The File Cabinet

A Verbal Stim, or Breaking into the Conversation?

"Mommy, where are we going?"

Did you hear that?? He asked a question, as I was getting his shoes and socks on, as I was preparing him to leave the house.

"We have to take your brothers to wrestling practice."

"Can we go too?"

Did you hear that?? A two part exchange? Real conversation??? One that is relative to what we are doing, what we are talking about. One that is not scripted, pulled from the files of shows and movies memorized. A conversation.

This child, I was told, would be able to speak...one day. To what extent, was in question. Just last year, it was suggested that he would not succeed in an inclusion environment, that he would be provided 1:1 instruction in a self - contained classroom. I fought. I fought hard.

Having a child model behaviors of his peers is what our children need for success. The lessons learned from "typical" classmates can be greater than lessons learned through instruction. Our children need to play, with one another. They need to foster their imagination.

Stop the scripting, I was told. It is a verbal stim, I was told. It will suck him into a world that can become dark, lonely, detrimental. I disagree. His scripting has led to conversation. When he doesn't have the words on his own, he has words, in his file cabinet that he can pull from, and keep him engaged in the conversation.

I know there are many views on stimming, scripting, and other behaviors associated with Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder. I have sought advice and guidance from OT's, SLP's and educators. With their view point in mind, I have formulated the opinion that while his "verbal stim" can suck him into a world all his own, it also allows him to continue verbalizing. To continue practicing social skills and imaginative play, in circumstances that would otherwise leave him feeling left out of the conversation, fostering our belief that it is just a stim, and not his way of breaking into a conversation, in a time where words may otherwise fail him.

Allowing a child to go into a corner and spin the wheels of his Tonka, without engaging in the play, could lead to a dark and lonely world, I acknowledge that. Allowing the child to spin the wheels, and engaging with the child, creating conversation, asking "why", "how", facilitating conversation, may bring us into that world, and show that we respect the behavior, but also want to understand it, want to be a part of it. Taking these moments to build the relationship, and taking the time to ask questions to our child, shows that we respect their behavior, and respect them enough to question it, engage in it, and want to be a part of it.

There are many times, just like our conversation above, where I get C ready for the day, to go out, and while I warn him that we will be leaving, I fail to give him full details. With 3 kids, life is busy. Sometimes, it doesn't seem that there is enough time to fully explain where we are going, and why. With "Neuro-Typical" kids, this works. "We need to leave, now, and I will explain it in the car". Children with ASD, SPD, or other diagnoses, they need, and deserve more. My conversation above not only validates the need to constantly converse with our children, but that, despite their seemingly disinterest in our conversation, they are hearing what we are saying.

C constantly amazes me. Our initial diagnosis was hard. While he showed signs of one day being able to have conversational skills, no one could predict what those skills would evolve into. While we are still working on expressing needs and wants, slowly and surely we are making progress. Little reminders, like this, encourage us, as parents to continue pursuing more. To engage, to keep talking, even when it looks like he has lost interest. The words we say today, may be pulled from his "file cabinet" tomorrow, and help him express his needs in a way we never thought he could.

A Gluten Free Approach to Enchiladas

Gluten Free Enchiladas

My husband is a hunter. I am personally not a huge fan of venison, but it is hard to use that as an excuse, when he is dragging a 130-150 lb animal home, full of manly pride because he is able to provide meat for his family. 

I have been playing with recipes that cover the game(y) taste, enough for me to actually enjoy the meal. 
These enchiladas are almost creamy on the inside. The meat melts in your mouth, and I promise there is no residual game flavor left behind. Now, if your husband is not a hunter, ground beef or chicken would be awesome as well. 
With flavors that are authentic, and just enough kick to leave a small fire on your tongue, I truly think you will use this recipe again and again. The meat alone could be used for tacos and the best part... By using gluten free corn tortillas, this recipe is GLUTEN FREE, and using the full recipe will give you leftovers to freeze and have again for an easy dinner.
The Enchilada Sauce is really what made the taste so good, so here it goes. 

 

Ingredients:

3 lbs of ground meat (we used venison, but you could do chicken or beef)
1 tsp ancho chili powder (more will make the sauce spicier, and you could add a dash of Cayenne for even more heat)
1 12 oz can tomato paste
1/4 cup of oil (I used Canola because it was what I had on hand, but Corn is supposed to taste more authentic)
3 cloves of garlic minced
3 tsp salt
1/2 sweet onion (or 4-5 shallots, minced)
2 tsp dried oregeno
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tbs chili powder
pinch of pepper
1 full container of beef broth (reserve 1/2 for meat)
Flour or corn tortillas
2 cups Mexican Style shredded cheese (more or less depending on your taste)
Serve with sour cream and chopped green onions

Meat Mixture:

Start browning the meat in a Large Pot.
Saute onion and garlic in a separate Large Pot for about 5 mins, or until the onion is clear.
Meanwhile, combine the tomato paste, oil, 1/2 beef stock, and spices in a large mixing bowl, blending well and ensuring the oil is completely combined. Pour tomato mixture over the sauteed garlic and onion and simmer until thoroughly warmed.
After meat is browned, remove the grease, and pour the remaining beef stock over the meat. Simmer meat and stock for about 10 minutes.
Combine the tomato sauce with the meat and stock, leaving about 1 cup of the tomato sauce (now the enchilada sauce) in the bottom of the pot, reserved for dipping the tortillas. Allow to simmer for 30 mins (or longer).
Remove the meat mixture from the heat and allow to cool slightly.

Preparing the Enchiladas:

Prepare 2 baking dishes (I used 9in. rectangular glass cake pans) with cooking spray or butter.
Preheat the oven to 400 F.
I used the burrito size flour tortillas and the 3 pounds of meat filled 10 tortillas.
Place a single tortilla in the reserved tomato sauce, just enough to coat and soften it. Place the tortilla on a flat surface and place a single line of cheese down the center. Top the cheese with a serving of the meat mixture (I was generous with the serving size because I used the larger tortillas), and then fold the top and bottom over the meat mixture and roll, to create the enchilada. Place seam side down in the prepared baking dish and repeat this process, using all of the tortillas, and meat mixture.
Once the enchiladas are all in the baking dish, cover them with the remaining (reserved) enchilada (tomato) sauce. Top with cheese and bake in the preheated oven until the cheese on top is thoroughly melted. Serve with sour cream and chopped green onions, and enjoy!