The Autism Bomb
Halloween brings back memories…
A lesson in labeling our children with special needs.
I believe this was just four years ago when peanut was eleven years old and her brother nine.
This year it was just us four celebrating the holiday and the kids and I were trick or treating only a few houses down from where I am sitting as I write these words.
I was not physically far from them, because I physically do not leave her side for very long, even back then.
Always keeping an eye out.
Typical scenario where they rang the door bell and someone answered; however, this time, the man that answered was wearing a werewolf mask and had a basket of candy with a fake hand sticking out.
You know… the one’s that are motion censored.
UH OH.
“YOU F!#$&* she screamed at him with a terrified, frantic look on her face as she reached for the candy and the fake hand moved.
“I’m sorry, she has autism” my young, innocent son said to the werewolf.
“Don’t tell people I have that” she screamed at her brother.
Many things crossed my mind at that point.
Is this gonna be one of those times I chase her down the street…wondering how I’m going to catch her and calm her down with her little brother in tow?
What was the werewolf thinking?
But most importantly, how do we explain these behaviors without always dropping the autism bomb?
Obviously it upsets her.
And what is more difficult, is how do explain this to their siblings?
How do they explain behaviors without always, always dropping the label?
Where do we divide the autism, with the scared little girl?
Four years later and I cannot really give you a great answer for that.
Written by, Trisha French
Trisha spends her days building awareness one day at a time by sharing the story of a fantabulous young lady living with autism + adhd and a variety of other Dx over at Trisha’s Autism Tips on Facebook.
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