The holidays are approaching. People are gonna ask what does he want. I haven't a clue. Well I do but sometimes making up a list for things a kid on the spectrum would want might look a little um odd to the average Joe.
In a perfect world that would hold "quirky" in high regard my son's ideal list would be the following.
1) DVDs of DVDs he already has. Completely not age appropriate. Yeah he's 8 and people guess he's all in SpongeBob. I would welcome that goofy little character with open arms if he would only watch him. Nope you can get him copies of Blues Clues. Hell he rediscovered Baby Einstein on YouTube. Shoot me. He also loves these DVDs to death. Scratches them up and of course freaks the hell out when they skip or god forbid don't work.
2) French Fries. Seriously. Mommy and Daddy, in his eyes, don't buy them enough. Forget visions of sugar plums dancing in his head. Sacks of these in his stocking would make his day.
3) 217 brand spanking new small spiral notebooks. To continue the age inappropriate theme. He can pretend to be Steve from Blues Clues. You don't even need to wrap them. Just scatter them all over my house. That's where they are going to wind up anyway. Don't forget a few in the bathroom or in my bed. I love rolling over onto spiral.
4) Random flash cards. He's not going to care what the subject is. He's just gonna want to scatter them all over the floor and then leave. So go with what's on sale.
5) A 36 pack of YooHoo with the the straws punched them in already. Time saver!
6) Clothing with a nice texture he can chew.
7) A school bus. Not a toy one. A real one. Yes you can never have to many rides on a bus.
8) A dog that would actually enjoy being rough housed. One that begs "please poke me in the eyes!"
9) Various dog chew toys. Not for the dog. The ones with the squeakers are the best!
10) Wine for Mommy.
But I can't really give out that list can I? I try to find something. Because how many times have we all heard "He has to have something to open!' when you ask for a gift card or to pay for some therapy.
Seriously side of fries people! It would make him happy!
If $$$ were no object, I would get my 8 year old son a chauffeur to drive him around wherever/whenever his little heart desired!!! Happy Holidays
ReplyDeleteOh me too! :-)
DeleteI actually fill Ky's stocking with McD's chicken Nuggets and french fries every year! I also fill the room with mylar balloons(he's 9 but this will actually be his 10th xmas so he will get 10). Anything to get my "Christmas Smile"!
ReplyDeleteLove it!!! My son has a quirky list, but his goes on and on, lol. Yoo hoo would be a huge hit under the tree. He leaves one for Santa every year :) Hope u all have a Merry Christmas :)
ReplyDeleteHad to laugh at the school bus and the flashcards...we get a lot of that here too! We hide his DVDs in a locked cupboard now, available on request only. We haven't been able to replace some of the older ones that he has, ahem, loved to death. Still, for our Monkey there is always Hotwheels...he only has 800 or so, not nearly enough to cover every square foot of floorspace in our home(why, they can barely cover his room). Good luck with it all, and I personally think that if people want to give him a gift, they can follow whatever list you give 'em. Might as well have stuff he really wants.
ReplyDeleteWhat are some of the DVDs that you have not been able to replace? With 2 who are severe I have literally a couple rubbermaid bins of DVDs. They mostly now watch youtube on Kindle.
Deletefinally bringing my sister (total old school) around to what my 11 yr old son likes....kittens,rainbow pillows,stuffed animals,and did I mention kittens !!!!! his room is full of kitten posters ! At first all I got from her was...why do you let him play with that (it's girly)...doesn't he like...monsters,super heroes,football,sports,.....The more she gets to know him I think she is finally understanding...I don't care if it's a fluffy unicorn covered in pixie dust.....if that is what makes him happy....it makes me happy !!!!she actually brought over a kitten figurine for him the other day !! she's learning !!!!!
ReplyDeleteMovies: this has saved me a ton... keep the masters in a locked box and make copies for him to abuse. We used to go through so many dvds before I did this and as long as you aren't distributing them, it's legal.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kiddo's Mom! Just found your blog today and am loving it. My son is three years old and is on the spectrum. So far, no official autism diagnosis. His biggest issue is a severe speech and language delay. And running laps. And...(if you're really bored, you can read about him on my blog).
ReplyDeleteRe: gifts! I don't know how many times I can explain to _____ (just in case she reads this) that just because HER son loves _____ and is the same age as my son, that mine will NOT. Fucking. Play with ______. Grr. I'm going to tell her to buy him a football jersey. Which is really just a gift for my husband, so he can pretend his three-year old shares his love of Peyton Manning.
Great post!
