My son’s autism diagnosis made me realize just how ableist I had been
The umbrellas were a bit of a giveaway.
My son?s obsession started when he was 18 months old and still just called them ?baaa.? There?s a video of him in a rain jacket in our backyard from that time, glaring at the patio umbrella, saying ?UP baaa, DOWN baaa, NO baaa, AWAY baaa,? over and over as my husband chuckled and followed his directions, putting the umbrella up, down, away, then up and down again. There?s another video from that time, but inside. My sister was feeding my son lunch at the table with one hand, holding a rain umbrella over him with the other, while he gave her firm instructions that she dutifully followed. Up baaa. Down baaa. No baaa.Â
At first, it was cute. But then his demands started becoming more frantic. Then he started having inconsolable meltdowns when any umbrella he encountered wasn?t set to his exact specifications, up or down or away, or when he wasn?t allowed to adjust them himself (like in restaurants or stores, or driving by people?s houses). I spent many drenched days standing in the pouring rain, pleading with my son to stop adjusting the umbrella and start walking. I had to drag my wailing son out of our first Father?s Day brunch because he wouldn?t stop screaming at the patio umbrella. I once heard our neighbours mutter ?I?m sure it?s just a phase? from their side of the fence as my son once again spent another afternoon sobbing and screaming ?UP BELLA! DOWN BELLA!? when he was two. Eventually, we hid the patio umbrella in the garage...
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The Private Schools opening their Gardens with the National Garden Scheme
18-05-2024 08:00 - (
moms )