Our Aspergers Teenage Boy

Dad reports:
Tommy says, “None of the students were talking about the shooting. At least I didn’t hear any.” Then adds, “But there was another figth in the cafeterria. I just laid my head down and pretended to be asleep. Some kids stood on tables and they broke.”

With 2200 students I wonder what little effort it would take to require calling in the riot squad?

Dad reports this morning:
Yesterday Tommy showed his rear to his psychologist. We decided to drop Prozac from his diet completely.

We all agree that Tommy is in control but is chosing not to control himself. He seems very depressed.

He did very well at STAR last night. This morning he seems subdued.

Dad reports this morning:
Tommy reluctantly got up and got dressed. Joined his brother outside to help walk the dog until the bus arrived.

Current theraputic approach: We are continuing to try to exude happiness and just be extra tolerant of Tommy. We are not succeeding as well as we did last week.

Dad reports:
Tommy survived the day. Came home manic with lots of home work. He commented that he “only yelled at the teacher once.” And was directly defiant to another teacher at least once.

Dad reports this morning:
After a day off yesterday Tommy heads to school this morning. We demanded nothing of him yesterday. No getting dressed. No baths. No chores. Nada. Let’s see how today goes.

Dad reports this morning:
There is no point in sending Tommy to school today. He is staying home. Maybe he needs a stressfree day to help bring him around.

Dad reports:
Afternoon of meltdowns.

Tommy is rude, short, surly and disrepectful. His depression is adversely affecting the rest of the family. His depression is out of hand.

Dad reports:
Tommy’s bedframe broke. It was a weld that snapped. I suspect he was pouncing down on the bed or otherwise being overly rough on the bed. This week he sleeps on an air mattress on the floor as it is going to take that long for the part to come in. I hope the he isn’t too uncomfortable.

Dad reports this morning:
Tommy spent Thursday night with a cub scout pack in Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg in their “Sleep With The Sharks” program. Tommy was on exceptional behavior. I was most nervous when he was grouped with 4 other boys closest to his age and those 5 along with 7 other groups of 4 and 5 children (somewhere around 30 kids between the ages of 7 and 12) were told they had an hour and a half to just run all over the aquarium. I expected shouting, anger and total chaos. For the most part, Tommy was just happy and had a great time. He only became inappropriate on one or two ocasions that I saw and those were quickly rectified. We slept under these guys.

The next morning I expected a cranky Tommy but instead he was cheerful and was not running off at the mouth. A smaller group left the aquarium for a hike in the smokies. We went to the Sugarland Visitor’s Center and watched the 20 minute movie on the park then met a ranger for a guided hike to Cataract Falls. On the hike a deer came within 15 feet of the entire group of kids. It was cool moment!

After the hike we drove up to Newfound Gap where President Roosevelt dedicated the park. We lunched on the Rockefeller memorial and the boys jumped back and forth across the state line declaring, “I’m in North Carolina! Now I’m in Tennessee” “Well, I’m in both states!” “Ok, if a plane crashes on the North Carolina and Tennessee state line, where do you bury the survivors?” They had a royally good time! And so did I!

Tommy was expectional the whole trip!

Dad reports:
Tommy had a successful session at STAR and was nice to the instructors and cooperative. I was pleased. His regular horse is lame and this horse Tommy swears he will never ride again. He says, “That horse hates me!” Apparently it bit at him several times and did not respond to his instructions.