Another mom at school asked | Autism PDD

I know what you mean - sometimes I feel we live in a parallel universe 

Does your child know any of his letters yet? I didn't know whether to laugh, cry or what. Here is the background... He goes to a typical preschool and has a shadow ABA/VB tutor with him. He knew his letter sounds before he was able to talk. He sounded out words prior to age 2. But, at age 3 only spoke about 20 words. Now, he is reading, spelling 7-8 letter words all day long and doing addition like a maniac.

While I think this is very cool and great, I just wanted to tell her how much easier it would be to have a child that could have a real conversation and a desire to play than a child who can spell and add.

I do love my son very much and love all of his strengths. I guess it just hit me how different he is. And, I guess I'm lucky that academics are strong for him.

That is wonderful ... we all should have bragging rights to the great things our kids do.  My son doesn't know any letters or numbers, but he can memorize cartoons and song lyrics, and is very affectionate with me and is becoming more verbal every day.

Do I wish he was better academically?  Of course I do!!  But I know he will get there, eventually ...

Your kiddo will open up more and more, day by day.  Yes ... tell this mom "my son knows his letters.  It's pretty incredible."  And let it go ..

 

I do know how you feel,  I wish for my sons sake that he could communicate better and understand different concepts a little better.  Sometimes though I look at him and think He's a really neat  and unique kid 

I am very much in love with my son too and I understand the deep love you feel. I'm so proud of him that I'm in tears every week about something. He is making so much progress and started calling me mama this summer.

Boy, I am hearing you all. This continues to be one of our biggest struggles at almost 12. "Oh, he's so smart, he'll do fine when he grows up." Parent/Teacher conferences (just had them again last night) are always the same thing. He's doing so well, he is so smart, etc. I finally have a sp ed teacher that "gets" him after we attended a conference together recently. She said last night, I bet you hear that alot? I told her I have heard it over and over for years. I now have someone else explaining to teachers that just because he's smart doesn't mean everything and there is alot of work to do for him. It helps not coming from just me because teachers have always looked at me like I had two heads when telling them about his behaviors at home and how he may look just fine to them during the day but it is building up all day long waiting to explode once he walks through our door and someone breathes wrong.

I have always disliked this position I am in having to constantly talk about my wonderful child's weaknesses. It is essential though because otherwise he would not get the help that he needs. I would love to be able to just accept the good things they say and smile and say thank you without having to add a "yes, but...."

Flip...this is one of my biggest concerns for my son.  He is obsessed with letters and numbers.  He counts ALL day long.  He wakes up in the middle of the night saying letters!  He just started to sound out small words.  To a person who's child struggles with academics, this may sound like a dream come true.  However, we have to pull him from his letter/number world otherwise he would stay there...all day long!  He has close to 50 words, but uses them for HIS labeling pleasure.  He does not use them to communicate with us.   He also signs many words, also for his enjoyment.  Any form of communication is him using hand over hand to show us what he wants. 

Everything seems to click on one side of his brain.  If I could just jump start the other social side, I will be very relieved. 

Funny though....this is the only child who has yet to call me Mama or say I love you, and I am deperately in love with him...love my others, don't get me wrong..but this little guy has brought me to my knees.

There are parents out there that think it is a good idea to make children learn stuff too early.  You are the one whose perceptions are correct.  Learning to interact with others is a very important skill that is learned in childhood.  I wish all parents, not just us parents with children with autism/pdd would realize that children need to socialize and play.  Sounds like you are a fantastic mom! Boy i understand.. My son can write the letter b and that is it.. As much as i work with him he doesn't now his letters or numbers.. and he is in a integrated pre-k class this year,.. Unless he learns them by June i do not know how he will go to kindergarten.. He will be so behind.. 
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