Say What You Mean

“Snow White doesn’t need her nipples anymore,” #5 announced this morning. Although, after a couple of seconds, I knew what he meant, it sent disturbing signals riveting through my body, thus, provoking an irresistible teaching moment. His dog had been spayed and therefore would never have puppies. My first response thought was “yes, but they should remain on her body!” This compulsion to stop the world for understanding, guidance, and teaching would give even a normal person a good case of ADHD and likewise, my persistence and determination, one of OCD.

Although he is now 10, is quite capable of conversation, applying cultural and social rules to semantics isn’t a strong point. He says what he means. This inconsideration of how others will interpret him is typical of Asperger’s Disorder, part of his diagnosis. But, just short of being lethal to either of us, he will become as socialized and functional as possible for survival in this world. These days, one would have to spend at least several hours in a similar aged social gathering, in order to realize, something isn’t quite right. He is the youngest and most challenging of my five children with Tourette’s syndrome and typical co-morbid maladies, and two with additional Asperger’s. He has certainly followed in their footsteps. Living up to his siblings reputations, in spades!