Autmazing

[shooshoomama]

I have been waiting for this thread!! Joined just to participate, ha! She is nuuuuuts.

 

[opal73]

I notice neither her or her husband have any friends or do any socialising. They seem to be a very insular family which won't do their kids any favours, especially considering they are all autistic. Her and her husband are a pair of oddballs.

Also their eldest daughter is 13 and high functioning but she talks like a toddler. Why is that? She is hard to understand and talks like a very young child.

They all need more intensive speech therapy tbh. In addition to a lot more socialisation. The boys I can barely understand. Sadie is a little more clear but it seems like she's almost gotten worse over the past year with how stilted she sounds (probably because she wasn't really in school and near other kids). Or maybe puberty, idk. I do think if she was diagnosed before age 11 it would be a lot different. I'm really surprised she wasn't diagnosed earlier but Cammie mentioned something about struggling to get a doctor to evaluate her when she was younger and struggling to get speech therapy for years. I know it's more difficult to diagnose girls as well.

They are definitely way too insular, you never see them with other families or any play groups. Surely in their big neighbourhood there's plenty of people to get to know. I think she is holding them back in a way, no activities, no friend groups. It is not easy for kids with autism and adhd but with the right services and attention they can go a long way.

As far as whether she is too positive about autism I would definitely say she has rose tinted glasses about it. Her kids will struggle a lot and won't be little forever. It's only going to get harder the older they get. Maggie and Tessie will need lifelong care. I don't think she's talked much about her own diagnosis either. That might be interesting to hear.

 

[HeyGuyth]

I don't know...again I may just be grasping at straws but in this video she is making a concerted effort to keep her midsection covered by her arm when she's in the shot. There's a moment @5:40 when she leans over the table and the way her midsection looks...it looks more pregnant than overweight. It's very rounded.

I really....really....REALLY hope she's not. Babies are beautiful and a gift, but the fact that Cammie AND her husband both carry that rare genetic disorder, it is VERY irresponsible for them to conceive more children.

Oh God. The last thing she needs is another autistic kid. Two of her kids are already severely autistic and unlikely to ever leave home. I really really hope she isn't having anymore kids.

 

[Edenberry]

Utterly dull and unenjoyable to even watch her videos anymore. That late Christmas vlog was SAD. No tree, chaotic, junk and old toys everywhere in that living room. Sadie looked sad and bored. It just seemed like a lifeless Christmas.

 

[Edenberry]

I hope not! I think she is just overweight

I don't know...again I may just be grasping at straws but in this video she is making a concerted effort to keep her midsection covered by her arm when she's in the shot. There's a moment @5:40 when she leans over the table and the way her midsection looks...it looks more pregnant than overweight. It's very rounded.

I really....really....REALLY hope she's not. Babies are beautiful and a gift, but the fact that Cammie AND her husband both carry that rare genetic disorder, it is VERY irresponsible for them to conceive more children.

 

[Edenberry]

Oh she reads here, guys. Watch today's LIVE video on YT. She brings up the very specific topics from here that are not mentioned in the comments of any of her videos.

 

[shooshoomama]

Soooo...basically exploiting the family's diagnoses for views, yes? Ugh. Especially since I think (correct me if I'm wrong!!!!) she was super angry at Fathering Autism at one point for doing similarly...?

 

[opal73]

I wonder what her parents think of their parenting (or lack thereof)

 

[opal73]

I don't even mind if I'm the only one here to vent on this channel. Her most recent video is about the difficulties of going to the doctor's office as an autistic person and not being believed.



I'm just going to say it. She's a hypochondriac. She states that her O2 stats drop to 81 at night constantly. I'm sorry. That isn't realistic. Her hands and feet would be blue and cold. There would be a HOST of other issues if her O2 stats were that low. She's basing it off of her Apple watch readings. Those devices aren't medical grade.

She states that the urgent care doctor once scolded and yelled at Maggie when she was brought in for an appointment, and Cammie thinks it was because he wasn't aware of her level of communication....oh I don't know Cammie...maybe make that the VERY FIRST THING YOU TELL THE OFFICE. "My daughter has severe autism and is mostly non-verbal. She cannot answer your questions so please direct them to me."

I can't with her.

Yes she's ridiculous. Probably also has a mild form of Munchausen's syndrome. She states she didn't feel looked after when sick and went to "so many doctors" over the years and not feeling believed/told to suck it up and that's a big sign which may lead her to seek out medical attention more what is normal.
The doctor also may have been rude but why assume people know things and get irritable about it when they don't. It is up to her as a mother to be her non verbal child's advocate and voice as soon as she gets there, or even before the appointment, diagnosis or not.

OT but what's with all the eyeliner all of a sudden? I don't recall her usually wearing that much makeup.

