Sunday, 24 January 2010
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Little Boy with Autism is Lost
Sky is a flight risk in the autistic diagnoses realm. These kids will take off in a heartbeat.The other day we were leaving Chic-fil-A. I put Sky's coat on and Papa went to get some more drink.
I turned and Sky was gone.
I glanced in the small play area - no Sky.
Panic set in as I looked out the window!
Yes. He was outside!
In the dark.
Alone.
No fear.
No sense of danger about traffic.
I ran out the door and down the sidewalk calling his name.
Begging him to stop.
He never looked back.
He was in his 'deaf zone' - walking ahead, stepping-on-and-off the curb, scaring me to death! As he neared the roadway, I saw headlights coming from the drive-thru.
I ran faster, screaming for him to stop.
Suddenly, Sky saw our van and turned back toward it.
Relief. I knew he would head for the door near his car seat.
I scolded him as I put him in the car.
Wasted words.
There was no one there to hear me.
Autistic children are often lost in the tunnel of their own existence.
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Have you ever lost site of your loved one for a brief moment?
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About the Author
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- From: altie
- Name: Fran Alt
- About Me: My husband Fred and I have spent the last six years raising our autistic great grandson. Fred is 72 and I'm on the doorstep of 70! We've had our little guy since the day he was born. (We have Sky because his mom is also autistic.) Opening new doors to Sky's world is our greatest pleasure. The tough job of dealing with day to day problems of autism is simply our 'way of life'. Sky is both a challenge and a wonderful, loving gift.
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Comments (12)
too many times. I hate that feeling.
Josh did that to me when he was about three.
Thankfully out in public, no. She did climb out our window one day a long time ago and just stood there in the driveway crying. Poor thing.
I have been a lost child. The fright I have caused both my parents!I have also lost my youngest son in Walmart (who was supposed to be with his older sibling and an even older friend)... they lost track of him. Easy to do! But he went to the "lost" place. The arcade area... which is exactly where I tell both my boys I will meet them if they are ever lost.
So when you write "There was no one there to hear me. Autistic children are often lost in the tunnel of their own existence." someone IS in there listening... even if it's from the other end of the tunnel. The child IS there... he CAN hear you. You just have to make sure you're speaking his language ;)
Breathe....always remember to breathe. < my mom's best ever advice on being a mom.
@heatherbabes - thank you for the education...there are so many timesI believe he hears - but will I ever learn his languge? I listen with all my heart but the gap is so wide; his sound hasn't reach me yet.
@Morningstarrising@xanga - we have been 'through the window' thing too! Thank you for sharing.
@altie - so welcome and I appreciate you sharing your experience too! Many parents feel that way lots of time. I just wanted you to know that while it may SEEM that way (that he doesn't hear you) that he is in there. It will just take some time.
I was once like him. And look at me now ;)
@zisixi@xanga - I hate that we can never turn our backs...
@keystspf@xanga - Sky constantly tries ot take off..
@altie - I let go of Josh's hand just long enough to get my money out of my pocket to pay for something at the register. I was holding his little sister in my other arm... I turned back to grab his hand and he was gone. While I went looking for him, someone in the store had found him out in the parking lot. Scared the living crap out of me that they were going to say I wasn't looking after my kid. I only let go for a second... didn't think a "baby" could push the door open himself, so it never occurred to me that he might have gone outside.
o:) Thank you for sharing.