AUTISM

[jenni_blog]

I was going into Sean's room today to clean when I noticed something odd.

This week is called 'March Break'. It's a time for school teachers to take a much-needed holiday, and most of them (as well as a lot of families) go to southern climates for a bit of sunshine, since the weather here is traditionally still cold and yucky. The most popular sunny vacation spots for Ontarians are: Florida, The Bahamas and Cuba. My boss went away as well, so I am at home until this Friday, when it'll be time to return to work. Sean is staying over a couple of nights with some cousins so he can play with kids his own age, plus give us some respite.



Anyway, the strange thing I noticed in his room today is that he has moved all the furniture away from the walls - on angles. So that means the bed, his desk, entertainment stand, dresser and small tables have all been angled so that they are not flat against the walls, nor are they moved out on straight planes. This is something new - he never did it before.

Now, this would drive me crazy, since I am the sort of person who adjusts pictures when they become lopsided, and I always push furniture back against the wall when it has come out a bit. For all the furniture to be off on angles is something that gives me the willies. I pushed it all back, but when Sean comes home, is he going to pull it out again and then carefully angle it on odd angles again? Should I leave him alone and let him have things in his room his own way, if it makes him feel comfortable? Or should I try to make him submit to MY will and move all his furniture back the way I would like it if I had to sleep in his room?

I'll have to think about it, but I tend to want him to be comfortable. As it is, he is NOT a good sleeper, never has been, so why mess with his head?

This reminds me of another odd thing he does. When he comes home from school and sits down to either watch TV and have a snack, or play video games, he always removes ONE sock. Then he continues to play wearing only one sock and the other foot is bare. Again, this would drive me nuts to have ONE cold foot and one warm. So when I'm home on Wednesdays and witness this strange behaviour, I always prod him to put the sock back on, but he never wants to because he's more comfortable with one on and one off.

I don't know if these quirks have anything to do with autism, but I'd expect so.

:/

Comments

[crazy-girl-86.livejournal.com]

As far as I remember from my university classes, I'd say it has something to do with autism. I remember them showing us vids and telling us that some of them have to order their pencils on their desk by colour (not like some of us do maybe because it looks lovely, but they really feel forced to do it and only feel comfortable then) or arange other things in a uncommon way.
Though I think, it's not bad that you pushed the furniture back the first time. Maybe it was just an idea he had or a game he played. But when he does it again, I'd leave it that way.
The song thing is funny, I would be cold as well!

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think you're right. I remember reading about autistic kids 'arranging' things to feel better. I'll see how Sean is with his neat & tidy room and everything in the right place when he comes home!

If I am sitting for a long period of time, I always put on TWO pairs of socks! I cannot think about having one cold foot! O_O

[bonorattle.livejournal.com]

It's all definitely autism-related. My kids outright refuse to keep socks on their feet. Tony more so than Zack, but it's a quirk. They also angle things, line things up, and want things a certain way. Pushing Sean's furniture back in its original spots is fine, but don't expect it to stay that way. He must have his reasons for doing it in the first place, you know?

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

I remember when Sean was around 3 years old. He would NOT wear a hat, mitts or boots in winter-time. He'd pull them all off and want to go without. There was no way we could take him tobogganing or anything. In fact, after awhile we started going out separately for shopping, so one of us could stay with him at home while the other ran the errands. We got tired of people staring at us with nasty looks because our kid wasn't dressed properly. I wanted to say, "Lookit...I could stand here all day and put his hat, etc. on a thousand times. Each time I do it he's going to take it off again." What do they think? That after the 999th time, he's going to change his mind and let it stay on?????

Hahahaha. You're right. I felt a bit guilty for pushing his furniture back against the wall. So I'll let him rearrange it once he's home again. Oh well, at least it'll be easier for vaccuuming. *sigh*

[quabazaa.livejournal.com]

That actually sounds really cute to me, especially the sock thing :) I suppose I don't need too much order in my home tho, hehe! As long as it's in his room I think I wouldn't worry too much. Interesting that he's never done it before though. I wonder if he can explain why he has done it? Or with this and the sock thing will he usually just say that's how he likes it?