Our Aspergers Teenage Boy

Tommy watched “Galaxy Quest” with his own running commentary. When it was over I told him to go read in bed and ran around the living room spinning and complaining that he wasn’t sleepy. After less than 5 minutes of spinning he collapsed on his bed and said “I’m so sleepy.” Now he’s snoring.

Tommy came home with his energy level set on high. He has wandered the neighborhood and complained and is now playing a game on Dad’s computer (hopefully).

Dad reports This Morning:
Tommy with grandparents

Tommy walked in the door happy and his grandfather came over within the hour to get him. He’ll come home tomorrow when the grandparents pick up Sarah and Noah.

Today was the best day ever. In science class I knew all the answers and teacher said “Did anybody other than Tommy do the assignment?” And then the teacher told me to let somebody else answer the questions, but I kept my hand up anyway. Mom adds that this was all said in one breath.

Tommy is surly this morning. Noah asks, “Does Tommy take a big fork or a little fork?” I reply, “Little” and Tommy barks “BIG!” He was obviously thinking we meant baby fork but the response was in appropriate. When I held the 2 forks up I asked “Which do you take?” He replies “little.”

Dad reports This Morning:
Tommy received medicine at 6:20.

Dad reports:
Tommy enters room holding a dead light bulb and shoves it into my face shaking it.
Reaction: “Get that out of my face! Put it back someone could get electrocuted.”
Response (what should have happened): “That’s cool.” Followed by reminder about personal space. Followed by electricity lesson; how a bulb works; who is created with its creation; how to safely change a bulb.

Reactive Parenting almost isn’t parenting at all.
Responsive Parenting is challenging.

Dad reports:

Tommy is still confined to his room where he is happily playing Playstation 2 (link to Amazon).

Tommy is feeling better. He’s getting tired of being stuck in his room and becoming cranky. With all of the children I’ve noticed that there is period of time after being sick where they are starting to feel better but don’t yet feel good and are therefore cranky and irritable. So in this case, Tommy’s cranky is a good thing.