Autism stuff that's drivin me nuts!

The eating:  Just eat food! It's not a big deal! Just eat! And if you're not really planning to eat it, THEN DON'T ASK ME TO MAKE IT (re: tonight's tomato soup debacle)!

The nasty attitude: She wonders why I don't talk. Well, let's see, that's because every single thing I say gets a contrary answer, or violates one of the many "word rules," or is completely misunderstood. Examples: 1. No, for  the zillionth time "get dressed" does not mean I want you to put on a dress! I know you hate dresses so let's not scream about it every day! 2. When I say something, the automatic reply does not need to be: "no you're not" "no it's not" "no I'm not" or anything to do with "No"--and likewise, if the thing being said calls for an affirmative answer, a negative answer just for the hell of it is also really really annoying 3. Anytime I say "next time" she says, "No next time. Tomorrow." And vice versa. And of course, lord help me if I say her name out loud on accident. I am psychologically damaged from not being able to say my child's name in her presence for the past 6 months.

The ritual weird repeating games: The only times she talks to me is to make requests or demands, or to say, "Blankie Mommy. Are you a blankie?" over and over and over and over.... I used to reply but figured out a reply will not make it stop so why bother?

The strange toys: Of all the toys in this house of course the things that are way more fascinating are a combination lock, a chip clip, and the miniature toilet with lifting lid from her doll house pieces. I don't care that she wants to take this stuff to bed with her (like tonight it was the chip clip) but please let's just leave this random crap at home. We don't need to take this junk on tour to school (the mainstream school--I don't care what the special ed school thinks), to church, to my 20th high school reunion (like the combination lock), etc. Oh, and today's tour toy was her umbrella which she is pretending is an eye cane, because she thinks her two blind special ed classmates have really cool canes. So everyone who commented on the nice umbrella got TOLD: it's my eye cane!


If I can't get any respite care for the summer, or find enough vacation bible schools to fill the weeks, I WILL NEED PILLS!