I have blogged about some measures we have taken to make sure that our home is safe. We keep doors locked and have even installed locks at the top of each door. There are cabinet locks, car seat harnesses, and window checks. I removed the handle from our attic door. That was a scary day. Out of the blue, Asher strolled upstairs opened the door leading to the attic and went in shutting the door behind him. Was he afraid of the dark? No. Did he care that it was hot? No. I found him when I heard him squealing with joy.
This is why I don’t have a sitter. I can’t find anyone to keep him for short periods of time in order to keep him for longer periods of time. You have to understand some of his routines in order to understand what he is capable of in the blink of an eye. So, he has been going to more ballgames lately. We can’t even give him an area to play while we watch. He has no boundaries. He knows no fear.
I found this interesting. I read that a wandering and elopement survey found that around 1/2 of parents have a child that elopes. You know, they run off without warning. The behavior peaks at age 4. (Yeah, he just had his 4th birthday.) Out of these families, 50% say that their child went missing long enough to cause a significant amount of concern.
*I can tell you that I’m in the 50% that has experienced true panic.
“Wandering isn’t a great description for this behavior. It sounds like a kind of casual or slow drifting off course, which doesn’t at all describe the speed and determination with which people who wander can disappear, and gives the false impression that they’re merely confused or lost. While that may be true of conditions like dementia, that’s not what we’re talking about with autism." I can't adequately describe how fast he can move. It's like nothing I've ever experienced with a kid before. I found this quote and other info from snagglebox.com. Very interesting and informative.
This is not like being overly protective of a typical child. It is different. I’ve done both, and it’s not the same.
Several factors can cause ASD kids to wander. Being the overachiever that he is, Asher has several of the common factors relating to wandering. Communication difficulties, hypersensitivity, special interests, and an underdeveloped sense of danger are all reasons that kids wander off.
Asher is nonverbal. He can’t ask if he can play on the swing. He just goes to the swing. Asher has sensory processing disorder. If things are too loud or routines are changed, he leaves. Asher’s special interests are rocks, dirt, and water. I can deal with the dirt and rocks, but the water is the terrifying thing. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for kids with Autism.. He has an underdeveloped sense of danger. Like, for real. Asher isn’t scared of anything. He will jump off of anything. He will climb up everything. He will run to things and from me. There is nothing that won’t go in his mouth. I’m constantly redirecting, guiding, and having him remove things from his mouth.
Often times, I leave places thinking that I must seem rude. I feel like I never really look anyone in the eye or that I answer questions or make small talk. Y’all, I can’t let my guard down. It’s easier when Randy and I are together. We tag-team Asher.
At the end of the day, we are mentally and physically exhausted. All of the “almost”s that happened during the day weigh on our minds. Sometimes, Randy and I look at each other like “We made it!” Other times, we don’t look at each other. I just take Asher to bed to stop the madness. Everyday we are thankful though. He’s the happiest little boy. He’s healthy. We adore him.
Hopefully, this gave you a little insight in to the lives of parents of children with Autism. The door is slowly being opened to let everyone in to see.
Asher is nonverbal. He can’t ask if he can play on the swing. He just goes to the swing. Asher has sensory processing disorder. If things are too loud or routines are changed, he leaves. Asher’s special interests are rocks, dirt, and water. I can deal with the dirt and rocks, but the water is the terrifying thing. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for kids with Autism.. He has an underdeveloped sense of danger. Like, for real. Asher isn’t scared of anything. He will jump off of anything. He will climb up everything. He will run to things and from me. There is nothing that won’t go in his mouth. I’m constantly redirecting, guiding, and having him remove things from his mouth.
Often times, I leave places thinking that I must seem rude. I feel like I never really look anyone in the eye or that I answer questions or make small talk. Y’all, I can’t let my guard down. It’s easier when Randy and I are together. We tag-team Asher.
At the end of the day, we are mentally and physically exhausted. All of the “almost”s that happened during the day weigh on our minds. Sometimes, Randy and I look at each other like “We made it!” Other times, we don’t look at each other. I just take Asher to bed to stop the madness. Everyday we are thankful though. He’s the happiest little boy. He’s healthy. We adore him.
Hopefully, this gave you a little insight in to the lives of parents of children with Autism. The door is slowly being opened to let everyone in to see.
He's worth chasing.
