Meeting

Tonight I'm going to a support group, meeting type thing, for parents of children with Autism. It's actually called Talking About a Cure for Autism, which ... I hope that's not all we talk about, because it seems fruitless to talk about a cure for autism at this point. I hope that we can talk about living with a child who has autism and how to best do that. I would love to talk to someone sometime who has had the same experiences as I have - not the same exact experiences, but close. So I hope that the name is not indicative of all that they do. I am looking forward to getting out.

There is an Autism Expo this weekend that I'd like to attend. Apparently, they have a play area for kids, so I think I'll take Anthony. I want to look into some ID type stuff for him, his school has a booth there, and I like the idea of taking him somewhere on the weekend where he can play and not be the only kid with autism there.

He has been taking his diaper off recently when he is dirty. We are hoping that this is indicative of his NOTICING that he has a diaper at all. Otherwise, it's just a pain. It comes upon me slowly, the realization that he has no pants or diaper on. He came walking up to me yesterday and I looked at him and said hi and then I thought, hmmm,, what is different about him? He had just pulled off his pants and diaper and left them in the living room. Sheesh.

He was very wound up last night in his room. I went up and told him to lie down but he RAN out of the room, I followed him to see what he was doing. He just went into the kitchen, then to the livingroom, then when I sat down, he jumped on me like usual, rubbing his belly on my back. So I took him back upstairs, carrying him, which was hard as he pulled onto every wall in between there and his room. Finally we went up and I said GOOD NIGHT and he said GOOD NIGHT. I said I LOVE YOU and he said I, I, I. Then I left and he seemed better. He didn't go to sleep but maybe Mike didn't say good night to him in just that way? Maybe he was used to me putting him to bed last week when Mike was gone? Maybe he just wanted to run around the house a little? I'm damned if I know.