Hello everyone
My son is 13 .... And has high functioning autism I thought life was hard before but hormones seem to be making things a whole lot worse!
My son, "Fred" is managing at school, is not that far behind his target grades and above for science, which he absolutely adores.
Our problem is his behaviour at home. He drums constantly with his fingers, rocks back on his chair and answers back. He likes to add "colourful" language now into his everyday sentences to shock and get attention. He doesn't listen and is generally very rude. Examples are my husband trying to help with getting touch typing software so Fred can get his thoughts down and on paper a whole lot quicker ... Handwriting is illegible and a big source of frustration. At the end of the conversation, Fred said, "I wasn't listening to a word you said dad" and ran off laughing.
Yesterday a friend came with her son, who has fragile x, Fred only socialises with friends until he has had enough then goes in the house or completely ignores them! Yesterday he was obviously bored with my friend's son and decided going outside and lighting a fire a much more enjoyable option! Until I realised what he was doing!!
I am trying not to show a negative reaction to his behaviour and choosing my battles. He has an obsession with my bum at the moment, touching it and sniffing it - very unpleasant....it's been going on a year, longest obsession yet.
I think what I want to hear is other people's experiences please ... Does this all sound familiar??? Another thing... How do you all manage to work as well? I go to work in a stressful job to come home to Fred's behaviour and it's hard to then turn around, get tea and know a battle awaits over getting homework done when you feel so tired yourself. Is it easier not to work .... And sit at home worrying about the future?!
Any advice, similar experiences please... Feel like I'm going mad!!!!
Thank you so much for your replies!!!!!!! I'm not alone!!!! Such a relief in a funny kind of way. Lots of really helpful suggestions too. Have arranged a meeting at school based on the complex behaviours lady going in to see Fred on my request. What she found was VERY interesting, it would seem behaviours are filtering through to school much more than I realised. School told me he didn't need 1-1 so much anymore to get him more independent..... Except that he isn't focussing in lessons, says inappropriate things when put on the spot and doesn't understand what is being asked of him, rocks on his chair, taps his pen and hair twirls ..... I'm so glad she went in.