Our Aspergers Teenage Boy

Dad reports:

So Tommy says to me this morning, "I love my family! And that includes you by the way." ??!?!

Dad reports:

Tommy has taken his last Seroquel this morning. Here’s hoping that he continues to maintain himself without the medicine. Coincidentally he forgot to take his evening medicine last night. I really think that at this point in his life the medicines are doing little to nothing to help him. Of course, the dreaded Spring will be the deciding point.

Dad reports:

FOUND!

Help find this child! He is in danger. They won’t issue an amber alert on a technicality. Read the details. Study the picture!

Taken from the city of Strongsville, Ohio. Last seen in Lakewood, Ohio on Clifton Blvd. 9-28-05 at 10:00 a.m. We suspect that she will be trying to make her way either towards Mexico, or Florida.
…
Nancy Rolfe may be driving a White Chevy conversion van with light blue or green pin stripes. She may also be with a friend who drives a white Honda with black trim.

He’ll be coming through Tennessee folks! Spread the word!

Tommy reports:
“Serenity has a really good storyline, although it is a bit confusing at first. I really enjoyed it.”

Mom says - That was all Tommy would write until I told him to dictate to me. Then I got this:

“We went to see Serenity two days early. I sat in the front. Normally when I see a movie I eat a whole popcorn and two drinks but this time I barely ate my popcorn because I was paying attention to the movie. They showed a preview for the movie Dune which is also a game. Then the movie started but at first I thought it was another preview. I watch things like this a lot so I wasn’t scared. It was a really good movie. Anyone who likes LOTR or Harry Potter or space movies would like it. I want to see the tv show now and buy the DVD for the movie as soon as it comes out. The end of the movie was funny cause the same piece falls off the ship. It would be a cool movie in 3-D and that’s a compliment.”

When Tommy finds something funny (like the Goofy cartoon he is watching here), he laughs and giggles loudly. Great progress for a child who was once so serious and angry. I used to describe our lives as being like walkingon eggshells, fearing the breaks. Now I think Tommy has made his way out of his shell and is eager to be a part of his world, a little at a time. 

Dad reports:

On Saturday evening we took the family out to watch a few hot air balloons take off. Now, had we paid the $10 to go through the gate a world of begging would have ensued and a second mortage would have been needed to pay for the festivities. We didn’t plan on being long and neither Evan, Amy or Tommy was prepared for that kind of adventure. Perhaps next year.

So, instead, we parked by the soccer field on Solway Road and hung out with the other’s taking pictures and enjoying the large balloons float up to the heavens. But then the powerlines became an issue. At first our kids hung back while Mom went across the street to take pictures unobstructed by the lines. Some others joined her. On her second trip out she took the toddler so the teen and pre-teen were allowed to go.

Across the road was a shoulder with perhaps 20-30feet of mowed grass and then weeds and brush that would have prevented anyone from getting to the event. When Tommy wandered down into this "field" the police started hollering that everyone needed to get back to the road. Tommy was oblivious. Mom started calling for Tommy. The police continued their prompt. The crowd started joining in. Finally, on his own schedule, Tommy wandered back to our side of the road.

Dad reports:

Curious Goldie’s Suburban Adventures - Aspie Digest September 22, 2005

Dad reports:

I am very proud of the way Tommy handled himself this morning. In the past if Tommy was getting negative attention over a spill on his pants he would have hammed it up for more attention or intentionally poured more stuff on him. And we would have ended up in the school office with another M-Team scheduled. Instead, today Tommy calmed noted that he didn’t want to be teased all day. He did so well!

Dad reports:

Phone rings with Knox County School id.
Dad answers: “Hello”
Tommy jokes: laughs “I’m in trouble.”
Dad gives no response
Tommy: “I’m joking.”
Dad: “I know.”
Tommy: “I spilled my cereal this morning.”
Nothing else. Long pause.
Dad: “Yes. I was there. Do you need a new shirt.”
Tommy: “No.”
Long pause.
Tommy: “Are you there?”
Dad: “Yes.”
pause
Tommy: “I don’t need a new shirt. I need new pants. I didn’t dry them very well. I don’t want to be laughed at all day.”
Dad: “Are people giving you are hard time?”
Tommy: “Yes.”
Dad: “I’ll be right up.”

I did ask him this morning if he wanted to change clothes.

Mom reports: I am seriously considering allowing Tommy to drink a soda with caffeine in the mornings.