Oh that drives me crazy. "we'll my kid liked it". That doesn't mean squat.
DeleteIt's awful! She cannot resist telling me "oh well my son LURVED it." I'm like "ya, well my son is still stuck on fucking bubbles. So whatever."
DeleteHey would you consider joining my linkie party? I started this blog just recently and had a party. Nobody came. Crying. http://www.findingninee.com/link-love/
I am loving getting to know you, Mama Fries! I get so stressed out at this time because not only do I have to think of things that Santa can bring, but I then have to search the crevices of my cranium to come up with things that the extended family can also purchase. I can soooo relate to all the things you listed above. Imaging my two autistics (Middle who is 8 and Eldest who is 11) in the same room as yours as we let them have at it while you and I finish the wine... :-) Love this post, hilarious! ~Ditzy
ReplyDeleteOh I would love a play date with ya! I start the gift list panic right after Halloween. It is maddening!!
DeleteLove. You continually keep my eyes open to the things my friends with special needs children are facing. You are definitely keepin it real, I would say.
ReplyDeleteMuch love!!!
Thank you my dear! As I love your blog and page, that is high praise. :-)
DeleteI have a 38 year old daughter with OCD tourettes and a developmental disability. Now she is very easy to buy for paper, paper and more paper and candy.......
ReplyDeleteI totally relate with the doggy chew toys... but that is not for my diagnosed one... it for my undiagnosed sensory child! HA!
ReplyDeleteWe're very specific. Weighted blanket. Taggy blanket (those blankets with the numerous tags all around the edge, Legos, Matchbox cars, Blues Clues + Super WHY anything (although our little guy is 2, but I can see him watching these at 14-15 too, for the love of everything holy, do not get him books, he gets so constipated after eating the book. Inevitably, no one follows the list, gets him something else and it either sits ignored for months or we have to take it away because it gets eaten.
ReplyDeleteM&Ms. Movies. M&Ms. York Peppermint Patties. M&Ms. Gift cards for any restaurant, fast food or table service, that serves chicken strips and french fries. We could take him to any high dollar steak joint in the land, and he'd want chicken strips and fries. The only variant is the condiment to drag it through. M&Ms. A dvd of any Christmas movie. M&Ms. Gift card for new music on the ipod (which, by the way he won't listen to - only click, click, click thru every song). M&Ms.
Deletewww.sharingtheweight.com is our non profit org based in iowa. We make weighted blankets and donate them to families that can use one. We make 3, 5, 7, and 10 pound blankets. The waiting list is rather lengthy but we have chapters working on blankets in Georgia and Texas. If you or maybe a friend or family member can attend one of the many blanket making parties you can pick out the fabric and help make the blanket that day and take it home that day :)
DeleteI think that Christmas list is awesome! We are in the same boat as far as DVDs go and I might steal your idea for the French fries full of stockings. I know it is something he would absolutely love and the most important thing on Christmas is to make him happy! His newest obsession is being/ playing in the car. I would love to buy him an old beat up not working car to put in our back yard to use as a swing set, but that might be popular with the neighbors :-). Hope you have a great Christmas! Love reading your blog thanks for sharing your journey.
ReplyDelete*not be popular
DeleteI'll take the fries and wine, too!!! mmmmmmm
ReplyDeleteMy son who was recently diagnosed with Aspergers would love paper for Christmas. He is 12 and now that everything has clicked and makes sense shopping this year for him has become fun because I am going for things I know will make his face light up. :) He is in love with Almanacs so he is getting The World Almanac and The Kid's World Almanac along with a giant container of cheese puffs and a case of A&W Root Beer two things he never gets but I know he will be delighted to find them under the tree. He also wants gummy bears, so I might fill his stocking with those he would love to have gummy bears pouring out of his stocking. :)
ReplyDeleteIf the relatives want him to have a package to open, tell them to buy clothes. That way, you can save your money to use on other things he really needs (or wants that they don't understand). Of course, they could always put a gift card in a box and maybe put that box in a bigger box. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteMy kid loves fries too. He's got the belly and love handles to prove it; he's almost 7 and was diagnosed in 2010. He just got combined ADHD added to his diagnosis this year. Oh goody.
E.X.A.C.T.L.Y! I can so relate to this post. In my case, folks can just buy my son things with wheels to spin!
ReplyDeleteIf it's any consolation it's not just kids on the spectrum whose family friends buy presents the kid isn't going to want. My daughter isn't on the spectrum but I'm pretty sure she'd like a side of fries in her stocking, too. Then again, she's three. I feel for those of you still dealing with "quirkiness" at age 8, because relatives don't think it's "cute" anymore.
