Asperger Mom

I’ve often thought the melt-downs of an Asperger child are much like the changes seen in Dr. Jekkyl and Mr. Hyde.

Two days ago my son had the melt-down of all melt-downs, reminiscent of days past when he was on medications. AAaaaaaahhhh! BUT, one bright side, I managed to head off any major damages to anything or anyone and it ended rather quickly and we had a discussion about it.

It revolved around sibling issues: big sis is older and she gets more privileges and she got a privilege that he didn’t.

He called me from a friends house and asked if the friend could spend the night. This particular child is VERY noisy with a capital “V” and eats quite a large amount … very frequently. He is also rough and gets my son going and they are noisy together.

We the parents of this democracy instituted a rule = NO sleep overs while the house is for sale!

So I told him no, he didn’t like to hear no, he called again … and again … and then had his friend call me … and I became more frustrated and still said, “NO!”

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, big sis wanted to know if she could have her best friend sleep over. I told her yes because her birthday is right around the corner and she never, I mean NEVER, has anyone over (something to do with a silly little clingy brother who likes to pester she and her friends…).

I picked up my son, and he admitted that this friend was noisy and he had grown tired of hearing the noise and wanted to come home to peace and quiet.

As I was breaking it to him that his sister was having a friend over, he was doing Okay with it … and then the nightmare began. Out of nowhere, big sis answers the phone and says, “Mom, can I go over to her house, she got a new game for her Wii…”

Now we have had this discussion a million times, please don’t ask me anything in front of your brother so I can head off a major melt-down. I told her yes and before I could turn to tell him I would play video games with him, etc.

He launched into a complete break-down melt-down. “Nnnnooooooo, she can’t go.” He began pushing the chairs into the table, slamming silverware into the table… I am doing a little dance to grab the vase of roses off the table and get them to safety on the counter, then get the knife out of his hands that is digging chunks out of the oak table … as he is lunging toward her.

I instruct her to leave the room as I try to get him under control. She tries to come back and tell him something (that only makes matters worse) and I yell at her to leave the room.

I’m trying to hold Dr. Jekkyl and ask him not to hurt anything or anyone. Princess the poor puppy is cowering in a corner. He comes running toward me and I ducked sideways before he could make contact with my knees.

After a while, he calms (it seemed like 15 minutes had gone by - but it was luckily just a few) he decides maybe it would be okay to have mom and dad all to himself. As I pulled the brownies out of the over, he gets the idea that we could go to the ice cream shop to get some to go with the brownies.

Big mistake, big mouth sis was listening and says, “You can drop me off when you go for ice cream.”

“Please, but out!” I reply

“She’s not got for ice cream!” He shouts.

We finally managed to drop her at her friends house and we went out for yummy ice cream! Man those irrational fears of being alone, going to sleep without your sister on the other side of your bedroom wall, really get old at times.

Ever have one of those Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde moments with your child?

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