Manipulated into Playing a Game Show

Ma-nip-u-late- to control or influence somebody or something in an ingenious or devious way

Have you ever lived with anyone who will rarely finish a sentence? Cody does this and it makes me absolutely bonkers. I have always chalked it up to being another "autistic thing", but yesterday, as I sat down to watch television with Cody, I was enlightened.

Cody sat comfortably in his recliner while I flipped through the channels, reading the program options to him. He wanted to watch $100,000 Pyramid, so I left it on GSN and cozied up on the sofa with Katelyn's laptop. Not until I heard the players give clues to one another did I realized that Cody has been leaving off the end of his sentences in an attempt to imitate the game. From his voice inflection to the way he says "uh-huh' and "yes" when someone finishes the end of a sentence for him, Cody has been playing his rendition of "Pyramid". He is the giver and those willing to converse with him are the receivers.

The difference between Dick Clark's $100,000 Pyramid and Cody's game is...

#1- People on television are aware they are playing!

and

#2- They have a chance to win $100,000! Cody's team players, on the other hand, are SOL.

Scrapbook/ Journaling Idea from July 2010 Archive

Here is a fun idea for a scrapbook page. Have your kids answer questions about you (individually). I did this with my children a couple of years ago. It was fun comparing their answers. As you read through these, remember that Cody is my son with special needs. (I promise, I am taller than 2 feet.)


Q What is something mom always says to you?

A Katelyn-“Be safe.”
   Casey- “Keep your nose clean.”
   Chase- “Knock it off.”
   Cody- “Time to rise and shine.”


Q What makes mom happy?

A Katelyn- “Milk Duds”
   Casey- “Pills”
   Chase- “Coke”
   Cody- “Playing Yahtzee”


Q What makes mom sad?

A Katelyn- “Her sons”
   Casey- “”Sometimes me”
   Chase- “That she doesn’t have grandkids”
   Cody- “Grandpa and Terri’s funerals”


Q How tall is mom?

A Katelyn- “5’4””
   Casey- “5’6” if that?”
   Chase- “5’1””
   Cody- “2 feet”


Q What is mom’s favorite thing to watch on T.V.?

A Katelyn- “Survivor”
   Casey- “Survivor”
   Chase- “The Office”
   Cody- “Survivor”


Q What does mom do when you’re not around?

A Katelyn- “Look on the Internet for plumbing ideas”
   Casey- “How am I supposed to know?”
   Chase- “Hell if I know.”
   Cody- “Work”


Q If mom was famous, what would it be for?

A Katelyn- “Best mother in the whole world”
   Casey- “I don’t know dude”
   Chase- “Running over a skateboard”
   Cody- “Being cute”


Q What is mom really good at?

A Katelyn- “Cooking”
   Casey- “Cooking”
   Chase- “Worrying”
   Cody- “Sewing”


Q What is mom not very good at?

A Katelyn- “Spelling”
   Casey- “Texting”
   Chase- “Playing Nintendo”
   Cody- “Cleaning up”


Q What is mom’s favorite food?

A Katelyn- “Mexican and Chinese”
   Casey- “Applebee’s”
   Chase- “Chocolate Turtles”
   Cody- “Lasagna”


Q What makes you proud of mom?

A Katelyn- “I am just like her.”
   Casey- “Everything”
   Chase- “She drives a sexy car”
   Cody- “She’s cute”


Q How are you and your mom the same?

A Katelyn- “We both have nice butts.”
   Casey- “We’re both weirdo’s.”
   Chase- “Bi-polar”
   Cody- “We both like ‘80’s music.”


Q How are you and your mom different?

A Katelyn- “I’m not sure.”
   Casey- “She has kids”
   Chase- “She gives me money when I need it”
   Cody- “I go bowling”


Q Where is mom’s favorite place to go?

A Katelyn- "Disneyland"
   Casey- “Disneyland”
   Chase- “Las Vegas”
   Cody- “Mesquite”