Finding something your autistic child enjoys or finds enjoyment playing with is like gold sometimes. Something that they enjoy that also teaches them is even more worthy..almost priceless. However, Autism and the children that live with it have a funny way of proving things sometimes. This particular time our autistic child decided to prove who is boss. Actually we are not sure which child pulled the shenanigans, but what we now know is that there may have been a collaboration.
It starts with an exciting trip to our favorite family place…Costco. My wife took on the daunting task of taking the kids to this madhouse. Upon entrance to Costco she and the kids are directly drawn towards the books section. Unbeatable prices and new relevant topics, the place is a wonderland. After wandering through the books I am told they stumbled up the best book ever made…The Backyardigan’s book. This particular book is interactive in that it has a pen that is to be used to trace letters and numbers and just write along with the book. Yet the most important part and really awe inspiring, is the pen. This beauty has a giant green Pablo from the backyardigans attached to the top. It is an appealing pen to all ages, especially children. After and amazing and defeating trip to Costco, my wife heads home with some serious anticipation to open this book and prove we know our children. Just sure they are going to LOVE this book.
Enter the home; make a quick spectacle of the stuff that was bought; try to hype the kids about the book they just bought and BAM…. Out comes the book. Of course, the kids are excited. Maybe not as excited as hoped, but it will do. A small fight ensues over the magic pen, but being not prepared to use the book properly at this point, it gets put away…so we thought.
From here the facts get a little blurry. There are 2 obvious mistakes made here. 1) allowing backyardigans to stay on the tv and peak the interest of the Pablo Pen. 2) Underestimating that all children have go-go gadget arms. The book is placed on a dresser and a quick stop in the office is made. 5 minutes later, upon leaving the office, the new backyardigans book is spotted. It is no longer on the dresser, it is in the middle of the living room. Our older child (Kade) is looking through it, and the youngest (Keegan) is MIA. I assume the following. My wife approached the book to read to my son. Time stoped. “KEEGAN!” is screamed. Why??………….. The Pablo Pen is missing!! Considering the little guy is missing, it is instant speculation and blame. I am told there was a quick step into our bedroom, and she is greeted with a huge smile from an obviously guilty 18 month old…… the interrogation is ON!
Frantic searching ensues and a distress is sent out via text to me. “your kids lost my new Pablo Pen!” its always “your kids” when they are in trouble. Yet this time I could sense the urgency in the text. I calmly explain I WILL find it when I get home. I assume the house was scoured before I arrive. I get home and look thoroughly to no avail…. the pen is gone! Keegan and Kade have both been asked 25 times each “where is the pablo pen?” Neither of them can speak so the day ends, no pen, and mom is still mad!
3 days later the pen is still gone. I am driving my car in the early morning and my phone rings. My wife is ready to tell a good story because I can hear her smiling on the other end of the phone. She says, “I was finishing getting Keegan ready and I went into the bedroom to grab my purse and Kade was on the bed reading the new Backyardigans book!” at this point she pauses, and I assume she is gloating because she again picked a great book. Then “AND HE WAS HOLDING THE PABLO PEN!” a collective AHHHH is released on both ends and I instantly ask where it was. She didn’t know, nor does she know where it was, who hid it, or why.
I speculate our kids collaborated and simply wanted us to know who holds the power. Autistic or not a parent will never fully know what is going on. Just when you look at your kids and wonder what they could possibly be thinking….its probably a plot to get in your head so be careful! All is good. The pen is back, mom is no longer mad, and I am in awe of their sneaky ability. I am sure our autistic child was the orchestrator because he has an amazing memory and his little brother just wants to be his friend. I am still very concerned, how at such a young age they can get by mom so easily. 3 years of marriage and I can’t hide anything!
A new interrogation has started now that we know their abilities. I just heard, “Okay, Where are my Keys!”
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