How come if Pookie is supposed to be unable to understand social interactions and peer friendships…..he makes me type Josh and Bradley (kids at school) every time he finds me at the keyboard? And why is he so interested in talking about these boys (in simple echolalic sentences) at home when he will not acknowledge them in person?
How come if Pookie is supposed to rebel against physical contact and strangers…..he will sit in the neighbor lady’s lap so he can pet her dog?
How come if Pookie is supposed to be a poor eater…you could fill a shopping cart with the variety of things he likes?
How come if Pookie is supposed to be rigid and unwilling to change… we can introduce new things, take away old favorites, and throw him curveballs all the time, with no real consequences? But then he melts down when I turn off the car radio in middle of a Veggie Tales song.
How come if eye contact is so hard for him…he will grab my chin and force me to look at him while he asks me “did you see the butterfly mailbox” or says “my bowling ball!”. But then when he is asking me to help him with something, he looks at my hands, not my eyes, because it is my hands that will do the helping.
I know, I know. Autism is a “spectrum disorder.” And I don’t doubt that he does have issues to deal with. They just don’t always seem to be the ones that the books are written about.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
YOu are taking attention away from the fact that this is why early intervention is SO necessary. Unbeknownst to you, you were giving him “therapy” long ago. You forced him out of his comfort zone before you realized you were doing it. You have a “spectrum” chold that has been through therapy and achieved many goals already. THAT is why he doesn’t “fit the mold” anymore. You have done a lot of work to break him “out of the mold.”
If I’ve discovered anything, it’s that autism looks so very different in every child affected by it. Early intervention is certainly critical, but even though both my boys received it early not each has made the same strides. It’s all a mystery and in the end, each child is an individual. Thanks for stopping by, btw. I’m glad to have your blog to read as well as beagooddad’s! And it looks like I popped over on a very special day… wishing you very happy thoughts and congrats. Looking forward to reading about the new addition
Yes, I asked myself so many of those same questions when my inlaws insisted there was something going on with my son Christopher when he was 3 years old. I knew there were issues, but he wasn’t a “textbook example” of an autistic child. At least, not to me and my husband, so we ignored them. Then by the time he reached the age of 5 (when he was ultimately diagnosed), we could definitely see there was something going on with him. The echolalic speech, the stimming and major sensory issues. Now, my son will be 6 in December, and his echolalia has almost completely disappeared. He still has some sensory issues though. We had some problems with him adjusting to Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year, but he is finally getting into the routine and handling it much better now.
I was so glad to come across BAGD’s series on how you guys are raising your son. I have found it very informative, and plan to use it as a tool in helping my husband and I raise our son. You guys have got yourselves a really nice little family there and seem to be doing a great job raising them. Congratulations again on the new arrival. Take care.