Rashes and Squares on the Blacktop - by cheryl, mother of boy

My son was not diagnosed with High Functioning Autism (Aspergers) until he was 19 years old!!  Yep, that's right, 19.  During the school years previous to this enlightenment it was a wild ride.  He's always been a loving cuddlier, wanting to be as close to mama as possible. (sorry cold mother theory).  He is now 27, no longer a cuddlier, but (don't tell him I said so) still a mama's boy. He is quiet and compliant.  He was not always quiet and compliant....

Let's go back to 2nd through 3rd grade...the rash years!  It was said by his pediatrician that Josh has eczema.  The constant scratching on his legs was because of dry skin.  He would scratch his legs raw.  No amount of itch cream would help.  Since the doctor said "don't worry, it's just eczema" I believed him, he was the professional right?  Every week I would get a call from the school, usually a Thursday, asking me to get Josh from school because he has an unidentified rash and would not stop scratching. Turns out Thursday was PE day.  After a school year of getting mad at the nurse, constant Dr. visits, many tubes of itch cream, I had enough.  Yelling ensued. Crying erupted.  More cream was applied.  I look back now and I realize my poor baby was very anxious.  He was in a new school, bigger class, and was getting in trouble quite a bit for being out of his seat.  ANXIETY!!!  How could I have known? The Dr. told me eczema!!  Diagnoses averted.....

Recess was rough.  Soon he was seeing a behaviorist, she was wonderful with him.  His reward was ice cream on Fridays - if he followed his behavior plan.  He did pretty well most of the time.  At recess, which I think may have contributed to his success on the playground, he was required to stay in a square on the blacktop.  The behaviorist would draw the square with chalk and Josh was able to choose the color. Lucky dog!!  He was also allowed to choose one friend to play in the box with him.  What kid would like to play in a box at recess?????? yep, that's right.. NONE!!  Josh played with a ball by himself in a box on the playground at recess. I'm tearing up thinking about it - so sad right?  Luckily that did not last long, because they came up with the brilliant idea of "if a friend played with him in the square he/she could come with Josh for ice cream on Fridays"  Josh had a plethora of friends!!!  Until the behaviorist didn't want to buy ice cream anymore............................. 

Who wouldn't want to play with this kid?? I mean really? Look at him?  He's adorable!!