Tribute to the Human Brain!

Imagine the brain,
that shiny mound of being,
that mouse-gray parliament of cells,
that dream factory,
that petit tyrant inside a ball of bone,
that huddle of neurons calling all the plays,
that little everywhere,
that fickle pleasuredome,
that wrinkled wardrobe of selves stuffed into the skull like too many clothes into a gym bag.

~ Diane Ackerman, An Alchemy of Mind (2004)

Daddy's Girl

When Pamela was a baby, Steve bought a 1972 Triumph Spitfire and tried to restore it. We ended up selling it to my sister Pam and her husband Randy. Randy restored it, and we just bought it back from him. If you are short on time, watch the last minute: Steve hands Pamela the crackberry, and she pretends to make a phone call, while sitting in what we lovingly call the Papa Smurf Mobile.


Some people might find it odd for the parents of a twenty-year-old to be thrilled about a pretend phone call. This quote from Birth to Three Matters works for me, "We need to begin where the learner is in giving every child [or person] their right to play." Her faux phone call confirms that is a Stage 3 toddler thinker when it comes to play:

If he picks up a toy phone to make a phone call, you can pick up a toy phone or other object and do the same things. Or when your toddler picks up the toy phone, you can ask who he plans to call. As your toddler responds to your imitation and questions, continue following his lead.

If you would like to know another parent's perspective on RDI, click this clip to an online radio show.

Here are the two of them picking out dogfood for the gf/cf wonder dog:

Aut-Isms

I am sure many parents of autism spectrum children enjoy the unusual ways our children express themselves. I thought it might be fun to share some of Pamela's aut-isms and feel free to include the favorites of your child in the coments.

• moccashoe for moccasin
• towel robe for bathrobe
• white cream for mayonnaise
• binoculators which rhymes with elevator and escalator

Her newest word is thriller hole, the hole in the porch created by a knothole that fell out. She called it that because she finds it scary wondering what is in it.


And what lurks beneath our thriller hole? Take a peek . .

The Great Pamdini!

We had a lovely moment of experience sharing today. David and I were at the kitchen table, slaving away at school work. Pamela was sitting on the floor near a vent through which some deliciously warm air was blowing. She announced excitedly, "Magic! I'm doing a magic trick."

Our heads were so deeply buried in the books, we gave her one of those lackluster "uh-huh" responses. But, that was not good enough to please the great Pamdini, she repeated more loudly, "Look!!! It's magic." After I saw her clever trick, I grabbed the camera to film it for posterity. What I loved most about this interaction was that Pamela wanted to share her discovery of magic with us. She was not satisfied until we shared the experience with her.

Wordless Wednesday: Nine-Inch Nails

The Neighborhood Shoe Thief

This morning I was working in the kitchen when Pamela burst into the house from the back porch.

She said, "Somebody stole it. Wicked thief!"

I asked, "What did they steal?"

Pamela said, "The shoe! I searched everywhere."



I walked to the porch with her and, sure enough, her shoe was missing. Only one shoe of the myriad of shoes sitting on our porch had disappeared! Of course, it was Pamela's favorite well-worn shoe.

I turned to her and said, "A human would steal two shoes."

Pamela did not follow my thought process, so I added, "I think it was an animal."

She still did not understand, so I said, "I think it was a dog."

I went back in the kitchen, and Pamela burst back into the house. "I found it!"

I joined her on the porch, and she pointed to a spot behind the car. We walked together to retrieve the missing shoe and were relieved to see no teeth marks.



The funniest thing happened on our walk to the playground where she pretends to be a superhero on the climbing equipment. Around the corner from our house, we both spotted someone else's lone shoe. I gasped and pointed and said, "A shoe!"

Pamela laughed and said, "Comedy!" Then she pointed to her shoe and said, "Just like this one!"

Then, I added, "The shoe thief is a dog!"

It was one of those sweet moments I will always cherish! Why? Because she has come a long way from screaming meltdowns when things went wrong.

P.S. Now, if only I could solve the mystery of the pumpkin pie thief. Pamela and I baked one yesterday; I left the house for a few hours and someone inhaled it. Steve was out of town for the night. I do not think I can pin it on the dogs because they are unable to jump on the stove. Somehow, I have a feeling the thief (or thieves) walk upright . . .

