dinner and ice cream, Leelo and autism

We all went out for sushi and got seriously gossipy.  Feminism, blog stuff, identity, WoolfCamp, and the psychology of all the kids and ourselves. Most of the big kids read books at the table.   Later, outside, Iz said to Sophie, "Let's pretend we're hanging out."  And then they did.   It's my new slogan!  Jo and I kept cracking up and going, "Hey. Let's pretend we're hanging out."  Since we *were* hanging out, it was easy to pretend.

Of note - I tried to relieve Seymour in minding-Leelo duty, and I know they've been saying this, but it has gotten way harder!  Way, way!  I was super shocked for a bit at his physical strength and at being grabbed/pinched/kicked/headbutted kind of hard.  He seemed so frustrated and it was hard not to interpret it as hostility at me, even though he's a little kid.  But then I kind of realized... dimly... that he needed a higher level of physical interaction and stimulation. And so once I escalated to cheerful roughhousing, squeezing, mosh-pit style bashing (as much as one can with someone so tiny)  he actually calmed way down, stopped hitting me, and also, he looked right at me and smiled a few times.  It is hard but not impossible to read him, and his frustration or anger level, or happiness and obvious enjoyment.  I felt like he kind of went, "Ahhh. Phew. She understands." and was happy with me. So, anyway, that 20 minutes taught me a little bit about dealing with him, and how to connect.  I also realized super quick that if he didn't have his rubber band to chew on, he freaks and gets mad. And, that should be okay, you know?  We've hung out a fair amount but I'm almost never *responsible* for him one on one.   It also taught me that 20 minutes was so exhausting, my respect for Squid and Seymour flew from its place in orbit and went out somewhere into hyperspace. 

I began trying to invent things that would be cool stimulation for kids/people like Leelo. Bouncy houses, ball pits, trampolines, swimming pools, sure, but maybe more things like ... you know those inflatable weeble  things that you punch and they fall over? A bouncy house with a bunch of those, but tougher ones. Sort of a huge pinball machine you can run around in, like a mosh pit without the elbows of people taller than you.  There could totally be playgrounds like this where kids could fling themselves around and not hurt themselves or anything else. 

Hmm. Maybe just a couple of those really heavy punching-bag things so he could push something heavy, and have an effect and be sort of buffeted around.  He wants to use all his strength and energy in this whole-body way...




 

Comments

[squid]

Yeah, his OT/Sensory needs are through the roof right now. I can show you some fun games to play with him but they are mostly not appropriate in a restaurant scenario. Thanks again for your help.

[Philena]

Yeah.. I understand.. I can never leave the house without my daughter's ball.

[Wired]

I have actually seen something like the kid-size floor-anchored punching bags you describe at a Burger King playland, of all places.

Although there is a lot of other sensory stuff to deal with there.

[Lea]

You did good, Badger. Also okay in a restaurant setting is hearty hugs, and doing something like shiatsu on the arms. It's all about the deeeeep pressure. As a kid, i would get between mattresses, it felt so good.

A room of things to run into...yeaaaaaah.

[Seymour]

Badger - thanks again , you were spot on with him and it was a huge relief to eat without being pummeled. :-)