ReplyDeleteSerious suggestion - why not help him write out his wish list, [if he's high-functioning?] then photocopy it and send it to people. Those who matter want to light his face up so they'll go with what he really wants.
These are the things he wants, that is the point of mama fry's post. And regardless of this high/functioning/low-functioning yadda yadda yadda, all kids have stuff they want. It's just doesn't always conform to what others want to give...
DeleteHoly Hell. This is my life--complete with sainted dog. My mother keeps asking what she can get him. THERAPY! Help me pay for therapy!
ReplyDeleteYou obviously copied the first 4 from my son's list and number 10 from my list. :D
ReplyDeleteWe went through a nightmare stage of people giving our little man toys that talk, so now if any toy makes a noise it goes straight to the bin. DVD's all the way, for us it's Peppa Pig, Looney Tunes, Little Einsteins and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. He remembers each chapter or episode number on each of his DVDs and constantly recites them. It was a bit awkward when at school he was walking around yelling, "No, Daddy, Stop", with an english accent.
ReplyDeletePens, markers, computer paper, Oreo's and more pens. Maybe another copy of a Disney dvd she already owns that's starting to get a little ragged.
ReplyDeleteI'd also LOVE one place to find free trials of apps suitable for someone who is completely non-verbal due to severe autism, so I can load up on her iPad and see if anything clicks for her.
this is good stuff!
ReplyDeleteLove again. I'd like someone to buy my kid a trampoline that would be safe AND fold up when not in use, a fantastic crash pad - AND a professional organizer person to make them actually fit in our house in some kind of appropriate place. Or for his little gym class. Or for a membership to some place where he could run around on the weekends & not be bored & therefore, dangerous. But I gave a list of trains, play-doh & DVDs, and clothes. Can't get too greedy.
ReplyDeleteBoth of my kids, one of each, is ASD. I'd make my daughter the happiest little girl in the world if I stuffed her stocking with straws. Plastic, pine straw, doesn't matter. Oh, and leaves. My son, who is more verbal, has been telling me for the past 3 months that he wants a frog and a penguin. So I got him a stuffed penguin and a Kermit. He's a happy camper now!
ReplyDeleteThis post cracked me up....I can SO relate! And I wonder, does your kiddo actually even open presents? Mine likes to just sit at his little table and play his Ipad (like every other day) and that is just fine with me. I'm done forcing the "open gifts because everyone is there to watch this" thing. So, I open them for him, right next to him at his table, explain to him (because he is too busy on his Ipad to even look at them) what he got, and I move on. And usually, it will just end up being played with by his brother or sister (who are 2 and 1 consequently...he is 4.) This year, I requested practical things.....adaptive feeding bowls, undershirts, clothes, and itunes gift cards. It feels weird to do that, but seriously, these are things he needs, and he couldn't care less about opening gifts at this point. So glad the holidays are over with!
ReplyDeleteI had to do last minute panic buying for stocking presents for my son this year,so I chose a compass and some solar system glow in the dark ceiling stickers,amongst other things. You should have seen his face when he unwrapped the tiny 1.99 compass! He was over joyed!! He flapped and everything! Of course,the stickers were the next amazing thing,and have since gravitated (pun intended) around his room in various positions since then! Lol!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the tape, so he can hang up all the pics of local businesses he draws!
ReplyDeleteMy son loves tape, stickies notes and pipe cleaners. He is 10. My BFF was laughing about how rarely my guy wears pants and I had to laugh and share with her that the struggle is something so many other people on this blog share
ReplyDeleteMy son loves tape, stickies notes and pipe cleaners. He is 10. My BFF was laughing about how rarely my guy wears pants and I had to laugh and share with her that the struggle is something so many other people on this blog share
ReplyDeleteDid anyone else have to say please put your pants and shirt on for one picture then you can go play iPad at Thanksgiving?dinner ?
DeleteLove it especially the wine for mommy, I don't drink but I just might start. LOL. buying for my son is a pain because not only do I have to deal with Christmas but I also have to worry about his birthday which is not even a month after Christmas. UGH. any suggestions would be great LOL
ReplyDeleteIf you swapped out yoo hoo for suave naturals shampoo our list would be iddentical! Oh I prefer vodka less calories merry Christmas!
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ReplyDeleteSeriously, why doesn't anyone believe me when I say gift cards!!! Amen Mama Fry xxx
ReplyDeletewe have some fries box designs for Christmas.
ReplyDelete