Christmas Joys

Christmas, Autism and Why I Believe In Miracles by Jean Shaw

Normally I hate this time of year. The Christmas mail generally brings with it cards from old friends and acquaintances. Whilst I love to hear from them I often feel envious and cheated for they make me think if what might have been if only my son hadn’t developed autism.

I know it’s wrong but I’m only human.

However, this year I seem to have got things into perspective. Instead of yearning for what I may have missed, I appreciate what I have.

The Season of Good Will didn’t start too well. I took my son on a train journey. He loved it. The train was full of Christmas shoppers and commuters so we were unable to sit together. However, I managed to get a seat directly behind him and watched as he sat staring out of the window, a finger in one ear, reciting story lines memorised from his vast array of videos.

The lady next to him, engrossed in her paperback novel appeared not to notice, but a young child, three years old apparently, did. With the innocence of youth she asked her mother and grandmother:

“Why was he was talking to himself?”
“Why did he have his finger in his ear?”
“Why did he look out of the window all the time?”

In the quietness of the crowded carriage her persistent little voice carried and her carers were visibly embarrassed. They tried, as best they could to divert her questions but were fighting a losing battle. I noticed soon many people were glancing at my son and contemplating his somewhat unusual behaviour.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at the little girl for it brought back memories of happier times. I remembered how my son used to be such a chatterbox; friendly, sociable and inquisitive. Then came autism and his world and that of all around him changed forever.

Life’s unfair.

One of the things I find really hard is my son’s inability to share his thoughts and feeling with me. I never really know what he has done when he’s not with me, who or what he likes and dislikes and what he really wants. Usually I have to guess and birthdays and Christmas times are very difficult.

On the positive side it means he doesn’t continually pester me with demands for “I want” this and “I want” that but it would be nice to know I occasionally got things right for him.

This year, I think I have and it’s all because of a typing error.

My son loves videos and he has literally hundreds. Now I know the specialists will say that’s a bad thing because it fuels his desire to be repetitive in as much as he can watch the same films over and over again. He doesn’t though. It’s true he does watch them more than once but rotates them, and as he has so many that’s no different from watching tv every night. The thing is he learns from them and they are not violent.

However, in the sleeve of every video there are usually pictures of other videos in the same series, or by the same producers, and the reason my son has so many is that he feels he has to have them all. To him they are collector’s items.

The problem is most of them are very old, many going back to the seventies so finding them is difficult. I use car boot sales, charity shops, word of mouth and on-line market stores, and for the past six months have been searching for two specific titles.

I knew my son wanted them because he has shown me the pictures in the video boxes, has written the titles out on a piece of paper which he thrusts in front of my eyes every time I go on the internet, and drags me to his tv every time a trailer comes on to mention them. He also tells me what they are, and says, “presents Christmas Day” as he points to 25th December on the calendar. As if that isn’t evidence enough he has left two gaps in his display where the videos will go once he gets them.

It’s been a worry because I haven’t been able to locate them and was concerned how I would explain to my autistic son that even when he tries really, really hard to tell me what he wants I can’t deliver.

Now, however, because of a typing error I have both of them.

A local newspaper ran an article about my son and I because of a book I’d just written. They got my name wrong. I started off as Jean Shaw but somehow ended up as Mrs Smith.

Now I had no problems with that but saw it as a last minute desperate attempt to locate the videos my son so badly wanted. I contacted the reporter and asked if he would print some sort of apology simply so that I could appeal to the readers to look out their old stock. He said “no problem” and a few minutes later rang me back.

He told me he’s checked on one of the online market places and both videos were there for sale. I was amazed, having checked regularly for the past six months. I thanked him, put down the phone and promptly ordered and paid for them. Today they arrived.

It’s Christmas Eve and my son will wake up tomorrow morning a very happy boy indeed.

Who says miracles don’t happen?

