Thought for the day - September 3, 2000

Subject: Thought for the day - September 3, 2000
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 01:28 AM

When I was a young mother I read an article about a woman who was blind. She told of how she cleaned her house through sense of touch. She cleaned sinks using her bare hands, feeling the cleanliness; mopped the floor with specially made pads to fit her feet, then walked on them barefooted to make sure they were clean.

I have always been fascinated by extraordinary use of the senses; always proud that when I get up at night, I never turn a light on, letting my sense of touch and almost a "whiskers-of-a-cat" like sense go before me.

When I read that article, I decided to try it myself; the old walk a mile in someone else's shoes, etc. That was almost thirty years ago and I still find myself cleaning my sinks with my hands bare, eyes closed. There is the scent of the cleanser, the feel of the grit of it cleaning out the soap scum; then the wonderful, clear water washing it away through my fingers; my feeling the smooth surface, knowing it will sparkle at me when I open my eyes. One of those small things which gives a sense of order to my life.

Please know that I mean no disrespect to any who may be differently abled.

kat

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - September 3, 2000
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 02:37 AM

I like the idea
Unfortunately I often have to 'rescue' very large spiders from my sink that have dropped in and cannot climb out. I am not too frightened by spiders yet I still coax them into a glass to retrieve them from the sink. So the thought of cleaning the sink 'blind' and maybe touching one of those large hairy spider legs sends shivers.........
Even worse how about doing a great cleaning job and then opening your eyes to find a wonderfully clean sink........with a couple of small black..what are they..look closer....disembodied spider legs......To find you have enthusiasticaly cleaned a spider to death!
Just a thought
Roger

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - September 3, 2000
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 03:18 AM

it really is early in the morning. I am sure I double posted - then apologised for it - now it has all been cleaned up nicely - was that you Kat or Mudcat Elves?
Thanks Anyway

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - September 3, 2000
From: CarolC
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 06:22 AM

kat/katlaughing,

I am "differently abled" in some ways, and your desire to experience a little bit of life from the perspective of someone who's perceptions are different from yours is very refreshing to me. (My differences have more to do with the way my brain processes things than with vision.)

In my opinion, when people do things like that, they develop greater understanding of people's differences, and I think, greater compassion and empathy.

I have had to develop abilities and ways of percieving that I otherwise might not have had I been what is generally considered to be "normal", and I cherish these abilities. It sounds like you have done some of this on your own initiative rather than doing it because you had no other choice.

Good for you.

Best wishes,

Carol

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - September 3, 2000
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 10:57 AM

Roger, it wasn't me who cleaned anything up, I am not one of those who has the ability to do so, but thatnks for thinking I might. Also, thanks on behalf of all spiders! I, too, scoop them up to take them outside; but for some reason they are hardly ever in my sinks, so never had to worry about that! What an image you bring to mind!*g*

Carol, thank you for your understanding and validation. I really appreciate it; I had hoped it didn't come off as some arrogant know-it-all trying to be cute. I am not even sure what prompted me to write it last night, except that I was thinking of upcoming Labor(US) Day, on Monday, which led me to think about different kinds of labour and I guess that is what my mind was on. Anyhow, thanks very much.

kat

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - September 3, 2000
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 11:03 AM

Kat, I don't think nyone can find it too offensive. Nothing wrong with trying to have a little understanding. I only wish that I could experience a little of the life that my son Tristan lives. MRDD is so tough to understand because we don't know what's going on inside and they can't always communicate what its like so its difficult to even simulate. We just go for the smiles in most cases and if Tris is happy, then Mom and Dad are happy too.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - September 3, 2000
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 11:07 AM

Thanks, Spaw, with the smiles I've seen of Tris', I can understand going for them! They'd make me happy, too!

