The World According To E, Ryan and The Girl

the new neighbors meet Ryan

As many children with autism do, Ryan likes to repeat certain things, over and over again. A lot of the time he does it when he's nervous or upset about something. Often, it is just a whisper to himself, but sometimes it's much, much louder.

Our new neighbors like to sit in their backyard and smoke. So, when Ryan is laying and swinging back and forth in his hammock (one of his favorite things to do in the world), wafts of smoke come over the fence.

So now, whenever he smells it, Ryan makes really loud choking sounds and says "Ughh...gross!" again and again and again until they go inside.

 

warning! ok, nevermind

In one part of our apartment we have a big chair in a corner. E made a "secret area" behind it with paper, colors, books, etc. He then decided to make a threatening sign to keep people out.

Well, maybe not so threatening...

(We do house points instead of allowances.)

Me: House points for everyone!
Lily: Me?
Me: Yes, Lily I said "house points for everyone."
L: Me?
Me: Yes, you are part of everyone.
L: Yes! Me!

A drawing E did at school to illustrate proper fish care: (top) Don't let a cat eat your fish. (middle left) Feed your fish. (middle right) Wave to your fish. (bottom left) A happy fish. (bottom right) Clean the water!

Acting class

After school on Mondays, Ryan is taking a class called "comic acting." It's basically an improv class and, I thought, a potentially great experience for the kids involved. I've now attended a few times and am disappointed, not in the other children or in the teacher, but in the parents of the other kids.

As sometimes happens, Daddy got a little angry when "people" were having trouble getting dressed for school. When we got in the car, Ryan asked me what was wrong.

Me: Everyone please listen. Daddy gets mad because he asks you guys to do things like get dressed and you don't listen. It's really very simple. If you don't want Daddy to get angry, then all you have to do is what?

(Silence. No one was listening.)

kaboom

E received a present called Mind Blowing Science. He and his Mom opened it and she started reading the instructions. Far too impatient to wait and conduct an actual experiment, E looked at the all the contents and said "Why don't we just mix it ALL together and see what happens?"

Daddy gets angry.
Me: I just wish you guys would listen and stop complaining so much! All I hear is "I want this" and "I need that!"
E: But Daddy, we're just kids.

Me: Ethan, you promised me you would finish all your schoolwork.
E: That's right...that's right. And, do you know, if your promise is broken your friends are broken, and if that's your last friend, then no more friends.

Me: Ethan, you're not being very supportive.
E: I am! I really am...in my head.