Narrow Focus

Kids on the autism spectrum sometimes have narrowly-focused interests.  But I was thinking today, that parents of children on the autism spectrum also can lose sight of the big picture.

I remember an embarassing moment when Christian was in OT.   When we arrived, the therapist reminded me that we weren't scheduled for therapy that day.  She said we could stay for a short session or just skip it and go home.  Thinking of all the ABA training we were receiving at home, I immediately thought I should give Christian the choice so he didn't have a meltdown.  I got down to his level and quietly asked him if he wanted to stay for a short session or go home.  He didn't really make a firm decision, so I repeated the question a couple of times.  As his therapist walked by she said, "Hmmmph.  Letting a four-year old decide what to do."

I felt I was doing the right thing at the time, but after the therapist's no-so-under-her-breath comment, I realized how I looked trying to get a four-year old make a decision about whether to stay or go when he clearly didn't really understand the situation or care.  At some moments, I can get so focused on the autism that I lose sight of the situation as a whole.

PS - The picture is actually Ehren.  I don't think I have a picture of Christian in OT.