Isn't it funny
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| Sat, 07-23-2005 - 11:30pm |
when our kids seek out others just like them. Ds#1 seems to be so adept at knowing which kids are also on the spectrum, (albeit subconsciously). At a private zoo there a while back he and this other boy (clearly high on the pdd or even AS spectrum) literally found eachother, and promtly began having two conversations talking at eachother. Both seemed delighted with this. The other father and I just gave eachother that knowing nod and smile like "oh, you have one too then."
Then today I took ds to a wholesale warehouse type of store and he inevitably found the one kid in the place who I have to say was a carbon cutout of Liam. Liam still has trouble with introducing himself and is often perceived as intrusive and unwelcome with new kids. Today though, he walked right up to this little boy and started talking and just when I was about to cringe and figure out how I could distract Liam from yet another embarrassing social situation, they had the most amazing conversation. They obviously had loads in common, and shoppers walking by were cracking up at how these two kids were interacting like little adults. We kept bumping into this boy and each and everytime their interactions became more adorable. By the end of the shopping trip I thought Liam was going to ask if we could keep him, lol!
It gives me hope that maybe, if nothing else, there'll be another kid like him at school he can pal up with; these seem to be the kids he connects with immediately these days.
I know now why Aspies marry other aspies; I know my aunt and uncle did so, (both are academics and both their kids are also on the spectrum).
Still, there's hope,
Dee

Dee,
I KWYM. My kids seem to find and gravitate towards other SN kids, particularly Aspies too. I remember reading Donna Wiliam's book, and her description of seeing another Autie on the train and "just knowing" that he was the same as she. (This was back in the day when the disorder was very rare). I guess they just understand each other at such a deep level -almost a mollecular level, that NTs can't begin to understand.
-Paula
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Dee,
This is such an interesting observation that it inspired me to post a QOTW about peers and friends. Maybe others will have some things to say about playmates with ASD's for their kids. So far, we don't have a lot of regular playmates for Cassian, but I did find one little boy (helps that his Mom and I like each other too), Joseph, from Cassian's class last year.
Joseph and Cassian have similarly high activity levels, and Joseph is really good about getting in Cassian's face to get him to respond. They both do scripted games quite a bit and seem to like the same amount of repetition. Both enjoy imaginative play, and both have little or no sensitivity issues. Their use of language is well-matched too. I'm trying to get playdates as much as possible for us this summer with Joseph and his mom because he is really the first kid I have seen Cassian do prolonged back-and-forth interaction with.
Suzi