Autism is a funny thing! It affects every child differently. That is one reason it is so hard to diagnose and find treatments that work. Since it is so hard for John-Isaac to communicate he tends to just quietly go and do whatever it is he is thinking about instead of trying to find the words to ask. He also seeks out sensory input such as watching something spinning, bright lights flashing, etc. Hence, we have MONKEY! Monkey has become our best friend when we are out in large crowds! It fits like a backpack and has a long tail that Mommy or Daddy can hold on to. This accomplishes 2 goals. John-Isaac can still walk around independently and look at whatever he wants to look at, but at the same time he cannot wander off and get lost. And what would happen if John-Isaac got lost? Well, for starters he could not tell anyone his personal information. Chances are he would just sit there and look at them blankly. Not a good thing! Monkey is also something of a security item for John-Isaac. He loves him. We have to keep him put up at home or he will wear him all the time! Why am I telling you all of this you might ask? Well, upon occasion we have had many stares and even a few comments about Monkey. The worst being at the zoo. I was sitting on a bench feeding Linley, while Brian had the boys up looking at the polar bears. Two girls with their kids came through and I hear, "Yeah, but he is like 8". I promptly called them down and explained that first he was not 8 he was 6 and that he was autistic. They apologized several times and then left with their tails between their legs. I guess the reason that I am sharing about Monkey is that things are not always what they seem. Next time you see a child kicking and screaming in a business or a child wearing a Monkey in a crowded place don't be so quick to judge! There may be something else going on!
