Tackling the Challenges and Quirks of the Autism Spectrum
(April is Autism Awareness Month)
Tatum was diagnosed with ADHD January of 2006. We received the Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (As another mother put it when asked what the difference between Autism and PDD-NOS is, she called PDD-NOS "Autism Light: same problems, less services.") in August of 2006.
As kids on the Autism Spectrum go, Tatum is very high functioning. This is both a blessing and a curse. It's great because I am able to have conversations with my daughter (some parents pray every day to hear one word from their child). On the difficult days though, she throws a fit and we have to endure people's stares and the occasional word of parenting advice (lol-very helpful in those moments!).
Sometimes it is very easy to live in a bubble and forget that anything is different. Then there are times that it is very clear the areas she struggles. Last night we had a work get together. Most of the day was spent explaining to her that, "Yes, there are going to be other people at the party, no you may not bring your math book or Gameboy, and you will still have to go."She was excited to be able to wear her baseball hat (pulled down so low that no one could see her eyes but it also allowed her to better manage the visual stimulation).
The actual party went very well with Tatum playing well with the other kids (or at least usually near them). Social skill training continues: Currently Tate needs reminding to "look for the clues in people's eyes to solve the mystery of what they are saying." This seems to really help her from looking all over the place to at the person and my coworkers are great at letting us practice. She especially liked one coworker, who according to Tatum, "had excitment in her eyes!"
Part of the party was at the Redbirds (semi-pro baseball team) game. Tatum was yet again grumpy but was entertained with the abundance of numbers around (we are still working on what all the numbers on the scoreboard stand for, but she was very happy to sit there and add/subtact them). Unfortunately, baseball games are outside so we were surrounded by Tatum's fear of the year: bugs!
The biggest difficulty Tatum had, and it is a new battle we are fighting, is with her skin. Talking with other parents, this seems to be a pretty common struggle. Often when she is more stressed, she will sit in bed and inspect her skin. At the ballgame she was having huge difficulties because she didn't want to wear socks with her Crocks, so little things kept getting into her shoes (both real and imagined). This required her to stop immediately, sit down, and pull off her Crocks and inspect her skin. Sometimes she was able to pull out of this phase and get back to playing, other times I have to jump in, sit down, rub her feet and put her shoes back on--with the reminder that it is not ok to sit down in the middle of a party and pull off her shoes--the socially appropriate filter is not strong with her : ) Although I might have missed some skin check stops, I counted 35 times in 2 1/2 hours.
On a positive note: the fireworks (at the end of the ballgame) that left her hovering and crying last year, she loves this year!
She has made so much progress from the little, bald baby that would not sit still and would only scream at you! Most of our time these days is spent with social skills and social relationships. She is such a great kid--life just wouldn't be the same without her!
As kids on the Autism Spectrum go, Tatum is very high functioning. This is both a blessing and a curse. It's great because I am able to have conversations with my daughter (some parents pray every day to hear one word from their child). On the difficult days though, she throws a fit and we have to endure people's stares and the occasional word of parenting advice (lol-very helpful in those moments!).
Sometimes it is very easy to live in a bubble and forget that anything is different. Then there are times that it is very clear the areas she struggles. Last night we had a work get together. Most of the day was spent explaining to her that, "Yes, there are going to be other people at the party, no you may not bring your math book or Gameboy, and you will still have to go."
The actual party went very well with Tatum playing well with the other kids (or at least usually near them). Social skill training continues: Currently Tate needs reminding to "look for the clues in people's eyes to solve the mystery of what they are saying." This seems to really help her from looking all over the place to at the person and my coworkers are great at letting us practice. She especially liked one coworker, who according to Tatum, "had excitment in her eyes!"
Part of the party was at the Redbirds (semi-pro baseball team) game. Tatum was yet again grumpy but was entertained with the abundance of numbers around (we are still working on what all the numbers on the scoreboard stand for, but she was very happy to sit there and add/subtact them). Unfortunately, baseball games are outside so we were surrounded by Tatum's fear of the year: bugs!
The biggest difficulty Tatum had, and it is a new battle we are fighting, is with her skin. Talking with other parents, this seems to be a pretty common struggle. Often when she is more stressed, she will sit in bed and inspect her skin. At the ballgame she was having huge difficulties because she didn't want to wear socks with her Crocks, so little things kept getting into her shoes (both real and imagined). This required her to stop immediately, sit down, and pull off her Crocks and inspect her skin. Sometimes she was able to pull out of this phase and get back to playing, other times I have to jump in, sit down, rub her feet and put her shoes back on--with the reminder that it is not ok to sit down in the middle of a party and pull off her shoes--the socially appropriate filter is not strong with her : ) Although I might have missed some skin check stops, I counted 35 times in 2 1/2 hours.
On a positive note: the fireworks (at the end of the ballgame) that left her hovering and crying last year, she loves this year!
She has made so much progress from the little, bald baby that would not sit still and would only scream at you! Most of our time these days is spent with social skills and social relationships. She is such a great kid--life just wouldn't be the same without her!
