Oh Thats Just Andy

My son is high functioning PDD-NOS. Every year or so he has a new obsession. When he was 2 he had to look at everyone's fan and ask them to turn it on......then it was flushing toilets.......now planes and air conditioners.....Last summer we'd go for walks and he'd want to stop at every house to see if their air conditioner was on. Other than his obsessions and his at times oppositional behavior he just appears to be a typical boy. I forget about the obsessions (many 4 year olds have them anyway) until someone will say "wow, he sure likes air conditioners!!"

i love the quirky :) !!! it's what makes us all a family. my boy hates getting dirty, he hates sweating. he smells EVERYTHING, including his fingers after he touches his sweaty head (OCD). he's sooooo dramatic it's ridiculous. my daughter on the other hand, doesn't care if she sweats, loves to be outside, can rough and tumble with her brother, makes up the craziest jokes that make no sense whatsoever. she loves to have her hair done, and makeup put on. and they both love burping, and farting, and talking about all the bodily functions. it's crazy

I encourage them to be unique... why not?! Can't hurt anybody. My 7 year old especially, she is very outgoing and opinionated and doesn't care what anybody thinks of her 'style'. She gets a lot of more adult humor, and can give it right back! She's a total tomboy. She doesn't care. She loves wearing camo pants, white t-shirts, climbing trees, getting dirty, sports... but then she'll go and put her hair in pig tails to give it a bit of feminine flare. She 'gets it' ;)

My 5 year old is a princess diva supreme. She's always wearing pink or purple and loaded with costume jewelery. People try convincing her all the time that she's too old for the princess stage... um, she's one of those kids that will NEVERRR outgrow the princess stage! She was born a princess, LOL!! She won't leave the house without her nails done, LOL... and she's constantly in pink tutus and sparkly slide on shoes.

My kids aren't Autistic, but like you guys, we're all pretty quirky. We're definately 'the odd man out' at school functions... but we're all likable enough ;) No harm, no foul in letting kiddos embrace what they like, whether it's a phase or not ;) I bet Andy rocked that suit ;)

Yes, my step daughter is moderately retarded and is 15. But she "looks" like a typical teen and is actually physically "beautiful". Mentally she is about 5 and she has a speech impediment. So I forget because I'm used to it obviously but when we are in the public and people hear her speak they kind of do a double take at her and it makes me laugh most of the time. I think because they are thinking she "looks" typical but doesn't sound typical. So yes, we go thru this quite a bit.

My son also is diagnosed with PDD-NOS and like you I just say Autism b/c nobody knows what I'm talking about if I don't. He is very insistent about the order in which he puts his shoes on. Right sock, left sock, right shoe, left shoe. Now he can do it himself but when he needed help he would take them off and do it over if someone did it wrong.

He is high functioning and I have trouble with people forgetting that he does indeed have Autism. He is a very matter of fact kid and he accidently walked in on my friend's girls changing after swimming. So later he tells them, "I saw your vagina" My friend got pretty upset about it and I had to remind her that he wasn't trying to be offensive or gross or sexual. He was just stating the fact that he saw it. I think sometimes they forget that he struggles in social situations with what is appropriate and what is not. Of course I did discuss with him why this was not okay to say, etc.

It can be sure to see their quirky though!!! It makes life much more interesting!!! :-) Love to hear from other moms who have kiddos diagnosed with PDD-NOS as well!!! :-)