Autism Awareness: The Ultimate Autism Breakfast!
3 DORITOS, SETH ROGEN, and SCHOOL
For the last 100 plus days Luke wakes up to a rigid schedule. He needs it to go EXACTLY as planned to have a good day.
6:50 am — Mom force brushes his teeth.
6:51 — Luke says “Despicable Me” — Mom turns his IPAD on the Despicable Me scene where Gru says “We are going to steal the Moon!!”
6:54 — Daddy’s tagged in — sits on the bed and tells Luke it’s time to get up. Luke says “PAUL International Trailer” — Daddy puts Paul International Trailer on (it used to be Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs Mashup on Youtube Poop, but has changed)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdHUQtnJsyQ
6:56 — Right around the time Simon Pegg and Nick Frost talk about Alien Probing. Daddy moves to the door and Luke leaps up from the bed to grab his IPad and races to the bathroom.
6:59 — Luke finishes up in the bathroom and finishes watching the Paul trailer for at least the ten thousandth time. He continues to rewatch as he puts his clothes on, Daddy assisted.
7:01 — Downstairs now, TV goes on. Luke jumps on the couch, lifts the remote, turns on QVC, sometimes a cartoon. But usually QVC. He likes the predictability of the broadcast. This is a major thing for Luke –he hates shows with big loud commercials and stuff.
7:05 — Luke gets his breakfast — a drop of soda and 3 Doritos. He doesn’t eat them but if he doesn’t have them he’ll ask incessantly until he gets them.
7:11 — Luke pounds out some violent jumps on the Trampoline. It’s some Cirque-du-soleil stuff.
7:17 — Shoes and socks go on and Luke heads to the first floor platform swing.
7:18 — Luke turns all the lights on and the bathroom fan. This is a must. If even the bathroom fan is off, he’ll turn it off.
7:19 — Begins going to town as he either plays some kind of Temple Run style game or watches movie Trailers.
7:30-ish — The bus arrives at our front door(mercifully, this process would be so hard if it didn’t). Mom calls. Luke leaps from the swing. Gets his coat on. Last looks. Last hairbrush. Straightening his clothes, etc.
7:31 — Luke heads to the bus, he asks for some reassurance from mom “First school, then go home”. She tells him “yes”…though there’s never been another plan…so it’s kind of curious. “First school, then home. Always.” He climbs on without looking back and zooms off.
And that is the way we’ve woken up in this house…for every school day for the last 3 years.
Kids with autism often have set routines. If Luke doesn’t get one of these things, there is a ‘risk’ of temper tantrum. Though he’s gotten much better at deal with some hiccups in his routine. But we often don’t like to risk it when we’re trying to get something more out of him — like being good on the bus.
Also, if he doesn’t want to wake up — like this morning — and is yelling or hitting a bit. Usually, just following the routine without reacting can get him back on track.
Right now, as I write this I’m staring at a cup with a little soda, 3 Doritos, and watching QVC sell Denim & Co Wide Leg Knit Cargo Pants. Tomorrow I’ll do the same.
