Re: Just wanted to share a Halloween miracle...

[Guest guest]

How wonderful! Hugs,high fives and cheers to you and your family.

Smiles,

Tishanne

>

> This is kind of long, but I just thought I'd share my joy.

I

> know that there's at least one person reading that understands why

> this is a miracle to me...

> From birth CJ has shown aversion and sensitivity to touch.

In

> particular, he has never liked when the old ladies stuck stickers

on

> him in WalMart, he didn't want his face painted, and he had no

> interest in temorary tattoos.

> Later, once he was able to express himself, he also made it

> clear that he doesn't like costumes. He's unusually sensitive to

how

> he's perceived by others, so he doesn't want to look foolish. And

> (playing arm-chair psychiatrist) I think that he's been somewhat

> afraid of pretending to be someone else -- like he's worried that

> he'll lose himself somehow. He hasn't liked it when I dressed up

> either for (I think) the same reason -- he's worried that I'll

> disappear into the costume.

> Halloween has been a touchy subject, then. You can probably

> imagine. He's never wanted to go trick-or-treating because of

> the 'rule'. Autistic or not, I firmly believe that if you won't

> dress up, then you shouldn't go asking others for candy. So he's

> seemed pretty content, just wanting to stay home and hand out candy.

> But Tommy and I don't want that for him. We know him well

> enough to know that the actual act of trick-or-treating is

something

> that he'd really enjoy.

> So we've spent the last couple of years working around his

> aversion. Obviously, he hasn't dressed as anything that required

> masks or face paint. We've stuck to the costumes that just go over

> your regular clothes -- like a ninja with the puffy (muscular)

> chest. We bribe him to just go through one neighborhood, and then

he

> can come home.

> Each time he's had great fun going door-to-door, but all the

> time he's just dying to get home and get out of the costume. This

> year he's 6, and I've been thinking about giving up. If he's just

> not into it, then why force it? He really does enjoy handing out

> candy and glowsticks, so I should just let him do that, right?

> His school had a 'Celebrate Learning Day' (they can't do

> holidays) with a Luau theme. I ran the little table of temporary

> tattoos. The tattoos were fish, hula dancers, surfer dudes, palm

> trees, etc... CJ stopped by my table as he was making his rounds

> with Daddy. I knew he wouldn't want one.

> A couple of years ago I had bribed him to try one, but as

soon

> as it was on, he started trying to scratch it off. I was worried

> that he was going to take his skin off, so I washed right back

off.

> But being me -- the eternal optimist, when he walked up to my table

> I, of course, asked him if he'd like a tattoo. He, of course, said

> no. But then he saw one of a Ukelele.

> His obsession right now is guitars. He's desperate for his

> own guitar! This wonderfully surprising child of mine saw it and

> said, " Ooh, Mom! I want a guitar tattoo!!! " I was skeptical, but

I

> just said, " Okay honey, go get in line. " I figured that by the

time

> he got to me he'd change his mind, but he didn't!!! He actually

sat

> down and let me put a tattoo on, and he did it in front of his

> peers. He wasn't worried what they would think! I was shocked!!!

> Later, Tommy came over to see how I was doing. When I asked

> where CJ was, he pointed to the face painting table! Sure enough,

my

> baby was letting someone paint his face!!! I wasn't thrilled with

> the skull and crossbones theme, but there was no way I was going to

> criticize his choice!!!!!!!

> And a couple of nights ago, he met up with the neighbor

kids,

> and he went trick-or-treating. Not only was he not bribed or

> cajoled, but he was excited! And to think that I had been ready to

> give up!!! ;D

>

[Guest guest]

Yaaaaaay for you and your family!!! I am so excited for you! I think it is the best feeling in the world when our kids make these steps forward. And, wow, what big steps he took!

Thanks for giving me a huge smile today and thanks for sharing!!

Big hugs to you and your family,

Steph

-- Just wanted to share a Halloween miracle...

This is kind of long, but I just thought I'd share my joy. I

know that there's at least one person reading that understands why

this is a miracle to me...

From birth CJ has shown aversion and sensitivity to touch. In

particular, he has never liked when the old ladies stuck stickers on

him in WalMart, he didn't want his face painted, and he had no

interest in temorary tattoos.

Later, once he was able to express himself, he also made it

clear that he doesn't like costumes. He's unusually sensitive to how

he's perceived by others, so he doesn't want to look foolish. And

(playing arm-chair psychiatrist) I think that he's been somewhat

afraid of pretending to be someone else -- like he's worried that

he'll lose himself somehow. He hasn't liked it when I dressed up

either for (I think) the same reason -- he's worried that I'll

disappear into the costume.

Halloween has been a touchy subject, then. You can probably

imagine. He's never wanted to go trick-or-treating because of

the 'rule'. Autistic or not, I firmly believe that if you won't

dress up, then you shouldn't go asking others for candy. So he's

seemed pretty content, just wanting to stay home and hand out candy.

But Tommy and I don't want that for him. We know him well

enough to know that the actual act of trick-or-treating is something

that he'd really enjoy.

So we've spent the last couple of years working around his

aversion. Obviously, he hasn't dressed as anything that required

masks or face paint. We've stuck to the costumes that just go over

your regular clothes -- like a ninja with the puffy (muscular)

chest. We bribe him to just go through one neighborhood, and then he

can come home.

