Took the kids to the zoo. Autistic son had a really bad day!

LOL. He should have been in a cage on display at the rate everyone was looking and the way he was acting. I have had such a rough couple of weeks with him that I am more than a little frustrated. If I write an article about the zoo to rant, so much negativity will come out no one will ever read my articles again. LOL Don't want that, my pv are going up steadily. LOL

haha, I bet all those frustrated mothers will read your article gleefully oh, knowing that someone else is suffering with naughty kid as well.
I think putting him in the cage and asking people to pay for watching him is a better idea oh. At least you get to earn money out of his misbehavior, then you can buy ice cream and relax oh

I should call the zoo back and see if I can display him. Maybe they will pay me to keep him. That would be funny! Mostly, he is a good little guy. Sometimes...

Ooooooooooooh!

Well, you know, what do you want from me. If they had any sense they would put me on display to as the craziest mother. As long as they gave me crayons and coloring books I would be good. LOL

I like reading what you and scheng1 wrote. You can take the stress in such light hearted way and joke about it. Does scheng1 have autistic child? Did he understand what you went through?

Anyway, I think perhaps it's the smell. Autistic child can be very sensitive to many different things. Mine is sensitive to sound, some, to touch, so I guessed yours is to smell. There is a strong smell in the zoo. I remembered that on following the class to an excursion to the zoo.

If scheng has a child she hasn't mentioned it. LOL I think she is just young at heart. LOL

Unfortunately, I can talk to my son and tell him what is going to happen, and I do, but he doesn't understand and he still acts without inhibitions. I tried the squeezing and the massage at the zoo as he was having a tantrum and that didn't work. Usually holding him makes things better but it didn't. I couldn't imagine asking him to sit anywhere and wait until I am through. I know at this point that won't work. I am hoping he just isn't "old" enough yet. He's four with a mind of an 18 month to two years old. I don't like the schools they have here because they aren't preparing him for anything. I wish I new of somewhere better. I guess it is all still new territory.

My eldest is 13 years old and my youngest is 9. We also had so many out of control experiences but therapy and the school interventions played a great role in their development. He's still young and early intervention will really help him. I can feel and understand what you're going through sometimes it's so frustrating but hold on my friend you are the best teacher and care provider for him for now. i hope you will find the right school for your son. Thanks for this sharing. I love listening and sharing with special moms like you (YES WE ARE SPECIAL TOO-GIFTED AND BLESSED for having the heart to take care of our special kids). I consider discussion like this as a support group discussion here in mylot!

I believe it is important to share on here. I have learned a lot from others on here and hope to continue. I am hoping that we will be able to get the help he needs.

That’s true. Sharing is one way of unloading/debriefing our loving sentiments in taking good care of our children.

I am advocating for a caring and positive environment for our special kids and those who are physically and mentally challenged. Since I am into training consultancies—I always find time to brief people about autism. It's amazing that despite the Autism Society's efforts and advocacy there are still so many people who are not aware about this.

I am actually a little surprised at the autism society. I don't see where they are doing much in our area. You never hear anything about it.

at least here in our country Autism Society of the Philippines is really active as it relates to their advocacy. But we do need more financial support to finance further activities to make their programs and services nationwide. They have regular trainings for parents, caregivers, mall service crew and staff, security guards, food chains, etc. i am happy about all the efforts that they are doing but people are just this "i don't care attitude"...

That's great that they are reaching out to the community like that. I haven't seen anything like that here. I know what you mean about the attitude. If it doesn't affect the person on a personal level they just want you out of their way. They are too busy for it.

...and i don't care either, as long as they will not hurt my kids i am fine. i don't care if they will make faces at time when my kids are having their moments, as long as they will not comment anything or else-- i will get back to them!

Your poor friend. I wish her the best. I don't want to see my son on mood altering medications. Although, I may need to start taking some if he doesn't. He sure can give me a fit sometimes. It's nice to know he does it at school too because I thought he was just doing it to me to see what he could get away with. LOL I picked him up from school a while ago and the teacher said he did that off and on all day. I hope this stage passes.

Just remember he is still young,one day he will be bigger and stronger than you.My friends son has hit her.I do think it might be better if you let him have some drugs to calm him down he might even thank you for it,as he will be able to fit in better.I am not talking about filling him up so much he cannot think straight.I really advise you to talk to your doctor.Take care he is a lovely lad I can tell that.