Also this week son’s school were performing their Christingle Service in the local cathedral. It is a beautiful, serene building over 1000 years old. The architecture and decorations are quite magnificent. Set in a flat landscape the huge cathedral can be viewed from miles and is known as The Ship Of The Fens. It gives people hope. Just thinking about its construction makes you realise no task is too great and when you go inside there is an amazing atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.

My son attends a school for children with special needs. Each child is different and provides a varying degree of worry and anxiety for his or her parents. Some children have both physical and medical disabilities, others mental or behavioural problems. Some are confined to a wheel chair, whilst others just wander, unable to stay still. However, every single child is cherished and valued for who they are, and their achievements, no matter how small, are acknowledged.

As I sat in front of the huge Christmas Tree gazing up at the amazing stained glass windows, and carved and painted ceiling, I listened to the carols and recitations by the children. I watched my son perform Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer dressed in his antlers, scarf and red mittens. He was so confident and happy, it made me realise how lucky I really am.

Life, I know is about being grateful for what you have and those letters no longer bother me.

Yes, I believe in miracles.

Jean Shaw writes articles (http://www.jeanshaw.com) and is the author of I’m Not Naughty - I’m Autistic,Autism, Amalgam and Me and Mercury Poisoning, It’s Not In Our Heads Any More

Article Source: AamRas.com - Articles

Christmas Gift Ideas For The Recession by Sadie Smith

People tend to cut down on their spending during a recession, but there are certain areas which perform particularly well in a downturn. These can provide you with great inspiration for the types of Christmas gift ideas which will give your friends and family a little lift when things start to seem a bit gloomy.

Home cooking

During a recession, people are more reluctant to go out to restaurants because of the cost of eating out. This means that anything which can make home cooking a pleasure, like a special new chopping board, rolling pin, cake tin or fancy apron will be a greatly appreciated Christmas present. On top of this, a lovely cookery gift will encourage your friends to cook for you!

Gardening

Gardening is a very popular, recession-proof pastime. Growing your own food cuts down on grocery costs and is also good for the environment as it does away with food miles. A set of hard-wearing gardening gloves, some secateurs or packets of seeds will therefore make an excellent Christmas gift idea during a recession. Just check the intended recipient has a garden, allotment or reasonable-sized balcony or it could just come across as a cruel joke.

Sewing

Many people become keen on sewing and mending during the recession and choose repair their current garments instead of buying new clothes. Those who take up sewing or knitting as a result of money troubles can find it a surprisingly satisfying pastime, ideally carried out in front of a roaring fire in winter time while catching up on the latest gossip with a group of friends! A good sewing-related Christmas gift idea is a ‘flower doll’ – a doll brandishing all the sewing-related paraphernalia a handicraft enthusiast could wish for, including scissors, embroidery thread and ribbon.

Alcohol

Sales of alcohol go up during a recession – for obvious reasons. If you have any friends or family in the financial or housing sector, you might want to steer clear of this Christmas gift idea. However, for those with more minor troubles than potential redundancy, a drinking-related gift like a wine-chiller could be ideal help to brighten up gloomier days.

Gambling

Ok, so gambling is a terrible way to deal with the financial crisis, but incredibly the public spend on gambling rockets in times of hardship. Take inspiration from this for your Christmas gift ideas and give your friends some fun board games. A game like Monopoly can provide all the escapist fun of gambling with much less potential for guilt, debt or divorce. ‘Anti-Monopoly’ is a fun new twist on the original, pitting small business entrepreneurs against big business monopolists to see who wins. Topical!

Chocolate

Chocolate sales go up during an economic crisis. It makes people feel better without costing too much. A good Christmas gift idea is to give your friends something chocolaty with a bit of a twist. A gourmet chocolate fondue maker for marshmallow-dipping will brighten up a cold January evening and provide a warm and comforting evening snack.

Sadie Smith writes for The Handpicked Collection, a website and catalogue featuring a selection of Christmas gift ideas, including all the ones on this page, to help your loved ones through the global economic crisis.