 

[shooshoomama]

I guess I don't understand why the kids do NOTHING outside of school and home...? I'm really not one for overscheduled families, but even just one small thing here and there to ground them and help practice social skills would be SO helpful. I'm sure she's got a myriad of excuses where she's too exhausted and overwhelmed and all that to give them what they actually need.

 

[Edenberry]

I feel like that's pretty much a good summation of them at this point: chaotic and lifeless. Did they put the tree on the porch again instead of attempting to teach Tessie not to throw ornaments?

I didn't even see a porch tree this year.

I wonder what her parents think of their parenting (or lack thereof)

I think they see a lot. If you watch any of the videos from their grandmother, she is SO GOOD with the kids. She is calm, quiet, patient, and actually listens to them. The boys are completely different around her than at home.

 

[shooshoomama]

Oh, and see how much attention she pays the boys now that she reads here? A WHOLE INTERVIEW with Patrick... Facepalm.

 

[opal73]

Yes, martial arts or sport geared for kids with autism would be great to get them out of the house and work on their self awareness, social skills (being around other kids), discipline, structure, all that. It's not good for them to just be on screens crammed in a messy house all whenever they're not at school.

Their oldest, Sadie, didn't she turn 13 recently? It doesn't seem like she has many friends (at least they're never shown or really talked about).

Maybe Cammie is just overprotective and wants to keep them close, but they are all at an age where they desperately need some enrichment. Covid may have had something to do with it as well. But still, there's no reason for them to not be in something else if they are going to school in person now

 

[shooshoomama]

Watching this vlog, I think I see what's going on with poor Patrick. His siblings' louder and more physical stims really seem to make him anxious and upset. He's trying to enjoy his pre-birthday song, but James is shrieking, Maggie is going after his candles, and Patrick is just looking upset saying, "Stop! Maggie!!" The song just tapers off into nothing and has none of the excitement given to his brother and sister's songs in the past. It's like everyone's just over birthdays by the time they get to him and that's not okay

He would benefit from quieter activities...something that's his alone. I have a soft spot for sensitive children.

I think you're exactly right. TBH, I don't quite understand where stims start and just purely obnoxious behavior begins - I get the girls are extra high-needs and all, and that's totally fine, but they're also all (girls plus James) allowed to act like feral beasts a lot of the time. I really feel for Patrick. Cammie seems to think that the entire family being autistic is just the coolest, cutest thing ever and either cannot put boundaries on the kids because of her own issues or will not because AUTISM!

 

[shooshoomama]

I feel like that's pretty much a good summation of them at this point: chaotic and lifeless. Did they put the tree on the porch again instead of attempting to teach Tessie not to throw ornaments?

 

[Edenberry]

Yeah, the constant stimulation probably isn't a good thing, especially because when the kids are off it they can't function and it creates a dependency. Really too much screentime for kids isn't good, regardless of their disability. I think it's a way for them to not have to parent as much, stick a tablet/iPad in their hands and put headphones on them and it makes them more docile.
I think nature therapy or something where the kids are outside would be great, especially the boys. I wish Cammie would have them in more activities outside of the house. There's loads of things for kids with autism.

Agreed 100%. In her Christmas Haul for this year, there will officially be 4 Nintendo Switches in that house. One group Switch, and a personal Switch Lite for Sadie, James, and Patrick. It's SO unnecessary and I agree that it's a way for her not to have to parent as much.

@opal73 activities would be such a great idea for the boys especially. Something like TKD or another type of Martial Arts that would teach them discipline/self-control/better body control, etc.

 

[DairyleaD]

Her husband left her and wants a divorce. He left her with no money to feed the kids. What a cowardly POS. Bet he's been planning this for a long time and has another woman.

 

[GhostHoward]

How many children does she have?

I’ll go have a look

 

[opal73]

I follow a few channels with kids on the spectrum and what always hits me is the CONSTANT screen time these kids are exposed to - I get that for some, their device also functions as their communication, but Cammie's kids are all severely ADHD as well as autistic and they are all constantly on screens, whether videos or video games (and their TV is always on in the background, to boot)...that cannot be good for the ADHD part of their brains, right?! Maybe I'm way off.

Yeah, the constant stimulation probably isn't a good thing, especially because when the kids are off it they can't function and it creates a dependency. Really too much screentime for kids isn't good, regardless of their disability. I think it's a way for them to not have to parent as much, stick a tablet/iPad in their hands and put headphones on them and it makes them more docile.
I think nature therapy or something where the kids are outside would be great, especially the boys. I wish Cammie would have them in more activities outside of the house. There's loads of things for kids with autism.

 

[scottishsiren]

Could someone else please go check out Autmazing latest vlog on YouTube? Cami is going on about it being autism awareness month, and the negatives of some groups and symbols that make life harder for people on the spectrum. I think it's a bit hypocritical as Cami films her children for content.