The following year the entire second grade adopted the idea. So each of the second grade classes have their own color t-shirt. They've even made it a year long competition to see which class consistently has the most students on their team wearing their uniforms. Mrs. Dingle carried the team theme throughout the year and even had rewards related to sports. Jonathan picked out a red wrist sweat band with a soccer ball on it for one of his rewards. He worn it daily on his right arm and his watch on his left arm. For more than a year neither the red band nor the watch came off for any reason other than baths and pools. When I told Mrs. Dingle, she said, "Oh! It must be really disgusting by now, I need to send you some more home." I laughed and said, "I'm ahead of you. I figured out where you bought them and already have a package so I can trade the nasty ones out."
Jonathan was in her class two years ago. He took "Team Dingle Day" very seriously. Although the shirt was the only "uniform" for the class, Jonathan had a pair of warm up pants which were blue with a red and white stripe down the sides that became part of the uniform as well. He'd remind me the night before so we could make sure the uniform was clean and ready to wear. The tradition continued through the third grade and started in the fourth grade as well. He finally out grew the warm up pants so he had to change to khaki pants to wear with Friday's Team Dingle shirt.
He had stopped wearing the shirt the last couple of Fridays. I was relieved. I thought I might have to track Mrs. Dingle down at her new school and ask her to purchase us a larger size when she buys them for her new school and class. But my relief might be short-lived. Faith is now in second grade and just brought home her Team Briggs shirt. So she'll be wearing hers every Friday, reminding Jonathan of his.
As an aside, Jonathan came home disturbed yesterday. Since Mrs. Dingle transfered schools, another second grade teacher has assumed the red color. Apparently Jonathan feels this is the sin of sins and has made it very clear what he thinks about this treachery.
On the other days, Jonathan is currently wearing Tony Hawk as his uniform. He has Tony Hawk t-shirts, hoodies, shorts, pants, socks, underwear, belts, tennis shoes and wallet. It makes buying clothes easy for him. And our extended family knows what will make him happy. Tony Hawk line is only available at Kohl's where Jonathan's great aunt works. I think she was the one who started this ritual.
In the meantime, I have another "aspie" in the house. He worn a Navy uniform for over two decades. Although he's no longer in the Navy, I've noticed lately that he still wears a navy-like uniform to work almost daily. As I sorted laundry this morning I counted four pairs of dress pants in various degrees of brown and three shirts in the same color family.
During the fall I know it is Friday when Jonathan wears the Team Dingle shirt. I know it is Saturday when my husband wears the Naval Academy t-shirts and it's Sunday when he wears the Green Bay Packer t-shirts. Occasionally he feels daring and wears his Green Bay Packer tie to church that day. However, out of respect for the congregation, he won't wear it if he's got official duties that day. If he doesn't wear these shirts on these days, I know the team must either be on a "bye" week or playing on a different day.
My husband is so predictable in his dress that our children have decoded his code. If my husband's shirt is tucked in they know he's leaving the house for a meeting. When my oldest has a soccer game, Scott wears a t-shirt from the high school or at least the high school's colors. One game this year I was wearing my college team colors to Josh's game and Scott said, "Are you really going to wear the opposing team's colors to the game?"
Only my husband would know what the opposing team's color are. I said, "I'm going to wear this because these colors look good on me, I can't help it that his team chose colors which wash me out."
So, do you live with people like this in your home? Do you find it amusing, like I do? Or do you find it annoying? (Like I sometimes do...as I'm searching through the dirty laundry at 11:00 pm trying to find the clothes that must be washed and worn the next day.) Finally, do you worry about "enabling" this kind of behavior? Or do you go along with it because it gives them security and comfort? Or do you think about it as a battle not worth fighting and let it go for the bigger battles?
I love my Aspies. I can tell you what day it is by what they are wearing, especially in the fall. When Jonathan was in second grade, he had a wonderful teacher who came up with an idea to make everyone in her class feel like they belonged. She designed and and purchased each student a "Team Dingle" t-shirt. In return for her buying the t-shirts for them, she asked them to wear the shirts on Fridays to show off their unity.
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Comments (3)
My husband is an Aspie and he is exactly the same way. It is more amusing than annoying. I just make sure none of his shirts look to worn or has holes in them. If we are going some where that a plaid shirt and shorts would be inappropriate, I pick out his outfit. There is no use getting frustrated. There are many more things in life to worry about.
@Erika_Steele@xanga - I agree. I find it very funny. Lately we've noticed that Jonathan has picked out a Church uniform as well. For the last three weeks in a row it has been the same shirt, slacks, belt and shoes.
My kids have to wear a standardized dress code for school... but I'm like that too. I wear jeans and t-shirts, the majority of which have peace signs on them. (Either that or I'm dressed somewhat strange... pirate-like or Abby-like [NCIS]) There is actually a reasoning behind the peace signs though... I'm not Jewish, but my aunt is and I know some Hebrew. The Hebrew concept of Shalom is fascinating to me... "nothing missing, nothing broken." It translates into English as Peace though...