Robin took ALL the children to a local hamburger place (Arctic Circle) for lunch with a play area. I stayed home to get a nap, she got hers when I made dinner and fed them.
Anyway, she said it started well. Just a little bickering among the older kids doing some of the usual, "Bobby's picking on me." Sarah (5) aka 'Tigger' getting up and down and out of her seat. Then as if on cue they all picked it up about 10 notches.
They were done eating and headed into the play area. I call this phase "the releasing of the hounds" something like a pack of baying dogs. They were LOUD, laughing, crying, fussing. Of course Robin just sat back ready to field any complaints or nasty looks. But Ammon (3) and Sarah (our classics) had on their Autism t-shirts. Ammon's was the: 'I'm Autistic, what's your excuse?!' Sarah's was: 'I'm Autistic and I think you're weird too!' shirts.
NO ONE SAID A THING! This has been happening more and more often, when we remember the t-shirts of course. Even when Ammon went to the front door and started his, open the door - watch it close, open the door - watch it close, routine.
Then he and Mary (2) decided to run back and forth between the play and eating areas. Still not a peep out of anyone, and the place was busy. About that time Robin decided to give everyone a break and headed up the gang for an assault on the Health Food store.
The t-shirts work, that is one of the reasons why we offer them to help the rest of you deal with the NT world. We found that shirts with 'words only' didn't work as well for us. People see our shirts with the large funny face and really take a moment to read the words.
Dad
6 comments:
Hi,
I was wonderind why the words have
to be harsh? Could it not work
with the picture and words that
say, I'm Autistic?
Or did you find that did not work?
I have been thinking of buying some
for my kids. Your thoughts on this?
You work in shifts too! My herding skills are poor, but I have spent many a long hour poised at the electronic door monitoring one and eyeing the other two in an enclosed area. 'Fielding' the criticism is another talent I have acquired over the years.
All the best to you and yours.
These are great shirts! I wish I had them 19 years ago when my son was born. I ordered one for him. He's 19 now and will get a kick out of them. Thanks for creating them.
BTW I live in Utah and work with Autism using Quantum Biofeedback with excellent results.
Kevin,
A LOT of people are down right rude. We've found that the 'in your face' comments put those people in their place (not to be more rude) and the nicer people just smile.
Jenny Kernan,
Tell us more about Quantum Biofeedback. Write to autism_bites@yahoo.com
Thanks!
My husband was wearing one of his "I love someone with autism" t-shirts in the grocery store when Charlie was, well, being Charlie (he wasn't exactly standing still or being quiet). A woman said of our boy: "He's nuts!" to which Jim said, "read the shirt."
A t-shirt is worth a thousand explanations......
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