Dare Devil

I do not believe that Michael is fully aware of danger unless it is explicitly taught to him.  He is quite the dare devil and will think nothing of climbing a 30 foot tree to the very tippy top and balance precariously on the branch.  He will think nothing of climbing a pole, fence or other vertical structure and call down and wave to us like it is as easy as walking across the lawn.

At the tippy top of the apple tree.

I'm not sure if he is just a risk taker, or if most autistic children are totally unaware of the consequences that might happen if they push the envelope a little further.  We went to Universal Studios this spring and Michael thought nothing of going on the scariest, most terrifying roller coasters!  He was even very disappointed if he didn't make the height cut off.

I came to the scary realization the other day that I went out to mow the lawn.  Michael was suppose to help me by gathering big sticks and rocks that might get caught under our lawn mower.  Too many times I've run over a brick or other majorly hard object and then had to bring the mower in for repair.  Michael was happy to gather sticks and rocks and get them out of my way, he had done it before for daddy.  As I am happily mowing the lawn and getting our property back to a decent state, Michael would grab a stick, dance off and throw it over by the tree line.  He mostly was far away and jumping up on old tree stumps and skipping around by the drive way.  Then as I was looking at some big pine cones, and asking if he could get them, his hand was dangerously close to the front of the mower.  Chris was watching from up by the garage by his workshop.  Chris came running down screaming for me to stop.  Luckily I realized it just in time and pulled the lawn mower back, shutting it off, otherwise would would have a son with 5 less fingers, or perhaps one less hand.

At the tippy top of the monkey bars.

Chris was shaken to his core.  I had never seen him like that before.  He kept saying over and over again, "He isn't NORMAL!  He isn't NORMAL!  You can't have him that close, he doesn't realize!"  It made me wake up and realize that I had been treating Michael like an average kid.  I didn't take into account that he does not comprehend the full implications of being that close to a lawn mower with sharp blades.  He has difficulty inferring what might happen.

Michael is a very innocent soul.  He is so sweet and good.  He just wanted to help mommy, and even though he was taught some of the dangers last year, I'm not sure he remembered everything about picking up sticks in front of a lawn mower.

It has taken Chris over two years to teach Michael about crossing our street in order to get to the bus every morning.  Michael knows what he has to do when the bus comes.  Can he apply it to just crossing the street to go over to a friend's house?  Applying rules to other situations is also a hurdle for him, and I suppose for many autistic children.  

I was sad that Chris kept telling me that Michael isn't normal.  I want to scream back, "Yes he is!  Yes he is!"  He is smart, loving and a great boy!  He goes to the public school and has friends."  Yet I know deep down that Michael is special.  I don't need to treat him with kid gloves, but I have to be more careful with him, especially when it comes to dangerous situations.  I need to make sure I explain things so that he understands, and not take for granted that he has so many coping strategies he appears to be "normal."

I love you Dare Devil Michael, I love you so much that it hurts.  This is just another area in your life that I have to be extra careful, and realize that you are "Somewhere Over the Spectrum."