The Girl Who Cried Wolf

Pamela does not cry wolf in the true sense of the phrase (to get attention). She likes to pretend play about certain injuries. Sometimes, she wraps her foot in tape and tells me she broke her leg, or she puts a bandage on her boo-boo for me to kiss when there is no cut. So, today, when she wrapped up her hand while I was in the shower, I assumed it was pretend. She told me a bee stung her and I kissed it to help her feel better. Only when the wraps came off, her finger was swollen! I pressed for solid details, and she told me she had gotten stung while walking to the mailbox. I asked her if she cried and she answered in the affirmative. I did not hear her for I was in the shower. She was very patient and brave and tolerated the ice packs I gave her quite nicely. Notice that her wound did not prevent her from using the remote control!

My Opi - A Future Day Right Now!

Opi comes from the Greek word opiso and it refers to the future you... Hmmm... How do I envision the future me? To answer is rather enjoyable because I can choose to be imaginative... So here goes for my response to the OPI meme which is to be written in present tense as if the future's taking place in this moment...

Today, I'm checking in to discuss new ideas with scholars currently retreating at the MITA International Brain Based Center, now headquartered in a three story building adjacent to the Lodge at Woodcliffe. Dr. Ellen Weber and I are working with 35 international brain based scholars, currently completing Executive MITA Brain Based Certification.

We're right on our toes daily with stimulating sessions that go deep, with phenomenal leaders from many fields who are developing new solutions for change in many different work and learning environments. Currently we're working on book chapters for one very significant book to be published in this century. These leaders provide tactics for all people to achieve genius status and use their talents to the optimum as they draw from more of their brain. What a thrill to be part of this exciting work. Since many important innuendos are missed in books, we're also creating videos with examples of their many experiences of change in the making.

Tomorrow, when we wrap up the session with our scholars we'll be hosting invited guests from around to world to see what they've developed. The interactive session allows guests and media to ask questions and to gather even more ideas from other major players.

After we wrap up and send in the films and manuscripts to our publisher, we're heading to Kenya, Africa, where we'll be contributing major funds to bring new initiatives to higher education connected to Dr. Bill and Joanne Cala's Joining Hearts and Hands. Kenyan academic leaders requested our help to advance education throughout their leading universities. We're looking forward to working with faculty from a variety of fields to develop brain based curriculum and assessments.

Though I'm now advanced in years, my life is very fulfilling and happy because I give to others daily. I'm learning to give in the moment... and my mind is sharper than ever! No matter how long my life is, by living every day as if it were my last, and giving of myself to others, each day's better than the last.

Thanks, Rick Cockrum of Shards of Consciousness for your OPI meme tag. In the spirit of giving, I'm tagging:

Rita Perea of Rita Perea Consulting,

Cam Beck at Chaos Scenario

Dave Olson at live the GREAT life you desire!

Kare Anderson at Moving from Me to We

Karen H. at The KISS Business

Scott McArthur at McArthur's Rant

Peter at I Will Change Your Life

I challenge you to be imaginative with April Grove's OPI meme as I was! It'll kickstart your thinking as to where you'd like to see yourself in future and what kind of legacy you want to leave.

Photo Credit Flickr: Give Hope. Give a Hand

Pixie Dust

Pamela was sick with a cold Friday and was kind enough to pass hers onto me, which is my excuse for not blogging much this week!

She felt much better on Sunday, so we kept our promise of going shopping to a large city about an hour and a half from home (we live in the boonies). We picked up two pairs of shoes for her and browsed the DVD and toys section at Target. We ate a nice dinner and headed home. She was in rare form with her humor and verbal skills!

Pamela: "Where are we going?"
Us: "We're going home."
Pamela: "I want to go home."
Us: "Yes, Boss!"
Pamela: "I'm not a boss! I'm a worker!"
Us: "If you were a bee, would you be a queen bee or a worker bee?"
Pamela: "I'm a worker bee."


We made a quick stop at the Starbucks closest to home (an hour drive), and Pamela and I sat in the car waiting for Steve to pick up some liquid gold. I complained to Pamela about catching her cold, and suddenly I heard a noise like the sound effect for magic in cartoons. When I turned to locate the source, I saw Pamela flicking her finger at me. She announced, "I have a magic finger. Fix the cold." I smiled because she was so sweet and insistent that she had found the cure for the common cold.