Each time he's had great fun going door-to-door, but all the

time he's just dying to get home and get out of the costume. This

year he's 6, and I've been thinking about giving up. If he's just

not into it, then why force it? He really does enjoy handing out

candy and glowsticks, so I should just let him do that, right?

His school had a 'Celebrate Learning Day' (they can't do

holidays) with a Luau theme. I ran the little table of temporary

tattoos. The tattoos were fish, hula dancers, surfer dudes, palm

trees, etc... CJ stopped by my table as he was making his rounds

with Daddy. I knew he wouldn't want one.

A couple of years ago I had bribed him to try one, but as soon

as it was on, he started trying to scratch it off. I was worried

that he was going to take his skin off, so I washed right back off.

But being me -- the eternal optimist, when he walked up to my table

I, of course, asked him if he'd like a tattoo. He, of course, said

no. But then he saw one of a Ukelele.

His obsession right now is guitars. He's desperate for his

own guitar! This wonderfully surprising child of mine saw it and

said, "Ooh, Mom! I want a guitar tattoo!!!" I was skeptical, but I

just said, "Okay honey, go get in line." I figured that by the time

he got to me he'd change his mind, but he didn't!!! He actually sat

down and let me put a tattoo on, and he did it in front of his

peers. He wasn't worried what they would think! I was shocked!!!

Later, Tommy came over to see how I was doing. When I asked

where CJ was, he pointed to the face painting table! Sure enough, my

baby was letting someone paint his face!!! I wasn't thrilled with

the skull and crossbones theme, but there was no way I was going to

criticize his choice!!!!!!!

And a couple of nights ago, he met up with the neighbor kids,

and he went trick-or-treating. Not only was he not bribed or

cajoled, but he was excited! And to think that I had been ready to

give up!!! ;D

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

I agree this is really neat!!!!

e

To: AutismBehaviorProblems Sent: Monday, November 3, 2008 7:28:51 AMSubject: Re: Just wanted to share a Halloween miracle...

Yaaaaaay for you and your family!!! I am so excited for you! I think it is the best feeling in the world when our kids make these steps forward. And, wow, what big steps he took!

Thanks for giving me a huge smile today and thanks for sharing!!

Big hugs to you and your family,

Steph

-- Just wanted to share a Halloween miracle...

This is kind of long, but I just thought I'd share my joy. I

know that there's at least one person reading that understands why

this is a miracle to me...

From birth CJ has shown aversion and sensitivity to touch. In

particular, he has never liked when the old ladies stuck stickers on

him in WalMart, he didn't want his face painted, and he had no

interest in temorary tattoos.

Later, once he was able to express himself, he also made it

clear that he doesn't like costumes. He's unusually sensitive to how

he's perceived by others, so he doesn't want to look foolish. And

(playing arm-chair psychiatrist) I think that he's been somewhat

afraid of pretending to be someone else -- like he's worried that

he'll lose himself somehow. He hasn't liked it when I dressed up

either for (I think) the same reason -- he's worried that I'll

disappear into the costume.

Halloween has been a touchy subject, then. You can probably

imagine. He's never wanted to go trick-or-treating because of

the 'rule'. Autistic or not, I firmly believe that if you won't

dress up, then you shouldn't go asking others for candy. So he's

seemed pretty content, just wanting to stay home and hand out candy.

But Tommy and I don't want that for him. We know him well

enough to know that the actual act of trick-or-treating is something

that he'd really enjoy.

So we've spent the last couple of years working around his

aversion. Obviously, he hasn't dressed as anything that required

masks or face paint. We've stuck to the costumes that just go over

your regular clothes -- like a ninja with the puffy (muscular)

chest. We bribe him to just go through one neighborhood, and then he

can come home.

Each time he's had great fun going door-to-door, but all the

time he's just dying to get home and get out of the costume. This

year he's 6, and I've been thinking about giving up. If he's just

not into it, then why force it? He really does enjoy handing out

candy and glowsticks, so I should just let him do that, right?

His school had a 'Celebrate Learning Day' (they can't do

holidays) with a Luau theme. I ran the little table of temporary

tattoos. The tattoos were fish, hula dancers, surfer dudes, palm

trees, etc... CJ stopped by my table as he was making his rounds

with Daddy. I knew he wouldn't want one.

A couple of years ago I had bribed him to try one, but as soon

as it was on, he started trying to scratch it off. I was worried

that he was going to take his skin off, so I washed right back off.

But being me -- the eternal optimist, when he walked up to my table

I, of course, asked him if he'd like a tattoo. He, of course, said

no. But then he saw one of a Ukelele.

His obsession right now is guitars. He's desperate for his

own guitar! This wonderfully surprising child of mine saw it and

said, "Ooh, Mom! I want a guitar tattoo!!!" I was skeptical, but I

just said, "Okay honey, go get in line." I figured that by the time

he got to me he'd change his mind, but he didn't!!! He actually sat

down and let me put a tattoo on, and he did it in front of his

peers. He wasn't worried what they would think! I was shocked!!!

Later, Tommy came over to see how I was doing. When I asked

where CJ was, he pointed to the face painting table! Sure enough, my

baby was letting someone paint his face!!! I wasn't thrilled with

the skull and crossbones theme, but there was no way I was going to

criticize his choice!!!!!! !

And a couple of nights ago, he met up with the neighbor kids,

and he went trick-or-treating. Not only was he not bribed or

cajoled, but he was excited! And to think that I had been ready to

give up!!! ;D

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