The 'Ane' Game

Kojiq is a very affectionate boy, loves to be hugged and tickled. This is exactly the opposite of one of the traits of autism - usually, a child with autism does not like any form of physical contact, because his sensories including on his skin is somewhat differently wired, and a simple touch by our standards, may feel painful for the child. But apparently Kojiq is OK with physical contact.


Although at times Kojiq plays rough, but sometimes it is just to attract our attention so that we will chase after him, then hug and tickle him, and he would collapse in a fit of laughter. Along the years, we developed many tickling games with him. The latest game is the "ane" game :-)


Ane? Ane?? Huk aloh, iklan U Mobile kat tv tulah hehehe :-)


Kojiq would smile and come up to us and say "Ane..." , then we'd go through the advertisement script like this :-


Kojiq : "Ane..."

Me : "Teh tarik satu"

Kojiq : "Blehhh...."

Me : "Nak stengah gelas."

Me : "Tabley!"

Me : "Kenapa...?"

Kojiq : "Why...? *giggle giggle*

Me : "Why? Why?? Why???" *tickle Kojiq*

Kojiq : *gelak guling-guling*


I love this game. And I love watching him smile, then giggle, then burst into laughter, literally rolling on the floor/bed/sofa.


But sometimes aku secara tak sengaja go overboard, Kojiq gelak sampai semput, kena guna inhaler asthma. Time-time gini, aku kena marah ler sebab buat Kojiq semput hehehe :-)

On Oprah Last Night

We don't watch a whole lot of Oprah, so catching the show last night on Astro was a lucky fluke for both Angah and me, for the topic was 'Autism'. The guest speakers were Jenny McCarthy and Holly Robinson Peete (of 21 Jump Street). They were not there as stars or celebrities, but as mothers who have a child with autism, Jenny's Evan, and Holly's RJ.

I am familiar with Jenny, as I have read her book entitled "Louder Than Words", telling of her experience with Evan. Indeed, last night's show focused a lot on this book (more about the book later). But I didn't know about Holly and RJ, so I was interested to hear her speak. She shared her feelings, how she overcame her personal dissappointment, how important it is for families to work together to help the child with autism.

Something she said that I think is important is this - don't call the child "autistic kid". When you say it that way, people will focus on 'autistic' as if the child is inflicted with some terrible contagious disease, and with such negative vibes, people won't be able to appreciate the child. Instead, say "child with autism". This way, you focus on the child first, and then only his condition. It sounds more positive, don't you think so?

Baby Kojiq

The story began five years ago. September 11 2003, to be exact. The first grandchild to my parents, the first baby for Angah & Bangah, he was born via caesarean section two days after Angah had the first signs of labour. We counted 10 little fingers and 10 little toes, he scrumched up his face and wailed, a perfect baby, AlhamduliLlah!

He was the light of our lives - and still is! Since we all live in one house, Angah & Bangah generously shared him with the rest of us - including sharing poopy-diapers-changing, hmmph. I spent hours watching him sleep, the rise and fall of his little chest with every breath he takes, the flutter of his eyelids when dreams interrupt his slumber, and the sweet lips parting in his yawns and sighs. At the slightest sound, one of us would be running to his bassinet, scoop him up in our arms and murmur some lullaby to coax him back to sleep...

Oh, I'm beginning to sound soppy, please forgive me hehehe :-)

Anyway, he is now 5 years old, and I still spend hours watching him sleep :-)

More about Haziq and being diagnosed, in the next post.

Kojiq's World

This blog is dedicated to my beloved nephew Haziq, and thousands of little boys and girls who have the same condition as he does. Also, to all parents, siblings, relatives, caregivers, friends and neighbours of all those little boys and girls, who understand, or are learning to understand, or at least are beginning to learn to accept all those little boys and girls with all their love, for what those little boys and girls truly are - gifts from Him.

I hope this blog will help us understand these little boys and girls, and help us rid of our prejudices against what they have. I wish to share every little bit of information that may be beneficial for children with autism, and I hope readers with information will share theirs with me too. Don't worry if you do not have information to share, your taking time to read this blog is more than enough, and I thank you for that!

This is not a blog written by a professional. I do not have any medical or formal training in caring for children with special needs. What information I have, are probably from readings or interactions with other caregivers of special needs children, or watching tv, or merely from my googling.

But one thing for sure is that I love my nephew, and I give my support to my sister (Haziq's mother), and there is nothing I would not do for them! Family comes first.

People, welcome to my blog about autism.

MIRROR POST

Blog ini didedikasikan kepada anak saudara kesayanganku Haziq, dan ribuan lagi kanak-kanak lelaki dan perempuan yang mempunyai keadaan yang sama dengannya. Juga kepada ibubapa, adik-beradik, saudara-mara, penjaga, sahabat dan jiran kepada semua kanak-kanak tersebut, yang memahami, atau sedang belajar memahami, atau sekurang-kurangnya sedang mula belajar untuk menerima semua kanak-kanak tersebut dengan sepenuh hati, sebagai suatu anugerah dariNya.

Aku harap blog ini akan membantu kita lebih memahami kanak-kanak tersebut, dan membantu kita meghilangkan prejudis terhadap keadaan mereka. Aku ingin berkongsi segala pengetahuan yang mungkin bermanfaat untuk kanak-kanak dengan autism, dan aku harap pembaca yang budiman juga turut berkongsi pengetahuan mereka denganku. Jangan bimbang jika kau tiada pengetahuan untuk dikongsi, kerana sekadar meluangkan masa untuk membacanya pun sudah amat baik, dan aku ucapkan terima kasih!

Blog ini bukan ditulis oleh seorang pakar. Aku tidak mempunyai apa-apa latihan perubatan atau formal dalam hal penjagaan kanak-kanak istimewa. Segala pengetahuan yang aku ada, datang dari bahan bacaan, atau interaksi dengan ibubapa dan penjaga kanak-kanak istimewa yang lain, atau dari tv, atau dari google.

Walau apapun, yang pasti ialah aku sangat sayangkan anak saudaraku, dan aku sentiasa memberi sokongan kepada adikku (ibu Haziq), dan tiada apa yang aku takkan buat untuk mereka! Keluarga adalah yang utama.

Rakan-rakan, selamat datang ke Blogku mengenai autism.