Don’s doing SO good! | Autism PDD

Wow out of the mouths of babes....come the wisest things. Liz

That is so great to hear! Such appropriate language, AMAZING!

Glad things are going a little more smoothly for both of you!

I too got a little chuckle out of the mental picture of you trying to get Donny up on his bed because I've been there...only in reverse...Mason climbing up on his brothers top bunk and me standing in all these funny positions trying to reach him and then get him down without hurting myself or him! HA!

Great update, thanks for sharing!!

Well, he's got a point! Good for him, sounds like he is doing very well.

Oh man that is JUST amazing

He is doing so great

Wow--he is a smart kid! It's also great you got a well deserved break!

I was forming a mental picture in my mind ... of you trying to get Donny up in the bed ... I had to laugh, sorry!

I think it is fantastic that Donny said what he did, and pretty darn amazing too!

WOW! Did your jaw hit the floor? That is so fantastic! Donny's doing GREAT. This last med change (getting rid of Paxil and
increasing his Depakote), combined with telling him that he doesn't need
to
go to school anymore, has made a world of difference. He's so happy,
affectionate, even a bit clingy, which is soooo not him historically.

We just went away for a weekend, and Don spent the weekend with his
Grandpa and his Grandpa's partner. He was reportedly a pretty darned
good
boy. Only two meltdowns, one Saturday, and one Sunday, and no
aggression during either. Both were easily redirected, not even
"meltdowns"
compared to what they used to be. Grandpa said that Don was very
attached to him, always wanting to be in his lap or next to him,
constantly
tickling and intiating interaction - Grandpa actually had to let him know
when he'd go to the bathroom, or Don would be trying to follow him in

This has been the pattern in our mornings together also - he's super
affectionate and interactive, and actually driving me a bit nuts at times,
lol. We're working on NOT yelling/stimming into mom's ear because it's
too loud and makes mom jump out of her skin

On Wednesday of last week, we actually had a really neat episode. I was
trying to assemble some new bedroom furniture for Don, which he was
excited about on top of his normal morning hyperactivity. I was
frustrated and overtired, and he was driving me CRAZY (we both have
sensory issues: he's sensory-seeking, and I'm sensory-avoidant). I'd tried
a bunch of stuff to redirect him: I'd put him in a shower, I'd told him to
play video games, I'd tried getting him to help - I can only handle so
much of the shouting in my ear that he does when he's feeling happy and
affectionate

. Finally, at my wits' end, I told him to go sit on the couch
and watch TV. He went to the couch, but instead of watching TV, layed
there complaining loudly. I suppose I'd already lost my temper at this
point but didn't realize it - I went out the living room and told him to turn
the TV on, he refused.

I then counted to 3, he still refused, and I totally blew up. Told him he
was having a nap, I'd had enough, etc. Carried him to his room (since he
wouldn't go on his own). I was super conflict-seeking, being really
confrontational with Don, since I"d totally flipped my lid, and he had every
excuse to get aggressive (to be clear, I was NOT hitting Donny or even
yelling at him, just raised tone of voice, and very confrontational
approach), yet he didn't. I proceeded to try to shove his 100lb butt up
into his new loft bed. I didn't really think out this aspect of a loft bed,
that I can no longer "make" him go to bed

So there I was, wedged
between the wall and the ladder to his bed, huffing and puffing, and
trying to physically force my 100lb 10 year old up a ladder. I was no
doubt quite red in the face, and I just kept restating "you are having a
nap. Mom's had enough. I need a break, go to bed!"

Suddenly, through my haze of frustratio I hear words that stopped me
dead in my tracks. Donny, not hitting, swearing, biting, or otherwise
acting out (except in refusing to go up his ladder) is saying, clear as a
bell, "Stop it! Stop it mom! You are mom. You are out of control. You
are the mom. You lost control. Stop it!"

Yes, my autistic, allegedly MR, 10 year old called me out on having a
tantrum

He was right, I had lost my cool. I immediately stopped, and told him he
was right, and apologized for losing my temper. We then problem solved,
and decided he would go play in the yard for 45 minutes so mom could
have a break.

I'd be embarassed, but ya know, everyone loses their temper once in
awhile - which I explained to Donny. Mostly, I was just sooooo amazed
and proud. What amazing communication and self-control from him -
this was a HUGE breakthrough for us.

I'm just so proud of him