Deb - posted on 06/22/2012 ( 2 moms have responded )
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My youngest son is six, diagnosed with ADHD and is on the Autism Spectrum. He is very high-functioning and verbal. Very smart and does well in school. He has many friends IN SCHOOL and in his after school program. They are wonderful to him and he is blessed in this way.
Here's the problem...when it comes to socialization, He is clueless. Of course we are working on this with him and indeed, we've come a long way. We are seasonal campers and from May through August we can usually be found at our camp, complete with lake, pool, etc.
Most of the time folks can tell J has some issues and are usually kind about it. But yesterday, we had (or truthfully I HAD) a really bad day. I took J to the pool and as soon as he hit the water, he started babbling and yelling and crying out (all joyfully!) but really calling attention to himself. He has been swimming since he was about a year old and we have a pool at home, but you'd think this was his first dip in the water.
Well ALL of the kids tried to stay away from him. My poor little boy was so happy and kept swimming up to kids and they immediately swam away, went underwater, or once, splashed him in the face to get away. Even the adults! I was horrified. J saw a swim noodle not being used and b 4 I could stop him, he climbed on. I quickly told him, no, this is not ours J, and took him off. The "father" standing there took the noodle and placed it up on the side of the pool deck.
If that were me or my husband ( a real dad) we would have said go ahead honey, you can use it, just bring it back when you're done.
The second time we went in the pool, we cleared it of all people and kids within five minutes. My son said, "where did everybody go?"
You know, I found myself telling him earlier, J, stop making so much noise, honey. Please keep quiet! None of the other kids are making noise like you...when I realized that I was squelching his JOY and DELIGHT at being in the pool! But it was so hard...everyone was staring....and I'm just a horrible mom. I wanted to stand on a platform and yell myself that he's just a little boy! He just wants to make a friend! What's wrong with you people???
I really needed to vent. Thank you for listening...
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