lot of trucks and cars. Donkey Kong. Clothes. Candy. He had a good day. We all had a good day. I hope your Merry Christmas was merry. I hope all of your dreams for your child come true. We are about to start a new year, and with the new year, we will have more hopes of Sir Dantes' successes. I just have to do my best to keep my hopes in perspective and remember that autism is a delay. I find that the higher I set his goals and my expectations, the more I set myself up for disappointment. This coming year I am going to try to stay more grounded and concentrate on setting smaller, more attainable goals.

So, my wish for all of you this coming new year...peace and success. Take care and Happy Holidays.