Characters and Cards · Monday March 5, 2007 by Rose
Because we didn’t know that SJ had Aspergers until last year (for certain), I recall that up until he was about 6 we all used to just say “it’s his way” to explain any quirky behaviour. It never crossed our mind that he was different in any other way than his personality.
That’s not to say that we view him, really, as SEN – just that now we realise that there are some things that are harder for him to do and understand – like realising your child is hard of hearing and that they weren’t being “naughty” for the past however many years – they genuinely didn’t hear you!
So, having had the experience of thinking he behaved that way “just because he was a boy” then discovering there were other reasons, I’m now having the opposite issue with WD.
He plays most with SJ, and as a typical third child, copies his older brothers. This is good; in terms of his vocubulary at least. But I do find that he has copied many of SJ’s “quirky” behaviours.
Now I find myself worrying that he also has Aspergers – whereas in fact I’m sure in his case it is “just because” he is a boy!
In particular, it is his concentration, lack of focus, and his poor short term memory that are the most like SJ was at that age. He is very sociable – as SJ is – but in the same, unaware manner which means he doesn’t realise if his attentions are unwelcome, and gets highly upset if someone “rejects” him in any way.
On the other hand, he is very verbal (and obvious has no issues like SPD), and can make connections very quickly (more like JJ).
sigh I just don’t want to misjudge the situation and therefore feel like I am doing the child a disservice.
Last year we were concerned about his growth when, upon moving and getting a new GP, we had him weighed and measured for the first time in over a year and found out that he had dropped from the 75th to the 9th centile for his weight. As we already were having issues with his eating, this was a concern.
Six months later, he was weighed today and is now back up to the 50th centile, though his height has dropped. At least it seems it was just “one of those things”. He is eating slightly better now, but still seems quite obsessed with healthy eating, and doesn’t seem to like feeling full.
Today the boys have just played around – mainly with this retail game. Turns out its a potions shop that JJ is running, and SJ is supplying.. Oh and another new game, that again I don’t fully understand. What has come out of it though is that the boys have decided to make cards for each of the characters in their game. Like trump cards for star wars or doctor who, they have carefully drawn out each character and given them their ratings.
WD has drawn some brilliant ones too!
JJ announced to me that it was an idea of theirs to “do some learning” and the cards were the result…. ;0)
