With an autistic child comes challenges but that doesn’t stop us.
My son wanted to go to the grocery store so off we went. Social training for him is extremely important after the preschools he has attended isolated him completely from other children etc so now we are working hard so he can be accepted by the society and to make him (most important) to grow up to a wonderful man.
We do not only social training around people. We also train and learn about safety when walking outside. To look at both ways before crossing the road. To stay aware of the surroundings and people.
We also do daily activities at home such as learning how to learn to clean, how to do laundry, do the dishes and sometimes how to make dinner/lunch (Only stir though. I’m still scared when it comes to the stove and oven).
My son is obsessed with laundry machines and can almost move to the laundry room just to sit infront of them and look. He knows how to load and unload, where and how much detergent to apply, how to start etc. He has grown so much as a person and embracing his abilities and be there as a support makes him more independent.
Throw trash, grocery store & reward
When we go to the store, we always throw trash (even if we dont have trash we go there) so he knows where to throw the trash correctly. Recycling and how it works.
1 / throw trash
2 / grocery store & remain calm
3 / reward
At the grocery store today he didn’t have a tough moment. It went on smoothly. No meltdowns, no nothing. I was so (still am!) proud. I dont know about you but when my son is calm, behaving and is kind he gets a reward. This time was an ice cream.
Normally it is very loud noises, children screaming and alot of people so when E is in his zone to grab stuff and add in the cart, he don’t really see and is careful. I always apologize to people if accidents happen or if he isn’t careful. I also explain that he has autism and we are socializing training. 99.9% of the people is so understanding. Thank you so so much!
I am also very strict on how to talk to people and how to respect everyone (even workers, doesn’t matter which job they have) so after we have paid (yes he pay with my card and learns that as well) and we exit the store, I always say “Bye! thank you!” and my son has heard me say that so many times so he tries to say the same (sometimes you can hear the words, sometimes its just the sound that you can make out what he is saying) thing as me. Today he actually said, clearly “Thank you so much!” and a woman with two children said “aaaw” and smiled.
Everyone who works at the grocery store (and many in the area we live in) knows about my son, how he works, how to handle situations with me if it gets too much. I have explained everything and they are so understanding (the staff at the store).
When E said “thank you so much”, the woman in check out got so excited and happy so she said “you are so welcome E!” . That makes my heart so happy. The acceptance, the understanding and that they have heard plus seen how everything works.
I am grateful that I moved here. Sure the preschool was awful for my son but after he started school, he has grown so much. If we lived where we did before, this development would never have happened.
Mind you that not every time goes wonderful. sometimes it’s completely horrible, I’m not gonna lie and sugar coat things. Sometimes E has ran out from the store with items when he has been super overwhelmed with emotions and it has been too much for him. The staff is understanding and is OK that those situations happens. They know I always pay, either the same day later (depending what the time is during the day) or the day after. I always call when I come home after situations like that and tell them what items was taken and when I’ll come to the store and pay. The fact that they trust me so much makes me forever feel grateful for them. I also always take pictures of the items or video where I explain what happened and which items it is. Never had a problem and the “team work” between us and the staff is amazing.
I am so happy and proud of myself that I took the decision to move from our old place to this new home.
