Fantastic Babysitter and her new husband are taking The Boy camping this weekend. This has become an annual tradition because boys like camping, and should go camping, and I, well… don’t camp. I hate it. I hate the bugs, the … Continue reading
Autism is a spectrum disorder. I think every child with ASD is at a different spot on that spectrum, just like every snowflake is different. That means that we can identify with others in our community, and take bits and … Continue reading
You are going to hate me. I came up with this ridiculously easy recipe, and it tastes so good, and is probably not very good for you. But it tastes so good… (I must say I feel like a bit … Continue reading
The Man and I have been together for almost three years. He lives 900 miles away. I would not recommend long distance relationships to the faint of heart, but we are still going strong, primarily because he never tires of … Continue reading
Mental Health has long been an issue in this country. It is quite common to see a therapist or a “shrink”, but it is just as common to not tell anybody about it, for fear of sounding “crazy”. When a … Continue reading
When you have a special needs kid, there are a lot of people to thank come holiday and end of the school year time. Special Ed teachers, General Ed teachers, Parapros, Therapists, Babysitters, etc. Do I have to thank them … Continue reading
We were having a rough week. We were on vacation, which The Boy can handle for only so long. He longs for school, and structure, and his own familiar surroundings. He gets cranky, irritable, and sometimes downright incorrigible. This was … Continue reading
I have a picky eater who doesn’t often eat what I eat (unless it’s pork chops or pizza). I don’t mind making enough for 2 or 4, though, because that means there’s something good to eat for lunch later in … Continue reading
English: Baby Oliver (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Boy is an only child. I am an only child. Ergo, The Boy is rarely around babies. When our Fantastic Babysitter asked if it was OK to bring her nephew last week while watching the boy, I thought, “OK, this will be new…” I wasn’t worried. More like curious.
The Boy doesn’t make much contact with others, unless he knows you really well, or unless you are into something that he is into (i.e. computers, comics, etc.). That somehow accelerates your friendship to the I’m-going-to-drag-you-by-the-arm-to-show-you-something stage. In any case, I was curious to see if he would be curious about this (5 month old) baby.
For awhile after the divorce, he would talk sometimes about someday getting a brother or sister, and wouldn’t that be cool. I honestly don’t remember how I responded to those comments, if I did at all. I knew I was done (meaning no more babies), but I wasn’t going to rule out the ex’s side of things, and I know I wouldn’t have stepped into that minefield.
So Fantastic Babysitter arrived, with her nephew in his carrier, and of course, I couldn’t help myself. I began cooing and generally making a fool of myself over the little bundle of cuteness. The Boy was right behind me watching all of this, taking it in. At one point he gently but possessively grabbed my arm. I asked if he was jealous, and he ignored me. He wandered about the kitchen as Fantastic Babysitter and I talked. After kissing The Boy, and reminding him to behave, I headed for the door. As I left, Fantastic Babysitter was asking The Boy what he wanted to do.
They ended up going to Chuck E. Cheese. She is so Fantastic, she can handle a 5 month old and a boy with autism at that place! I bow to her. They had fun, and I beat them home.
But I got the biggest smile of the evening (possibly of the week) when she texted me that The Boy was referring to himself as Uncle as he explained to the baby about the car trip back home, and everything that they were doing.
It seems no one can resist the charm of a baby.
Simple. I Just Do. 