Train Man

I never saw the movie Rain Man. It is rated R and never made it on my list of sneak into rated R movies. Now that I am well beyond that short lived phase of my life it just hasn't ever been one that I have concerned myself with. It may be an interesting movie to watch as I have my own little Train Man here at home - perhaps that clear play or whatever it is called would be a good thing. Actually, I heard of another movie two nights ago that is supposed to be incredible. It is the true story of an autistic girl named Temple Grandin. The movie is of the same name. It came out about a year ago but I never heard of it. There were a few things happening in my life a year ago that took me out of the loop on a lot of things. Well, we watched a clip of it in the parent training I was at and I'll be if I wasn't a bit emotional. As I consider Jack and the special little boy that he is I am so very grateful for the impact he has had on my life. I am very grateful for the progress that he has made. Here is my little first grader in his 4th year of attending school full time. He is only 6. I must give kudos to his mom who has done so much in getting him and us on the path we are on. I know that it wasn't easy and she did a tremendous job fighting for our little boy.

So Train Man. From the time Jack was just a small boy he has been into trains. Naturally Thomas the Tank Engine has been a favorite as well as Geo Traxx. Some of the things he would do included lining up just about anything he could. When we got him some actual trains, especially the Geo Traxx he would sit and play with them for hours. Don't mess with the order though and do not stick a second train on the track. We used to build this amazing train tracks together and then he would man the controller and send his train around the track always with a smile. He used to lay down close to the track with his head on the floor, strategically placed at a curve on the track and he would watch the train come right at him and then turn. His eyes would be big and his face full of joy. He has always loved trains.



A year ago when Jack and I would go and work on his homework he hated (I know, strong word) to draw and do anything that required holding a pencil. Thank heavens for the discovery of sliced cheese and Jacks love for it. That was the only way I could get him through his homework that included drawing and labeling pictures. That and writing were his biggest dislikes. Well, I am glad to say that Jack has really taken to drawing. Appropriately one of his favorite things to draw... trains. Here are a few pics that he has drawn. They reside on our refrigerator and I don't know that I will ever take them down.

At Christmas I gave Jack his first Hot Wheels train. It is called Steamin Demon. Here is Jacks original drawing of Steamin Demon.



For Valentines day the Hot Wheels train known as Rocky Mountain Rail made its way into Jack's collection. He loves it.



Two days ago Jack walked in from school and pulled out this picture of a train pulling a passenger car. The coloring is fantastic.



I know these drawings are not the most amazing things in the world but they are amazing to me. The amount of growth we have experienced over the last year has been tremendous. These pictures would have never happened a year ago. This is only one of the areas in which Jack has grown. Singing, forget it a year ago but now he loves to sing, going to primary was a definite no. Now he goes in with out a problem and participates. Very grateful for the progress he has made.

Here he is again with Andy and Clayton posing on the caboose. A good pic to end on.