The worst part is we have meetings all this week so I can't even fit an appointment in. He is acting the same with the teacher though, so at least I know it isn't something I am doing. LOL The teacher said it may be a phase and to ride it out. I can only hope. He is getting more verbal though. He will recognize some animals, but it is always on his terms. You can't ask him and expect him to respond.

Well verbal is verbal so eventually he will get there. Didn't you say your daughter is into things on her own terms as well? Sounds like stubborn runs in the family!

LOL. Stubborn does run in the family. He has been saying little phrases and such, so I know he is starting to talk.

Get him some talking toys and a leap pad.

He has all kinds of talking toys. In fact I need to buy more batteries for a couple of them LOL.

Have you ever seen the movie, "Mozart and the Whale"?

LOL. Everyone stims, even me. I don't think anyone notices though. Thank goodness. I don't have autism though. LOL

As for my autistic son, he does the handflapping. Sometimes it's play for him. He has even gotten to the point now that his two pointer fingers are people and they talk to each other. Sometimes I can actually understand what is going on. His teacher said that isn't a common autistic trait. He has found a way of relating himself with other people and he expresses it with his hands. Sometimes he will use only one hand and that represents himself and he will actually interact with you. I think his stims are a good thing. So far he isn't "hyper" that I can tell. What would give it away?

Oh, for the question about the meltdown. He just got tired and probably a little hot. Once we left the zoo I gave him a drink and he was fine. He just didn't want to be there I guess. He also fell asleep in the car on the way home, so I am leaning towards tired.

People don't bother him. He usually doesn't notice them. That I am glad of so far. We go to the zoo, the library, the store. I try to take him out as much as possible. He may have classic autism, but there are some things that he doesn't exhibit that goes with it. Usually he will just walk along with me through anything. He likes affection, he just won't give it back. Let me know about your son.

RED RUM! RED RUM! hehehe sorry. That finger thing just reminds me a little of The Shining. You would definately know if your kid is hyper. My kid is anxious about crowds. When we are in a crowd he likes to make really loud "notice me" noises. I think he thinks the odd looks are a good thing. He is a total people watcher, and if someone is doing something really loud or flamboyant, you can bet I will be seeing it for months or years to come coming from him. He likes affection only from adults he knows and small children. He is very drawn to babies and toddlers, and they can't escape his company without at least 3 hugs (whether they want them or not).

Wow that's cool! My wouldn't hug anyone! He's hugged and kissed me only a few times in his life! My son won't look at people. Is your son on the less sever end of the spectrum. It almost sounds like territs. Sorry for spelling. With all the autistic children I have been around, I haven't seen any that "notice" people. I guess they are just more severe? I don't know.

I thought he had terrets also, but the teachers and doctors say he doesn't because he seems to be just copying sounds that he likes. He doesn't maintain eye contact when he talks to people, except when he is pushing buttons and he knows it. He has been diagnosed with aspergers syndrom, which is a little different than classic autism. Everybody feels that he will eventually be able to function normally....I sure hope so.

Aspergers is a little different. It will be okay, he should be a fully functioning adult. It's hard as heck going through it until he gets to that point, but he will get there and you will be sad to see him leave the nest.

Oh, geez. I so need to talk to you. How old is your son? My son isn't really hyper. He will listen. He doesn't really repeat what you say to him in that manner. He picks up songs that way though. Including the beat. It's weird.

All autistic kids have different behaviors. My son is 7 and has always been very very hyper and destructive. It sounds like your son doesn't have ecolalia (repeating back). Mine does. He can recite commercials and movies per betum (sp?) He also makes franken-toys. He takes apart his toys and builds new toys. One time he turned a plastic childrens' desk and a toy trap drum set into a functioning gas pump.

Maybe he is just a genius and doesn't know what to do with himself. That is so great that he talks. I am still waiting.

Yeah, that's my theory too:P. He just has a lot of trouble with appropriate behavior and social situations (and he has selective hearing*snicker*).

Do all kids have selective hearing? Actually, I think it may be inherited. My husband has the same problem! LOL

Oh wow! I am so lucky then. He has only had that type of fit once but we were at home. He didn't try to hurt me or himself. I held him like a baby and kept him from kicking by holding his legs. He cried for awhile, but he settled down and it was like nothing happened.

Not easy, but atleast he is unique in his own way. maybe one day me and him will learn together how to deal with issues. Right now it is just trial and error.

That's all we can do until there is a reason for this and a way to control it.