Our Aspergers Teenage Boy

After Tommy and Doug did Algebra together, Tommy’s mood shifted dramatically. Tommy was calm, happy and pleasant. He took a nice bath and ate dinner politely. He read in bed for a bit before turning out the light on his own and going to sleep. Wow! Thanks Dad!

Tommy asked to bathe has turned the heat up now upsetting the dog and the baby by banging on the bathroom door repeatedly.

Tommy just spent a lengthy time (1.5 hours?) doing 24 math problems. There was griping and complaining but in the end he 1) was writing neater, 2) was enjoying himself and 3) was understanding the work! I had a fantastic time helping him through it and thank you to the guys on efnet #math for reaffirming I was doing exponeniation correctly. Tommy is in much better spirits now and has even forgotten that “[he] is cold.”

Tommy walked off the bus with a troublesome look on his face and making mouth noises. As he walked in we were in the middle of a problem discussion with Noah. Tommy was very disappointed that someone else was getting attention and immediately started yelling at Doug about his terrible thirst. After discussion over his desire to eat a stale, old donut (we gave in and let him), Tommy sat down at the kitchen table to do his homework. Tommy was confused and Sarah tried to help. She reluctantly offered her calculator but only if he used it according to her rules. Within seconds they were screaming at each other. I sent them both out front to calm down. This was muchmore effective when it was cold outside. Outside they accelerated with Tommy laughing manically while Sarah screamed at the top of her lungs and cried alligator tears at the injustice. Several minutes later it was getting worse, so Dad squirted them both with the water hose. A few minutes later we invited two crying, insulted children back in the house. Dad sat down at the table to help Tommy with his homework while Sarah complained to Mom about having to do her homework “in the same room as HIM.” I am exhausted.

I found Tommy and his sister sitting on our front porch sister screaming at the tops of her lungs and Tommy laughing manically. So, I turned the hose on both of them. More later.

Tommy has returned home. His teacher reports an exceptional day. The note said a group of kids in Science class even invited Tommy to join them! Amazing!

The bus ride must have been stressful as Tommy got out looking like he was making noises and he came in the house biting at us; particularly me because I was talking to his brother and he just tried to shove his way past me and I didn’t budge because he has to say “excuse me” in the least.

He has scratched the right side of his face completely red and raw.

Bus arrived at 8:14. Tommy is off to school. Mood: mellow. Does not look like he will seek trouble today but I doubt he will overachieve either.

Tommy waiting calmly on the couch for the bus. Dad getting aggrivated with the bus.

A New Day!

Dad reports This Morning:
* Tommy awoke at 6:45 to receive his medicine. He was still wearing his glasses which typically is a sign that he stayed up late reading. He denies this of course.
* I left him at 7:04 to take the siblings to school but forgot to tell him to get dressed. When I returned at 7:25 I stirred him and said “you missed breakfast” but told him to eat something while I got his clothes from the dryer. He went to the kitchen ate, I brought him his clothes and then returned downstairs. 20 minutes later I return to find him lounging on his bed in his underwear 1 minute before his bus arrived yesterday. Fortunately the bus seems to have a different schedule today.
* Tommy got very snarly with me when I said “I’m sorry. I thought you were grown and responsible enough to get yourself dressed.” There were other pointed words intended to motivate but in hindsight they are probably more derisive than anything else. That’s not healthy for an asperger child.
* Tommy is now waiting and watching for the bus. We have been sharing some laughs over Star Trek’s concept of “beaming.” Tommy’s words “Wow! I wouldn’t have to ride the bus!”