(Continued from Page B 11)
choanalysis have little beneGt ana
is occasionally harmful. They
recommend cognitive-behavioral
therapy by a therapist who has had
intensive training and experience
in using this method of treatment
Although the Eshelmans are
skeptical if the therapy that their
daughter is receiving really helps,
they want to work with the
school’s request for it since the
school has basically been very
cooperative in accomodating Alis
ha.
Cindy said that she had consid
ered home schooling but believes
withdrawing Alisha from daily
contact with others would be more
detrimental than helpful.
At this point, Alisha likes school
and enjoys talking to classmates
whenever adults are not within
hearing distance.
At home, Alisha spends hours
playing with the family’s 10 cats,
three dogs, a pot belly pig, chick
ens, ducks, a goat, guinea pigs,
horse, and fish.
The Eshelmans also have a 12
year-old son, who his mother
describes as “very outgoing the
opposite of Alisha.”
Cindy said, “They argue just
like every normal brother and sis
ter does. She has no problem talk
ing with her brother!”
Although Alisha won’t answer
the telephone, she will talk to her
peers if they call, but not to adults.
“When her grandparents were
Bedford County’s Dairy Princess, Becky Carson, helps
with the family’s 110 Holstelns.
Becky Carson
About Farm
LINDA WILLIAMS
Bedford Co. Correspondent
MARTINSBURG RD (Bedford
Co.) Becky Carson, daughter
of Rod and Cathy Carson of Mar
tinsburg, is Bedford County’s
1996 dairy princess.
Crowned at a special ceremony
held in June, the perky, petite
blond, lives on a 129-acre farm
where she helps with a herd of 110
Holsteins, milking 60.
“I mix the feed, feed the calves.
Family Seeks Others
vacationing in Florida for several
weeks, Alisha cried because she
missed them. But she would not
talk on the telephone to them. Nor
does she speak in person to her
grandparents, although when she
was younger, she did speak a little
to them. Now she writes notes to
them. The therapist discourages
note writing but Cindy sees it as a
life saver.
Although Cindy sees little prog
ress in the interaction of her
daughter with other adults, she was
thrilled when Alisha recently parti
cipated in a church play.
Cindy said, “Alisha didn’t want
to do it. She didn’t have a speaking
part, but she had a small action
part, which she did and seemed
pleased with herself afterward.”
Although Alisha doesn’t talk
with any adults except her parents,
she seems to enjoy some adults.
Her mother said that she playfully
teases their pastor by running up
behind him and then running away
when he looks at her.
Alisha’s brother said, “She
seems to like people who don’t try
to get her to talk but are friendly
with her, like our pastor.”
According to Cindy, Alisha
exhibits no problem in speaking to
ho- brother’s friends and to older
children. But she seems to have her
own defined line of when a teen
ager becomes an adult She talks to
some teen-agers but treats others
as adults.
“Some studies show that child
ren with selective mutism respond
and do a lot of odd jobs on the
farm. I know what farm work is all
about,” she says.
A senior at Northern Bedford
County High School, Becky is a
member of the Varsity Club, chor
us, and is the yearbook staff chief
executive. She is also the FFA
president
Becky will attend Penn State
University where she will major in
ag business and hopes to minor in
some type of international
relations.
Knows
Work
to antidepressant drugs,” Cindy
said. “But drugs scare me..We
aren’t ready to try tjpigs because I
don’t want her to become depen
dent on them.”
The Eshelmans are optimistic
that their daughter will someday
talk to adults. Cindy said, “We
think if she says one or two words,
the floodgates will open.”
Some ties link the disorder to
genetics, but the Eshelmans are not
aware of any family members who
have had the disorder.
Cindy, who works in interim'
landscaping, and her husband, who
is a salesman, are friendly and talk
ative, although they both said that
they were shy as children.
Cindy would like to correspond
with parents whose children have
or have had this disorder. She
would like to exchange ideas on
what helps or hinders children in
overcoming the disorder.
“I am no longer obsessed with
this problem day and night I’ve
learned to adjust but it would be
helpful to talk with other parents,”
she said.
If you have or know of someone
who has a child with selective mut
ism or a similar disorder, please
write to Cindy Eshelman at R.D. 3,
Box 7957, Jonestown, PA 17038.
Information about the disorder
is available from Selective Mutism
Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 13133,
Sissonvillc, WV 25360-0133 and
from Norfolk Mental Health Asso
ciation, 886 Washington St.. Nor
wood, MA 02062.
Homemade
Heating
Pad
Instructions
Fill a tube sock with uncooked
rice, knot the top, then microwave
on high for three minutes.
This creates a pad that will mold
easily around any painful joint and
hold its heat for about one hour
without risk of bums.
Attend
Parenting
Workshop
WAYNE (Wayne Co.) Nine
sessions of Systematic Training
for Effective Parenting (STEP)
will be taught at the Western Way
ne High School beginning Septem
ber 5 and continuing for eight
Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Joan Kujawa, a licensed social
worker, will teach the program
designed for parents of children
ages 7 through 12.
Cost is SIS for the book and $S
per two-hour session.
Class size is limited. Register at
(717) 226-0977.
Yoik Farm Women Society 26
held its recent meeting at the farm
home of member Louise Pennay of
Liverpool. A picnic luncheon was
served outdoors. The business
meeting was conducted by Athena
Bashore, president. Games were
played and Charlotte Hardy won a
door prize. Mr. Pennay gave the
group a hay ride around the farm.
SEE YOUR NEAREST
DEALER
FOR DEPENDABLE
EQUIPMENT & SERVICE
PENNSYLVANIA
MESSICK
EQUIPMENT
RD 1, Box 255 A
717-259-6617
Annvllle. PA
BHM Farm
Equipment,
Inc.
RD 1, Rte. 934
717-867-2211
Carlisle. PA
R&W
Equipment Co.
35 East Willow Street
717-243-2686
Messick Farm
Equipment, Inc.
Rt. 283 - Rheem’s
Exit
717-367-1319
Halifax. PA
Sweigard Bros.
R.D. 3, Box 13
717-896-3414
Norman D. Clark
& Son, Inc.
Honey Grove, PA
717-734-3682
Loysville, PA
717-789-3117
MARYLAND
Frederick. MD
Ceresville Ford New Holland, Inc.
Rt. 26 East 301-662-4197
Outside MD, 800-331-9122
NEW JERSEY
1 ---- ' -1,, 1
Bridagton. NJ
Leslie G. Fogg,
Inc. Equip., Inc.
Canton & Stow Creek 15 Hillcrest Ave.
Landing Rd. 908-689-7900
609-451-2727
609-935-5145
8
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Dependable
Motor Co.
East Main Street
215-273-3131
215-273-3737
A.B.C. Groff, Inc.
110 South Railroad
717-354-4191
Olev. PA
C.J. Wonsidler
Bros.
R.D.2
610-987-6257
Hitman. PA
Schreffler
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Pitman, PA
717-648-1120
Tamaaua. PA
Charles S.
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R.D. 3
717-386-5945
S.G.Lewis &
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352 N. Jennersville Rd.
610-869-2214
1-800-869-9029
Washington. Nil
Smith Tractor &
Woodatown. jMJ
Owen Supply Co.
Broad Street &
East Avenue
609-769-0308