Red Harold Enedocker

Grandad wanted to do something special in celebration of Aethan's first week of school, so we went to Orlando and Aethan got to ride on a helicopter! Since every helicopter is "Harold" from Thomas the Tank Engine and he pronounces Helicopter as Enidocker, he's been showing everyone his pictures of "Red Harold Enedocker."

Let's Go To School

I think every parent freaks out a little bit when they drop their kid off to pre-school or daycare the first time, but I have to admit I was a little consumed by the fact that I was sending my 3 year old boy, autistic, difficult to understand, stubborn and not even beginning to potty-train. Aethan suprised me in so many ways. He was so excited as he pointed out the school busses and wore his "Thomas the Tank Engine" backpack proudly. As soon as I took him in to his classroom (ESE Pre-K at the Elementary School) he put his backpack down, went towards where the other kids were playing and waved his little hand accompanied by a "Bye Mommy!" It felt so strange leaving him at a place he would now spend close to 30 hours a week, but the smile on his face gave me great ease. He's been going a week now and we only had one rough morning (which was because he wanted to where his pajamas to school.) I get so many good comments and already so many firsts! The first weekend he carried around his artwork from school, finding every available moment to show me his pictures. I'm so proud of him! The say autistic kids don't handle transission well, but I've never experienced a smoother one!

An Animal a Week

The wondrous transition in to creative play.. Aethan has been choosing animals to "be." Last week it was a puppy. He would get down on all fours, pant, bark and even lean down in front of you and say "you can pet him!" Although he still does not say "I" "I am" or "My" and "I'm a puppy" came out "you're a puppy," it was still a joyous thing to watch. This week Aethan is a penguin. He's been watching "March of the Penguins," and now he waddles, scoots on his belly, gets between my legs and makes a very strange half-cry half-goat sound that apparantly comes from the penguins. He's also used his new penguin status to avoid eating certain foods. This seems so small and trivial to those with nuero-typical 3 year olds, but to someone with autism this is a very big step in a good direction.