a microcosm of the rollercoaster.

[Guest guest]

After 's bath, we were lying in his bed for him to get warm. We were

playing a game where ghosts were coming to get us, very cute and interactive, at

about a 3-yr sort of level (new members: is 5). Then he started jumping

on me and squishing me and I was laughing and he said, " I like how you feel. "

Now I was amazed and wanted more info. I said, " How do I feel? " He started

dancing around the room and buzzing instead. Finally I said, " Am I lumpy? "

" Yes, " OK, " Am I squishy? " " Yes, " and then he shouts, 'AND YOU'RE STINKY!!! "

So that broke into a game of him yelling that and me yelling, " I'M NOT STINKY!, "

and tickling him or pushing him or whatever. And then he's stop and say, " ARe

you lumpy? " " Kind of, " I'd reply. " Are you squishy? " " Yup. " " Are you

STINKY??? " " NNNNOOOOOOO!!!!! " It was fun...and then it went past the point

of all reason or tolerance. It became one big. loud stim, and he started

directing the way I was supposed to react each time. <sigh>

So finally, desperate to end what had started as a sweet game and bonding moment

and turned into a crushing reminder that stims never go away they just evolve, I

just yelled, " OK! I'm stinky! " He smiled and yelled, " YES, YOU ARE! " And then

proceeded to get dressed.

There it is. Life with an autistic child neatly wrapped up in a 15-minute

soundbite.

<sigh>

Jacquie