Article Source: AamRas.com - Articles

Christmas Shopping Traps To Beware Of by Alisdair Cosgrove

Money has been very tight for many of us this year, with the global credit crunch, tight lending conditions, and rising bills all impacting upon our finances. For many people this time of year is set to be stressful, with Christmas on its way and expensive gifts to purchase for loved ones, which many people simply cannot afford.

The goods news is that many retailers have picked up on this situation, and in order to boost sales over the festive season many have slashed the prices on a variety of goods, making things far more affordable for many consumers.The recent pre-budget report announced that there would be a 2.5 percent cut in VAT, and this could further help to reduce prices for consumers.

Make sure that you actually benefit from these cut price goodies by avoiding the moneymaking traps that many retailers use to part you with extra cash and boost their own profits, as otherwise you will lose the benefits of being able to get the discounts that shops are offering.

Insurance cover is one of the additional extras that you may be offered if you pay certain expensive items such as electrical goods or jewellery, but you should bear in mind that this can be a total waste of your money, as these products will normally be covered under your home insurance anyway, so you are buying additional cover that you do not need.Another extra that most retailers will try to sell you when you buy certain items is an extended warranty, but if the item that you are buying is not really expensive then there seems little point in paying for expensive additional protection, as you may be financially better off just replacing it if something goes wrong outside of the manufacturer’s free guarantee, which is normally at least twelve months.

Payment protection insurance, or PPI, may also be offered to you by certain retailers, and you need to be very careful with this. It can be expensive, so make sure that if you want the cover you compare prices from a number of providers. Also, check out the terms and conditions, as you may not even be eligible to claim should the need arise, which means that you will be wasting your money.Most retailers will offer store cards to customers when they reach the till but be very careful. The interest rates charged on these cards is extremely high, so you could be left in a lot of debt if you spread your repayments on the balance. Also, after a fairly lengthy application process at the tills you may be turned down anyway, and this can damage your credit rating.

You should make sure that you are not taken in by the sales patter of persuasive staff members, as the reason they try and sell these extras is because they can make a lot of money from selling them. You, as the consumer, on the other hand will be paying out money for products or services that you may get little or no benefit from.

Alisdair Cosgrove has been writing personal finance articles for many years and can find more of his work at the UK site TheMoneyStop.co.uk, offering best balance transfers along with great home insurance quotes and also compare car insurance. Visit today to find a great deal or read one more of Alsidair’s great articles.

Article Source: AamRas.com - Articles

Christmas Collectables For a Party Bash by Roy J Walker

The most exciting time of the year for almost all of us is “Christmas”, with the New Year round the corner. Every one wants to reach to there families and celebrate the Christmas and the new years together. As most of us are living away from our families, this is the only time of the year that we need to get to the. Considering that collecting goodies to celebrate the Christmas occasion for our loved ones is just indispensable.

There are a number of Christmas collectables to choose form. Simple steps could be followed to have the best Christmas collectables for your party bash.

Know About the Christmas Collectables Available

There are a number of companies offering good quality Christmas collectables at great price. Companies like Lenox, Hallmark, and Dept56 could be blindly trusted. The rage of Christmas collectables would include –

Christmas Ornaments: could be used as a theme, not only for decorating the Christmas tree but also for decorating the house for that year long;

Snow Covered Villages: This would create a beautiful winder wonderland with miniature buildings & figures that could be bundled up. They also are available in lights which would further brighten your Christmas;

Collector Plates: Plates with Santa’s picture on is another good option for the Christmas.

Companies like Bing & Grondahl, Norman Rockwell etc are some major players in the market. Christmas Figures, Santa Figures, angle figures, snowman figures, moments captured as figures are also available along with Nativity scenes, which is the best to enjoy the old spirit of Christmas.

Understand Collectible Terms to Know What You Are Purchasing For Christmas

Limited Edition - Simply means that what you are purchasing is either limited in number or it’s availability is limited depending upon time. Purchasing of such products is best for people who like to have unique products that no one or very less people purchase. The costs of such products are usually at the higher side.

