Our Aspergers Teenage Boy

Mom reports: Sometimes my parents have Tommy spend the night at their house on Friday nights. He gets to be the center of their universe and my Father seriously over-indulges Tommy by allowing almost anything. I feel very guilty about it but I enjoy those nights. Our family is very large but it is amazing how much more relaxed everyone is when we are not always worrying about Tommy and anticipating his next meltdown. On the other hand, the Saturday nights that my parents take the three middle children everything is pretty relaxed over here. I guess one Tommy equals three small children.

Mom reports: I told Tommy that his horse lessons are at 11 in the morning instead of at night this summer. He replied, “that is really inconvenient”. Why? Will that cut into his 12 hours of sleep each night? Is getting out of bed before noon really painful?

Mom reports: I offered to take Tommy to see Madagascar. He said he would rather just visit GameBoard, the store that sells D&D books and miniatures. I am considering forcing him to get dressed and going to see a movie anyway on the hopes that he will have fun once he gets there. He has been sleeping 12 hours every night and spending his days on the computer. I think he needs to get out of the house.

Mom reports: I don’t have Tommy’s feelings about his new brother figured out quite yet. He came in the delivery room just minutes after the birth and awkwardly held his brother a few minutes before announcing that he was bored and ready to leave. Today I was desperate for a bath but Tommy was the only person home. I knew I couldn’t ask much so I asked Tommy to sit beside the bassinet and just talk to the baby if he awoke. Evan was fed and changed and should have slept the whole time but he decided instead to exercise his lungs. Tommy became hysterical. I rushed out of the bath before Tommy did something other than scream “Mom, he won’t stop.” Some parts of my body got no soap and other parts didn’t get soap rinsed off but I learned my lesson. With Sarah traveling for most of the month of June, I don’t think I will get to bathe or sleep until July.