Mom reports: Tommy has been calm all afternoon but tonight he can’t or won’t sleep. Is he upset or bothered by something? Does he want to stay awake so he can read or binge eat after I go to sleep? He has been taught many relaxation techniques so I have to think he doesn’t want to or can’t sleep.
Dad reports:
Amber Alert issued because kid did not want to wear shoes In the past I would have expected to be a part of a scene like this with Tommy. He is doing well enough now-a-days I expect we are past that.
Mom reports: Not everyone understood my reference to The Who’s rock opera “Tommy”. The character is not Autistic, he is in a post-traumatic shock, catatonic state. However, the isolation from others, the gifted skill at certain things (pinball), the self stimulation, etc. are all Autistic symptoms. Watch the movie and notice the character’s behaviors.
Dad reports:
I meant to mention that on the way to and during Tommy’s doctor’s appointment, he appeared very angry. When we got into the waiting room, he stretched out flat on the floor (Tommy being about 5 feet and maybe an inch or two — say 1.5 meters — then add his arms and he takes up most of the waiting room) and started petting the cat. We talked about the inappropriateness of this and he sat in a chair. As we waited Tommy got bored so when the postman came in Tommy snorted (as if sucking snot up through his nose) repeatedly. As the postman got closer to Tommy he became louder and quit the minute the postman left. After the postman left I excused Tommy to the bathroom to blow his nose. We later discussed this with the doctor and of course Tommy denied doing it on purpose. After the postman Tommy started karate chopping the handle of his chair making louder and louder banging noises but I continued to ignore him. He tried hard to pull negative attention from me.
When the doctor came out he asked to see me first and Tommy absoluted barked with a wrinkled face “but I never get any time when you guys do that!” Tommy was invited into the room to join us as we talked about the school situation and how the school system is wronging Tommy and us and different strategies we could use to fix the problem. Tommy became bored with this and began acting out in the office.
After the visit Tommy appeared very nervous about returning to school but would not let on as to what might be going on. The teacher jollily reports “Great day!” It’s like a ridiculous recording.
Dad reports:
Drove Tommy to school and got him there about 8:12. He was very bothered that he didn’t get there at 8am noting in the car “I usually get to school at 8:00. I am not going to get there at 8:00 today.”
Dad reports:
Tommy says he typically gets to school at 8am.
Dad reports this morning:
Tommy received medicine at 6:25.
Tommy makes no effort to get up. It is now 6:45. I removed his covers and tell him to get up. He grunts. I give a slap to the calf and he yells “Ow! What was that for?” to which I reply “you are smarter than that, you know what that was for” and he says “ok.” He remains in bed.
7:04. Carpool is late. Tommy is still in bed undressed. His bus will be here any minute.
7:06. Bus arrives as the siblings are heading out for carpool. I talk to the bus driver and explain that Tommy isn’t dressed and she says she’s early so she’ll give him some time. I tell her I’ll understand if he’s still here when I return. She explains he’s done pretty well lately but had one terrible week and has needed once to threaten to leave him at the school. Says the card system works well and explains it to be for the first time (the teacher has mentioned it but never explained it). Seems that the afternoon ride affects the morning ride. I thought we had agreed that “each day starts fresh.” I wish I was independently wealthy then I could ride the school harder; of course, if I was independently weathly Tommy would be in a different school. One of the ironies of life is that those that can affect the change typically don’t need to do so. It’s like our gracious, wealthy mayor changing the wheel tax yesterday from $6 per wheel to $36 per wheel; makes no difference to him however to the starving poor that need their vehicles to make their pittance could be faced with having to reduce their transportation to a single vehicle thus making their lifes more difficult.
7:35. I don’t know how early I am allowed to get Tommy to school. Seems like he is supposed to arrive between 8:15 and 8:30. If I leave now he will be at school way too early. I ask him “Are you still reading Ender’s Game?” and he replies “I’ve read it 3 times but yes” so I toss him the book to occupy his time. He reads and reads and reads. He’ll read the same book 15 times in a row.
This is interesting. Amazon has a downloadable Study Guide to Ender’s Game.
Asperger's Disorder is a milder variant of Autistic Disorder.
... In Asperger's Disorder, individuals are characterized by social isolation and eccentric behavior in childhood.
...Clumsiness is prominent both in their articulation and gross motor behavior.
... leaves no space for age appropriate, common interests. ...
We will document our trials, tribulations, good times and efforts to give our son a normal life and perhaps help other Asperger parents in the process.