how ironic
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| Mon, 04-28-2008 - 8:38am |
We had a VERY busy weekend-- Amelia's ballet on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, soccer games and choir concert last night. Weston really looks forward to weekends and not having to do anything besides Sunday School and church-- NOT so this weekend, but he handled it all pretty well.
We took the whole family to the ballet on Friday evening. In the past they have just had general admission tickets, so we get there early and sit on the back row(Weston has only made it through the whole thing once, last year)-- still have good seats but no one is behind us . NOT so, they were assigning seats and you didn't get to choose-- we were in about the 10th row and close to the middle (good seats but not so great for Weston, ASD, age 11, 6th grade). One of Amelia's good friends at ballet has parents that are psychology professors at the university. I don't know them very well, they know we have lots of children, but never discussed Dx or anything like that. The Dad is a specialist in behavioral psychology esp ADHD and other LDs and high functioning ASDs and has been doing research regarding middle schoolers and public school. SO...guess who happens to sit next to Weston! LOL!!!!!!
Ok, so Weston was in a very good place, acting pretty "normal". He conversed a little w/ the Drs. and myself before the start of the ballet. I thought he did very well, esp w/ a few prompts from me. He and I discussed the ballet notes a little so he'd be ready for what was happening. He listened to his ipod, then when it started he put it away (this was previously agreed upon!). He was restless and stimmy, but not too bad. I kept whispering to him and giving him hugs and squeezing his hand. After it was over he waited fairly patiently for people to get up and move from the theater.
The next day I took several of Amelia's girl friends to the 2nd performance. The mom Dr. was there and in the same general area of seating. We said 'hello' and I made a comment on how she wouldn't have to sit next to our family. She laughed and said, "your son did very well." I said something else about him and that "oh, I was hoping you'd just think he was a normal kid and not autistic", She laughed and said, "we are clinical psychologists, it's our job to know, but my husband said you did everything perfect to keep him calm and make it through the performance, that situation has to be very difficult for him." LOL! they have no idea!
So, he may seem not seem autistic to the general public (just odd), but the clinical behavioral psychologists can spot them even in a casual situation!
At least we had someone sympathetic sitting next to him!
Betsy

That's very cool!
I'm glad that Weston could go and support his sister.
Awesome Job! You did great and so did Weston.
Ya know, I kind of like hearing someone acknowledge all of that? I am so sick of comments such as "gee don't look autistic to me" or odd looks when you are allowing the ipod or all those other accommodations. that sounds like exactly how we do things with Mike.
Renee
Great Story!!!
Chris well he just would insist on leaving after the first 15 min lol.