One of my main goals as a parent of children with disabilities is to help my children become effective self-advocates. Maizie, ten years old and diagnosed with a rare chromosome disorder, Autism and Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome, is well on her way to becoming a great self-advocate. Maizie joins us today for an interview. Thank you, Maizie!
Maizie, I love your blog, especially all the pictures of you with different animals. What animals are your favorites?
Zebras, seals, giraffes, dogs, cats, French Bulldogs
Why did you decide to write a blog? How does it make you feel when people read your blog and leave comments for you?
Momma helped me make my blog. I feel cool and funny. It is fun and exciting. I write stuff. Taking pictures is fun.
Sometimes your mom writes about the fun things you do together. What is your favorite thing to do with your Mom and Dad?
Going out to dinner. Playing games, Whoonu and Connect Four. Having fun on a bike ride or the park.
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to have a brother or sister? What is it like to be the only child in your family?
I don’t want a brother or sister. They are annoying. Jump all over the place. Noisy! It is good because I like going out and I get more toys and music until my room is full of toys, like thousands.
Your Mom has also written about how sick you get sometimes. What helps you to get over those bad feelings and back to your normal fun self?
I drink water. I put something on my belly. Belly medicine helps.
I have a daughter almost your age, and she has a rough time if we go some place that is very crowded or very bright or very loud. Do places like that bother you? What do you think I could do to help my daughter when things like that start to bother her?
If it is too loud it hurts bad. Leave soon. Put sunglasses on, even in the movie theatre. Make a list about it.
Is there anything you are afraid of? What do you do when you start to feel afraid?
Be alone in darkness and ghosts. I’m not afraid of fairies. Haunted houses sometimes and sometimes they don’t scare me. I hide under my covers.
If you could tell all the parents in the world just one thing, what would it be?
Eat healthy foods.
(Maizie’s blog is open by invitation only, and invitations are screened by her mother, Marla.)
Deborah can be found writing here at 5MFSN every Sunday and Wednesday, and can also be found at Pipecleaner Dreams.