As my son Grayson started to show signs of autism, he also acted in many ways like a typical 3-year-old.  It’s not unusual for little boys to drop handfuls of sand from over their heads into the sandbox.  But Grayson would pour sand for hours in the same spot.  You could try to distract him but you wouldn’t succeed.  Even another child playing in the same sandbox wouldn’t cause him to stop what he was doing.

Then I was informed by Grayson’s babysitter that he would repeat himself.  Don’t all children repeat themselves?  Of course, but when I would leave the house he would repeat, “Mommy gone,” every few minutes until I returned…as many as 100 times.  He didn’t cry but he couldn’t stop the repetitive behavior even if the babysitter comforted him.  

A major frustration was trying to maintain his attention long enough for him to focus on what you were saying to him.  It baffled me how could he focus on one activity for hours yet not follow a simple instruction.  (Probably sounds like a few husbands out there!  LOL!)  But there was more. 

If another child took a toy away from Grayson, he never got upset.  He would just turn and find another toy.  No crying…no temper tantrum.  It was wonderful that he didn’t get angry yet it still seemed atypical.

His preschool teacher was amazing telling us over and over, “Progress not perfection.”  He was making progress, yet as time went on his behaviors and our confusion about them became magnified.

April is Autism Awareness Month, so I will continue next week with Grayson’s development from 4 to 6 years old.