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| Jim, Carla Suzanne, Danielle and Jeff |
This year brought us a future son-in-law and a visit to my in-laws. The son-in-law is amazing with Jeff and that is no problem but it was still different. The SIL lives quite a bit away and we don't get to see him as much as we would like. The in-laws was pretty sedate compared to other visits, definitely less stressful without the grimacing mouths and rolling eyes of one of the relatives that shall remain nameless.
With all of that you would think our holidays would be pretty easy, but they were not. Jeff got angry, tried to hit, he actually bit someone not once but TWICE in one day during the last day of school. (he has not bitten anyone in recent memory). All and all, not his best month.
Why such a drastic change in behavior? I am not sure. I wish I had a magic pill that I could take so I could all of a sudden understand everything my son says or does. I can only be the best detective I can be. One time he was saying "I am not a bird" for years. When he was mad, happy or tired.. didn't matter. I would hear that phrase at least fifty times a day.. until I broke the code. He was sick and I bought him a toy dinosaur. When I gave it to him he was watching Jurassic Park. Jeff looked me straight in the eye and said, "See mom, I am not a bird". The light bulb went off.. In the beginning of Jurassic Park, the main character is telling a child that he believed dinosaurs evolved in to birds. Jeff disagreed. I said, "JEFF.. I get it, you are telling me you don't agree with him". He looked at me like, "well DUH".. and we never heard the phrase again. Detective work!
So what is setting Jeff off so much this year? Is it me? Is it environment? Is he in pain but can't tell me? I am not sure what it is, but I will keep searching. In the mean time I found a few articles that might be helpful.
Autism and Holiday Gatherings
Child with Autism and Holidays <---I messed with the title. I have a hard time with "autistic child". I am in to the people first language... maybe it is because I work for a non - profit dealing with children and special needs.
Article from the UK
From Psychology Today
