March 8, 2014

How to Tell the Difference Between a Tantrum and a Meltdown.

59f3a39f008fada3aea9ef32f96f5c43I just saw this on Pinterest and it really struck me. It was an ah-ha moment I guess. Cooper is obsessed with getting a reaction. Pretty much everyone that has met him will admit this. He is driven by reactions from others.

If Cooper gets mad for whatever reason he goes into full blown tantrum mode. Since he can’t speak he tends to knock over chairs. Or maybe knock stuff off a table. (It’s exasperating!) But the odd part about it is he waits until you are looking. He will run up to a chair, wait for your attention, and then knock it over.

So, if he is freaking out and I walk away, the tantrum ends. I guess he thinks what fun is that. Now if we could just figure out how to stop them before they start. Sigh…

 

 

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Kate Swenson

Kate Swenson lives in Minnesota with her husband Jamie, and four children, Cooper, Sawyer, Harbor and Wynnie. Kate launched Finding Cooper's Voice from her couch while her now 11-year-old son Cooper was being diagnosed with autism. Back then it was a place to write. Today it is a living, thriving community of people who want to not only advocate for autism, but also make the world a better place for individuals with disabilities and their families. Her first book, Forever Boy, will be released, April 5, 2022.

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2 Comments

  1. ourspecialnest on March 13, 2014 at 7:27 pm

    This is so interesting! I just asked myself this question the other day. Love your blog. I can relate on so many things!



    • Avatar photo findingcoopersvoice on March 17, 2014 at 12:34 am

      Yay! Glad to hear that!