When asked about why autistic persons stim , she answers "we create a lot of output.. so we can drown out the world which is providing too much input"
And there it is.
The reason for stimming- why some of the odd behaviors our kids indulge in, are really necessary coping mechanisms
Here is a picture of R when we were at an outlet mall at Gap.
Wisely realising that he was at the end of his patience, he retreats underneath a table cloth and stays there a while, as we browse
As he was neither bothering anyone, nor doing something harmful- we let him be
There are many books written about the chldren who get X Y Z treatment and in some years become completely indistingushable or those children who are so autistic but turn out savant like in some area.
But children like R, have stories that are quietly heroic in their own way.
Slowly, but intelligently, forging mechanisms to cope with a world that is sometimes too much.
For more fun with SOOC Saturday visit Melody at Slurping life. Her link is on my blog
20 comments:
Couldn't have said it better and oh how they need their coping mechanisms. There again, I suspect you and I just stick to caffeine!
Cheers
I have two autistic nephews and oh they each have their own coping mechanisms. Thank goodness for that.
Thanks so much for sharing your story.
"heroic in their own way" I love that and completely agree. All of us need our coping mechanisms, and the fact that our kids sometimes have to get creative about it is to their credit I think.
This picture made me smile - I have a similar picture of Cuddlebug from a couple of weeks ago when we went to the outlets for school clothes (they outgrew their pants over the summer!) As we were looking at clothes, I noticed him retreat to a spot behind a stack of pants so that all I could see were his legs. He stayed there until it was time to go. A few years ago he would have coped by running wild in the store to release energy and block out input, so as you can imagine I was immensely proud that he found a calmer coping mechanism :).
Aaaawww! (If I were a kid, that would be totally fun to do!)
Isn't great that he learns coping now instead like me in my 40's. We noticed my niece would retreat like that when she was a baby and as a young child, mostly with crowds. Looking back now and with my son's issues my sister believes my niece had some sensory issues. She is now a senior in high school, very outgoing, athletic and smart. Her top grades are in math & science and she used to through tantrums in shopping malls and sit under the clothes racks. Turns out she was smarter(like your son) than the rest of us.
K you are truly insightful, informative and I always enjoy your photos!
I watched the Carly Fleischmann piece and her point about the need to "create output" really resonated with me as well. The photo of R is so familiar to me. Yes, "quietly heroic." I truly admire each one.
I watched the Carly's voice show. So insightful.
We all have our ways of coping. I rather like his and your capture of it.
P.S. I'm with Maddy and the caffeine.
What a perfectly simple explanation! It's perfect. It's simple. I love it. I will remember this!! Goodness, it makes so much sense...why is it so hard to "get" sometimes?!
Very cute - and it's not only autistic kids who hide in clothes rails - I have been known to loose mine at times, because it's fun in those dark little dens! :D
R is such a darling, I adore him. You and I are very similar, except you can write! :)
Oh the kids have a long way before they can get addicted to caffeine...I would let them cope however they want!
So gently and wisely written. . .and a profound lesson at so many levels.
Chuck
So gently and wisely written. . .and a profound lesson at so many levels.
Chuck
What a sweet picture. He is such a doll. And we need to arrange a get together soon. C was walking in circles around the kitchen and randomly said R's name several times. I asked her if he was her friend and she said his name again. :)
What a great picture - and an odd table cloth! ;) But what a great idea for a simple addition to a sensory room or play room -- a simple table covered with various fabrics that hang to the floor. That way, if the child pulls on them, they simply come off and no harm is done.
I think the coping mechanism somehow help us all cope-- and even NT's have them.
Beautiful thoughts!
We do all have our own coping mechanisms. That would be interesting to watch.
It's always interesting when my girl finds her own coping mechanisms.
What a wonderful and insightful post you have written (again!).
If there were clothes racks big enough for me to get lost it I think I could just try that as a coping mechanism myself occasionally :0)
Beautiful post.
Lovely capture
Cheers
Jewelz
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