kids with Autism develop a little slower than others, so it turns out all the joyous things typical kids go through in their 2's & 3's are currently entering Ben's repertoire. awesome.
A recent conversation:
mommy: Do you want something to drink?
Ben: (screaming) NOoooooooo! Goodbye mama! goodbye mama!
Mommy: (grumbling) ok. nothing to drink then. (leaves the room)
Ben: More milk? Milk, mama?
Mommy: (sigh) Ok. Let's get some milk. Grab a cup.
Ben: NOOOOOOOO! (crying and incoherent screaming)
Mommy: WE can't drink the milk without a cup.
Ben: NOOOOOO!
Mommy: Ok then. When you decide what you want, come and get me. (leaves the room)
Ben: *sniffle* (rummages around in the "cup drawer", grabs a cup and the milk and walks out to the living room) More milk, mama?
aaaaaaand Scene!
This conversation, happens more times a day than i can count--not all about milk, mind. Just insert whatever it is he wants to do, and that's the Ben/Mommy interaction. It's a good thing i know my lines.
NOOOOO! am i allowed to scream too?
And before you offer
He has lately also taken to a little more violence--hitting and kicking and the occasional head-butt. awesome. So, of course he's hearing NO! from us a little more as well.
It made me think of the people to whom I'd like to scream no! :
- Anyone who sends us an envelope with the words "total due"
- the creepy bagger at Ralph's that just skeeves me out with his intense eye-contact
- Badwig McMantits down the street who hollers at people to slow down, even if you're driving the speed limit
- Sarah Jessica Parker
- the makers of Elephun and Play-doh and any noisy fuckin' toy that doesn't have an off button!
- Weight Watchers
- Mommy & Me
- and lastly, the jackass who didn't know where they were driving this morning on Camarillo and was going 20 miles and hour with 5 people behind her and sporadic stopping.
You know, I would feel immensely better if i could just shout NO! at people. No wonder Ben does it.
