Check your local private practice optometrists. My husband is an optometrist and his optical rivals the Wal Mart and is able to offer a wider range of selection. You can find something you like and call around to compare. Different shops use different optical services and some (ours) even make their own to save money.

One of the most difficult parts of parenting an invisibly disabled child is deflecting the foolish advice, uninformed snarky comments, and cruel judgements. You can do it! Let it all bounce off as you do what you know is right for your child. I am an older mom now, with grown children, and I wish I had learned to let it roll off sooner. You know what is happening with your son. Smile, be gracious, move on. DOn't let the foolishness chip away at you.

not any more

Bang! The Bullet Card Games like hearts, spades, one my adult children call "poohead." Guesstures Boehnanza Scattergories **The New Yorker Game** --crowd pleaser Happy Gaming Playing!

:iagree: Using the wish list has settled this issue for us. Surprises in addition to the list are in the form of gift cards. My son is an adult now, and this is still the system except that he is now able to create a longer list and know that he will receive some of it---and that is enough surprise for us all! Merry Christmas! Enjoy your family. Love your ASD child!

I did not wear pants or purple and did not see any other sisters doing so in our ward yesterday. We had talks from two sister missionaries from our town's other ward and Spanish branch, and a missionary talk from our ward mission leader. It was a truly inspirational meeting. Although my politics differ from those of the majority of the members of my ward, and I am rather a different sort than most of the women, on no level, doctrinally, socially, or personally have I ever felt marginalized. I love my role in the gospel and fell blessed not to have suffered the experiences I have read here. I do recognize that the leadership skills of the Bishop and his counselors play a large part in the general culture of a ward in all aspects and wonder about the situation described above. Thank you all for starting and participating in this group.

Dearest Robin: I have been praying for you and James all morning. So glad he is found. I have an ASD son, now an adult, who has been lost twice, once for a terrifying day on his 9th birthday in Mesa Verde National Park. I know about the wandering off and the fear and the lack of comprehension of the effects on others. Wishing your family a day of closeness and understanding. Give your boy an extra hug from me. Love.

We have taken up sending a photo card. Upload a photo to the Walmart website and have your cards delivered to your home or to the local store. Easy. Cheap. Distant family gets to see you all. OR Just change the tradition...

Los Angeles LDS temple We were married here, too! Probably before you were born...

Mergath, perhaps you should call your mom and talk with her. You say you have a close relationship. Now is the time to build that relationship while dealing with your internal conflicts regarding your father.

As your children grow, they will have experiences with teachers and leaders and will find those same bonds. In our family of grown children, each has his list of wonderfully influential adults with whom they maintain contact. These include music teachers, community college instructors, symphony conductors, nature studies leaders, scout masters, art teachers, Latin teacher, church leaders, tae kwon do sensei, and more. One of the greatest benefits of long-term homeschooling I have seen is the influence of the fine adults we have met along the way, and the deep relationships we have been able to form with them. I cherish the memories of my most nurturing public school teachers, but I envy the deeper bonds my sons have with their most respected mentors.

Perhaps the more severe back pain is a separate issue. Have you had an MRI of the region of your spine which is affected? About 10 years ago my situation was much as you describe yours to be. The back pain turned out to result from disc problems, and was not part of the autoimmune picture.

:grouphug: I have walked in your shoes, and, like Rough Collie, have DH and 1 DS with ASD and 1DS with some neurological issues which include severe ADHD. It is hard to hear and even harder not to listen to outsiders' uninformed comments. I ached over our inability to participate in field trips and large group activities. When my children were young, I let it get to me. I doubted and felt I could do better even when I was using every resource and doing everything I could. This was foolishness! "Invisible" disabilities are the hardest to reconcile with the public, and at some point, reconciliation with the big world just isn't going to happen. Let the comments roll off. Love your family and do what you know is right. Protect your daughter form the nonsense.

I play in a recorder consort and as part of a baroque orchestra. In fact, last night we performed selections from the Messiah with the orchestra. It is clearly not for children only! The recorder is easy to play as a beginner and very difficult to play with advanced music. I encourage you to follow up with this.You will be pleasantly surprised. Look up American Recorder Society.

Another good one is Bohnanza (it's a card game) We love this one! Also Bang the Bullet if you like to add some hilarious playacting to your game night.

In our experience, each camp, festival, program had its own set of requirements. Usually, for an orchestra, it was solo without accompaniment. I would check each one knowing you might have to make two CDs.

The link below is to the "holiday traditional" section of Wooden Solider: http://woodensoldier.com/browse/products.aspx?cid=28&bid=5 lovely, traditional, holiday dresses.

THe only downside I have experienced is the inability to FAX a document with a wet signeture on it. Otherwise, moving to cell only has been cost cutting and convenient. I kept our long-time phone number for my mobile phone.

The Winnie the Pooh Game Hi-Ho Cherry-O

woodensoldier.com very fancy!

Dear Imp: My mom was in a wheelchair all of my life long before any accommodations for disabilities, so we did many things without her. She hustled us out the door cheerfully, or sometimes came along and waited in the car. We took pictures (that took time to have developed) and memorized everything and looked for handicapped accessible bits for future reference for the big retelling when we got back. She always made a big deal of greeting us with food and hearing all about our adventure and how much fun we had. It was a really BIG deal when she could come. We would be so excited we couldn't sleep the night before. She has been gone for many years now, and I still look for access just about everywhere I go. It's really okay to sent them without you. Set up a party-like scene for the return so everyone can tell you all about it. Assign Miss Diva to take pictures of everyone and everything. Have them journal or make a scrap book page to share with you. This situation really brings back some tender memories for me. My mom was a wonderful example of dealing with terrible situations, and I can see that you are that mom, too. I wish you all the best, and the miracle of pain relief.

Since your son owns so many Legos now, he might enjoy some of the many websites featuring original creations. My son really liked: http://www.classic-castle.com and submitted photos of his medieval village and castles. There are other sites with tons of ideas. He might like problem-solving challenges with the bricks he has; things like having a basket of papers with building challenges which he picks from and then has to build using a only certain pieces or a bag of pieces you have selected., or making the fastest car, strongest building, etc., making an all red, or black or yellow creation, etc. We got much mileage out of buying only a few specific pieces to add to the collection when a new project was conceived. Have fun!

Congratulations! Happy Anniversary!

Gunpowder, treason, and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot. Happy Guy Fawkes' Day. Enjoy a bonfire!

Life is not fair. Your children are richly blessed to have YOU. Keep fighting the good fight.