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - September 3, 2000
From: Peter T.
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 01:40 PM

nice thought, kat - you are sure giving some of us stuck to our lasts this last summer weekend (grumble) some fine things. As I said in one of my thoughts, I listen to the rain totally differently since I read about how it can clothe the world for the blind. I often wonder what kind of musical world the blind blues singers like Blind Wille Johnson, Rev. Gary Davis, etc., inhabited.
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - September 3, 2000
From: Quincy
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 03:03 PM

Kat,
Anything that helps us appreciate life can only be a good thing.
Realising and being thankful for what we have got, rather than what we haven't got is a gift and can be greatly under-estimated so your actions Kat, will help to re-inforce the understanding that you've obviously already gained and are benefiting from!
Keep caring!

best wishes, Yvonne

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - September 3, 2000
From: Mrrzy
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 03:21 PM

In an advanced Sign Language course in college, we had to spend a day without sound (through the use of white-noise headphones, which washed out all other sounds). It was HARD. I'd never thought of certain ways in which I use my hearing without even realizing it. The obvious ones of doorbell/phone or baby/kettle I'd thought of, but I dropped my keys and never thought about the fact that usually I can hear them fall. Luckily someone ran after me with them (who knows how long they did, I didn't hear them yelling at me). I hadn't realized that while biking I rely on my hearing to tell me of traffic movements. In fact, I had a hard time keeping my balance, no idea why.

(Possible thread creep) I really like all the work being done with nonhuman animals - hearing ear dogs will bring you your keys; monkeys are being trained to do almost anything for paraplegics, and so on. No, I don't think of this as "anima exploitation" - ever seen how HAPPY a dog is that has just brought its owner their keys?

And Spaw, I have no clue how my younger son's mind works, and am looking forward to his being old enough to perhaps explain it. I do know that he is becoming more and more aware of his difference from his twin (who has no deficits and in fact, may have all of the other's missing coordination and processing abilities)... but they've started Kindergarten now, and are in different classes, so that ought to help. At least I hope so...

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - September 3, 2000
From: Biskit
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 03:35 PM

I think that was a wonderful thought for the day Kat.Thank you. -Biskit-

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - September 3, 2000
From: CarolC
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 06:30 PM

Spaw,

I don't know what MRDD is, but if it has anything to do with autism, you might want to read (if you haven't already), a book by a woman named Temple Grandin. She is a woman with autism who has a Phd, and she explains in very easy to understand language what her world is like. I can't remember the name of her book, but if you look for it under "Author", you'll find it eventually.

Best wishes,

Carol

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - September 3, 2000
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 06:35 PM

Thanks Carol......Got it/read it/enjoyed it........Autism comes in all types. Tris is (in today's latest lingo), mentally retarded with multiple autistic tendencies. They are now realizing an entire syndome here that before was limited to a small category, but the brain effects are significantly more than what was previously believed.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - September 3, 2000
From: Quincy
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 07:04 PM

Spaw
Haven't heard about this categorisation before....can you suggest where I can get further info please?

I work quite a bit with children with autism and carried out some research for my Psychology dissertation......
thanks,

best wishes, Yvonne

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - September 3, 2000
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 07:54 PM

Sure thing Quincy.....We have a small community here at the 'Cat with kids of very similar problems BTW.

I'll round up a few things and post to you. Basically they are saying that autism is now being seen as a grouping of "behaviors/symptoms" and an individual may display any number in varying degrees. I have no idea how that changes anything except semantics and possibly some ease in clarifying behaviors. The contention though by some is that it also makes the methods of dealing with learning somehow easier to categorize.

On a real personal level, I could care less what anyone calls the problems that Tris has. He's doing quite well and continues to learn and progress. He's the light of our lives and I grew weary of the assorted psychobabble artists that we used to see. Things began to improve for Tris when we decided that the only thing that mattered was his happiness and a lack of any pressure to "perform." In that vein, we didn't pursue some of the earlier speech and motor things because he wasn't ready. Now we do things in his own time and its amazing how giant the leaps have been when Tris decides Tris is ready.

BTW, we also have a few other pros like yourself around here and I hope we can pick your brain along with theirs!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - September 3, 2000
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 12:50 AM

Thanks everyone. It's neat to see so many of you connect, too.

kat

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - September 3, 2000
From: KT
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 02:53 AM

Spaw, you said, "its amazing how giant the leaps have been when Tris decides Tris is ready." I think you are very wise. Kids are great teachers, aren't they? Especially when we are ready to be taught by them....

Nice thoughts, kat. I do believe I'll think of you every time I wash the sinks. With fondness and gratitude....KT