Charlie managed Jim's absence until 10.40pm on Wednesday well. He wanted me to take out the bikes, a good sign: You might think it would make things more difficult for him to see bikes and no dad but just the act of taking them out of the shed seems reassuring. He definitely got nervous around 6pm. 'Hi, hi, hi' -- Charlie saying that is a sign of rising anxiety: Yes, autismland is when a greeting becomes a warning and sometimes a bit of a threat.
After two nights of maybe 3 hours of sleep each, Charlie was simple exhausted and fell asleep for an hour and a half. He refused the timer (he hit his head on the wall last Wednesday literally two minutes after I had turned on the timer) so I shrugged. He did cheer up on hearing me say 'best boy ever' and he and I did a call and response of that phrase and of 'I see daddy' till 10.15pm, when Charlie went up to his room.
He got up when Jim came home and wanted McDonalds, and went back to bed on being told it was a bit late.
Thanks to all this, I missed the presidential debate and seeing Jim Lehrer let Romney do as he would.
You see why we don't discuss politics in front of Charlie. Talk about airing strong opinions.
Well, one more that's a bit more clearly relevant to life around here. Yet again, something has been scheduled that Jim must be at, at 5pm on a Tuesday later in October. Clearly we need real recognition of, and social justice for, the needs of fathers who are primary caregivers to children with severe disabilities.
Comments