I'm laughing with him, not at him
Yesterday I had a meeting at school to go over the results of Joseph's assesments. It was really interesting to hear what everyone had to say about him. The things I found the most interesting were some of the things the school's autism expert had to say. (I respect her opinon a lot, she was the one who first assesed Joseph back when he was really little.) She talked about how during the observation she saw him walk around with his hands in front of him, with his fingertips touching. She also said she saw him cross and uncross his fingers a lot. Those are some little things that I a) don't know to look for and b) see him do so often that I don't even notice them anymore. She (and a couple of other people who observed him) also noticed a kind og sing-song pattern and tone to the way he talked. Again, I hear it all the time so I just sort of forget he does it.
A few things I was glad to hear them talk about were the way he has difficulty in establishing eye contact and how he seems to lack empathy. That makes him sound like a lost cause! It's really not as bad as it sounds because he really is a caring little boy. Hejust doesn't really seem to understand how his actions make other people feel. He's only able to understand how things make him feel. He's learning though but I was glad to hear the things that we have noticed about him be confirmed by someone who really knows what she's talking about.
When I got home from the meeting I read the entire write up of all the assesments and two things just made me laugh out loud. These might not be funny if you don't know Joseph but they're just so him.
"The teacher said it was time for questions for a student who was showing her violin and Joseph raised his hand. A student was called on who made a statment and Joseph commented aloud 'That is not a question.'"
"The teacher next stated that it was time to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Joseph stood up immediatly and the teacher praised him for being ready. However, he grabbed a tissue, dabbed his nose and threw the tissue away as the Pledge was being said."
Oh, my little boy.
Jen
5 comments:
That is truly your baby, tellin' it like it is and clearing out his nose. Love it!
Doing something like that during the Pledge of Allegiance sounds exactly like something my oldest would do. He still refuses to say it too.
Hey, maybe we could use more people telling it like it is, huh? I know my son certainly likes the Tell It Like It Is attitude since he pulls it off so well.
At least the "No one commands me like that". epicsode happened at home and not at school. Still the funniest line ever. I'm waiting for the chance to use it myself.
The things that you shared from Joseph's assessment are what make Joseph, Joseph. He knows the difference between a question and a comment. Good for him! The empathy will come. I think I read somewhere that Einstein walked around with his fingertips touching...and look at his genius accomplishments! Joseph has a great and wonderful future ahead of him, and I hope I am around to see it unfold. And, Beany, I am waiting for the opportunity to use that comment, too!! It is the best ever!!! The close second is when I was playing with him on floor with some of his playsets, and I told him that I needed to use the bathroom, and he told me that he would offended if I didn't!! I want to use that one sometime, too!! I love Joseph, he is really fun kid!! Grandma Judy
"The teacher said it was time for questions for a student who was showing her violin and Joseph raised his hand. A student was called on who made a statment and Joseph commented aloud 'That is not a question.'""
In my eyes, that would be a diagnosis for awesomeness.
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