THE BRICK (...the brick...)

So, I thought I would just take a quick moment to share Tanner's new addition to the OCD family. We like to call it "The Brick". What is the brick, you might ask? If you've never seen the ABC hit TV show "The Middle", perhaps this montage of the awesome character Brick Heck will put in perspective for you: 
(Note: It won't take the full 4 minutes to get the picture)

 

OCD can not only involve repetitive movements or behaviors, but repetitive speech as well. For Tanner, what once began as a whisper to "practice" what he was going to say, has now also become a "Brick" whisper, following key parts of a conversation....to see if it sounded right? because he likes the feel of the words rolling off his tongue? because it sounds familiar (security)? Not yet sure. 

Quite a mystery indeed....(quite a myssssstery)

KINDRED SPIRITS

Yesterday, my friend’s 23-year-old son came to visit. Tanner is pretty social for a child on the autism spectrum, but he became absolutely ecstatic when he met Adam for the first time. Tanner talked for a solid 20 minutes without taking a breath, wanting to share everything about his life and learn all he could about Adam’s. 

My friend and I were amazed at the “kindred spirits” sitting side-by-side drawing and discussing comic books and video games. In fact, my friend kept commenting how, in all six (almost seven) years of Tanner’s life, she had never known him to be so talkative or so animated with anyone.

I was half-heartedly listening to the chatter in the background, but my ears perked up when I heard this:

Tanner: “I’m an autism kid.”

Adam: “Oh yeah? Is that what your mom told you?”

Tanner: “Yeah. Are you an autism grown up?”

Adam: “Yeah, a little bit!”

Tanner: “Well, I have my own blog…”

Adam is an adult with Asperger’s. I had mentioned this to Tanner a long time ago. Apparently, he had held onto this information and sprang to life when he finally met him. Tanner ran over at one point and said, “Mommy, I really like this guy! He’s so cool!”

…Another argument for knowledge being a powerful tool for a child with Asperger’s. Tanner was able to connect to someone with the same “label” as him – someone super-cool, handsome, and totally normal. He was excited, comfortable, and in great company. 

Ya know, Kindred Spirits.

"Kindred Spirits" by Brian Andreas