Firing Limit – This is a terms usually used for ceramic products like plates, mugs etc. The companies limit the manufacturing of a particular product by limiting its firing days. Firing days typically means – the days required for a ceramic product to mature by heat application. Meaning a product with lower firing days would translate into less number of that product being manufactured. Hence, a little expensive and attracts the collectors.

The other terminologies would include: Annual edition and Open edition. Annual edition are being produced for a particular year only and open edition simply means it’s not limited. Artist proof, No reserve, Mint in Box, New in Box, Certificate of authenticity, brand new Boxed, No longer available are few other terminologies used while purchasing for Christmas.

Buy Collectables for Christmas with Confidence

Before purchasing anything, be very clear in your head about what you are buying and the seller you are purchasing the product from. You should also be aware of the buyer protection rights to be on the safer side.

Knowing your product would not mean only that what you want to purchase. However, would include an idea of the prices prevalent in the market, delivery cost if any, variety and design available for that particular product, other comparative alternatives available. A little clarity around the companies offering that product would be an additional help.

Learn more about Old Christmas Ornaments and Old Dinnerware

Article Source: Just Enjoy Life

Artificial Christmas Trees: A New Attraction to the Life by Susan Amez

Artificial Christmas Trees: A Jump from the Natural

The use of artificial Christmas trees came about because of widespread concerns that cutting trees for indoor decoration during the holiday season is a sure way to denude the earth’s forest reserves. As a result, some sectors thought it prudent to use artificial trees instead of cutting down trees in the wild with all its adverse effect on nature.

How Artificial Trees Came About

The practice of using artificial Christmas trees was begun in Germany in the nineteenth century. Germany is also credited as being the first nation to use Christmas trees as symbols during the holiday season, although this piece of information is not complete because it is not even certain which German town or when the practice was first observed. Just like in other parts of the world, environmental concerns forced the Germans to utilize artificial trees instead of natural ones.

Making Use of Available Technology

With the advent of technology, even artificial Christmas trees became technology-intensive as well. Today, artificial Christmas trees no longer use wood for its main construction, rather, sturdier but lightweight materials are commonly used. Moreover, from the goose feathers dyed green, which was the main material for the first artificial Christmas trees, today’s trees utilize fiber optic materials. Moreover, they no longer require one to cordon the tree with light bulbs to embellish it. Rather, the tips of the trees have built-in bulbs that glow by themselves once the unit is plugged to a power outlet. The most advanced of them all features a holograph facade that allows one to see radiant colors from the tree, depending on the direction and angle with which one looks at the tree.

Things Used in Artificial Christmas Trees

The proponents of using artificial Christmas trees contend that they bring numerous advantages aside from helping preserve Mother Nature. One benefit of using them is that it is thriftier than when one purchases the natural variety. This is because artificial trees can be used for the next holiday season with its artificial materials. Compared this with natural trees which rot after some time, making them unusable for the next holiday. Moreover, because they come in a complete package, which includes lights and other decorations. You don’t have to spend more for decorative items to hang on the tree.

Criticisms Against Using Christmas Trees

People using artificial Christmas trees are facing stingy criticism from those who say that the artificial variety do not reflect the true spirit of Christmas because the artificial ones are devoid of the scent originating from the natural variety. Moreover, some critics have found some weakness of the artificial variety due to its construction. Some say that the artificial ones are coated with paint that contains lead, which have harmful results on the body, especially for children who often play around the tree. However, such criticisms have been silenced by the increase in vigilance related to assuring the quality of the tree, especially pertaining to its possible health effects.

Where to Get Artificial Christmas Trees

Recently, artificial Christmas trees can be bought from online sources. If one buy their trees from online dealers, they are set to enjoy numerous perks such as free shipping, and warranty on the product, along with excellent customer service. So if you have decided to trust online dealers when buying artificial Christmas trees, trust only Season Home Concepts for the best deals on artificial Christmas trees.

Be environmental friendly buy artificial christmas trees, available only at http://www.seasonalconceptsonline.com/

Article Source: Just Enjoy Life