Saturday, September 8, 2012

My Other Amazing Autistic Child

This is Adam my amazing step son who has PDD-NOS
My first exposure to Autism happened in the summer of 2008 when my then 6 year old step son came to our home for his summer time with his father. At first I didn't know what to make of him. He was a sweet, somewhat quiet kid who seemed shy and a little delayed.  I wasn't quite sure how to respond when his first reaction to seeing an ultrasound picture of soon to be born Gracie was "she looks like a demon baby". He said it so matter of fact that I was stunned, not really offended. I also experienced my first Autistic meltdown with him when on a road trip he spilled water on his pants. Now I regret how upset I got not understanding this trigger.
Over the years as I have came to know Adam I realize he simply says what he thinks not to be mean or offensive just simply facts as he see's them. When he reminds EVERY person we meet that I'm his STEP mom and not his REAL mom it's just Adam and his literal thinking not wanting anyone to mistake his mother and I.
I love his amazing memory and how he can remember facts about Lego sets and the name, now many pieces and how much they cost. I love how hard he tries to do things that come so easy to many of us. I love how he has his own unique way of talking. Instead of saying his sister is in the kitchen he will tell me that his sister is in the room with the oven.

He has taught me about how to rephrase instructions in a way that he can understand and how to answer extremely literal questions but most of all to let go of exceptions not only about him as a person but how to define my relationship as a step mom.