I seized the opportunity to introduce a new activity I had planned to use for RDI. I asked her, "Pamela, how would you like to make a fairy wand tomorrow?" She flashed a brilliant smile and looked as if I had offered her a trip to the moon. She exhaled an excited "Yes!" I am sure the wheels in her head were spinning, trying to figure out how I was going to accomplish that trick.

On Monday, I printed out the pdf files for the fairy wand. Pamela's cutting skills need work, and The Toymaker will provide many opportunities to practice cutting in a fun, imaginative way. I bought a new pair of scissors that works for both lefties and righties. Pamela did fairly well. She handed the paper to me in spots she found too difficult (like the inner corners). She had very little patience for the tips and cut them to be blunt (not pointed). I did a little bit of touch up cutting.

I guided Pamela in the folding and had to correct many of her folds when she was not looking. We rolled up the handle around a pencil as a team. I held the roll while she taped. Then came the dreaded gluing. Like my friend Jennifer, I am a handicraft reject. Anything having to do with glue makes me cry. I do not mind the feel of it, but nothing ever turns out right. As usual, it was a huge mess. Undaunted, I grabbed some clear tape and patched up my botched-up job.

Pamela loved it, except for one minor detail. She told me, "Something is missing!" When I asked what, she replied, "Sprinkles." We searched for some glitter glue and she decorated her fairy wand. The final product turned out beautiful, even with the tape.

On Tuesday, when the wand was dry and I had a horrid sinus headache and nausea caused by congestion, I asked Pamela to help me feel better. She grabbed her wand and made her magic sound effect. Physically, nothing changed, but she made me smile.

Today, I spotlighted it further. When my dad visited, she greeted him. Then, I said, "I wonder what you could do if Opa feels bad." At first, she tried the magic finger. Then, I said, "But, what about your fairy wand?" She ran off to find it and cured her Opa properly. He thought she was precious.

In case, you no longer believe in fairies, keep in mind what C.S. Lewis wrote: "Some say you will be old enough to start reading fairy stories again."

Thanks to AmblesideOnline, I reached that age earlier than most adults! If you think you are ready, here are some books for the fairy-minded.

Blue Fairy Book
Red Fairy Book
Yellow Fairy Book
Green Fairy Book
English Fairy Tales
Pinocchio
Peter Pan
Mary Poppins
Five Children and It
Chronicles of Narnia
Little White Horse
At the Back of the North Wind
Princess and the Goblin
Princess and Curdie
The Light Princess
Secret Garden
Little Princess
Puck of Pook's Hill
Midsummer Night's Dream

Tap Into Your Naturalistic Intelligence

Have you ever been stuck for new ideas as you sit at your desk? The familiarity of your office or cubicle might stifle creative thinking. How so? The basal ganglia, the part of the brain that stores routines and patterns based on daily activities, is not the only well-spring of creativity.

Even though your imagination can take flight as you sit at that desk, unfortunately familiarity can slow you down. What can you do then when you're at your desk and no new ideas come your way? Here's a suggestion - tap into your naturalistic intelligence...

Get outside... even during your lunch hour. The natural world can help spark new insights. Here're a few ways it can benefit you...

1. Fresh air... provides more oxygen to the brain so it functions well. The brain uses 21% of the body's oxygen.

2. Animals, birds, plants and scenery may stir new ideas about projects. The natural world can stimulate you to think differently. These might take the form of metaphors to represent ideas in a new way.

3. Working memory kicks in to "play with" new thoughts and ideas that take life in your mind. The working memory is that part of the brain that works hard to solve challenges and puzzles.

4. The mind relaxes in an environment with less stress. Stress actually shuts down the brain's capacity to reason and problem-solve. Just going outside can bring a shot of Serotonin, a chemical which brings calm and well being to the brain.

5. Movement... stimulates blood flow to the brain, which enhances the oxygen supply.

Next time you feel stale, bored or stuck for ideas while you're sitting at your desk, I suggest you move outside...Maybe your lunch hour is just the time for this. Ready to give it a whirl? Please come back and share what it does for you...