Our Aspergers Teenage Boy

Bought a new book for Tommy to read. As soon as he brings the Mice and Aliens book home from school I’ll give him this one.

Tommy came home ready for trouble. Today was a rough day at school as Mondays frequently are. He “forgot” his math book and couldn’t do his homework so he didn’t get to wander the neighborhood or play in the yard. This just aggravated him more. He refused to get in the tub, refused to use soap and then refused to get out of the tub. It’s going to be a long night.

Awoke to the sound of Tommy thumping and dragging something around 4 in the morning. Doug went upstairs and asked him to be quiet. I heard noise continue and faded in and out of sleep until the noise at 7 a.m. was too loud to ignore. I found Tommy pacing the floor nervously and after a tight hug he asked “canIgooutandwaitforthebusI’mhot”. I was too dizzy by the spped of his question to do anything but say OK. I figured he was sneaking something to school but I decided to let natural consequences occur. A few minutes later Dad came home from carpool and had Tommy handing things over until the bus appeared. At that point he backed off rather than risk a scene in front of Tommy’s peers. I suspect Tommy will have some trouble at school with whatever contraband he snuck out the door.

Dad reports:
Since he had been awake for hours, he rose with ease.
Went downstairs and camped out on the toilet reading Baby Blues until I went downstairs and confronted him. Of course, he tried hiding the book.
Found doughnuts for breakfast and only ate one.
Got half dressed then laid in bed because he had no socks. I said, “well, get some. You know where they are.” And he started a game, “No I don’t. I don’t know where my socks are.” And walked to his chest of drawers to show an empty drawer. Rather than play the game, I replied, “Just go downstairs and get some out of the laundry basket.” He was down and backup in under a minute with socks in hand.
He then sat in the rocking chair and I asked, “Are you going to comb your hair today?” He replies, “No. I don’t want to.” I give him a pep talk about looking nice and making impressions on people being sure to use that keywork “friends” but nothing seemed to get him interested in trying to have a nice appearance. I finally said, “Tommy, go to the bathroom” which worked surprisingly in my favor because his sister that had been lollygagging in the bathroom despite my warnings that she was going to miss breakfast and so on was out in microseconds. I prompted Tommy to wet his hair so me meticulously get s the temperature of the water just right then dribbles water on his hair. I instruct him to been over the sink and I soak his hair then help him towel dry it and he combs it nice.
I then ask him about deoderant and he says “I didn’t put it on because you asked me to comb my hair and I didn’t have time!” I was torn between laughter and anger so I reminded him that he was dressed long before I mentioned his hair and he finally admits “I forgot.” I personally think he forgets on purpose every morning.

When I returned from taking his brother and sister to school, he was on the front porch and jumped out of his chair thinking I was the bus. As I approach the porch, I ask “What do you have that you aren’t supposed to?” He replies, “Nothing.” Ok. Rephrase the question, “What are you taking to school that we have asked you not to?” He replies, “Nothing.” Ok. Try again. “What am I going to find when I search your bag.” Tommy gives in, “Ok. Maybe my D&D stuff is in my bag.” He hands it over as the bus arrives and I don’t want to continue searching. I have the feeling he had other stuff but he will have to deal with the consequences himself.

Good luck today Tommy!

Tommy is now camping out in the downstairs bathroom.

Dad reports This Morning:
At 4:40am, Tommy announced that he was awake by tapping on the wall until someone came at talked to him. When I went up to talk to him he pretended to be asleep but not beyond me calling his bluff. At 6:20 he claims he never went back to sleep.