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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Spriggy on April 16, 2005, at 12:19:25
I couldn't decide if I should laugh at this or get on to my son..
Mind you, over two years ago, my son (who is now ten and has autism) did not speak a word besides " bye." That was his only word.There were MANY nights as I tucked him in bed, that I would just lay beside him crying and praying to God, " Please give him understanding and more words to speak." It was so frustrating for him to want to tell me something but have no idea HOW. And it was frustrating for me to try and figure it out.
In two years, God has worked wonders in this little guy. He is now making small sentences. Besides prayer, I have been taking him to a doctor that believes autism is connected to mercury poisoning. We began chelation treatment almost exactly 2 years ago- so without a doubt, we have seen improvement.
ANyway, yesterday, I get a call from my son's teacher. She is kind of laughing but not sure how to approach this.. She says, " I think Austin is saying bull Sh*t at school."
Okay, you need to know that my husband is a pastor and we DO NOT use those words at our house... EVER. I've never ONCE heard my husband say a cuss word in the entire time I've known him, I don't talk like that.. so I am kind of floored.I said, " are you sure that's what he's saying?"
She laughs and says, " Oh yeah, we are fairly certain. He even says it at appropriate times.. whenever he is upset."I have never heard him say it at home so I am really beginning to wonder.
So I told her I would try and talk to him about and see if I could figure this one out (remember, he is developmentally more like 2-3).
How else can I ask him if he said this unless I just come out and say the stinkin' word myself? He can't really spell so that's out of the question.
So this morning, I sit him down and I say, " Austin.. are you saying Bull sh*t at school?" ( you have no idea how hard it was for me to say that word. LOL).
He looks at me with such a look of guilt and says, " Yes.. Sorry."
He can't really explain where he heard it (his speech is limited) so I have no clue- he rides the school bus so there is no telling.
But I told my husband, I had to almost laugh. Here I prayed for years and years that God would give him words to express himself.
Never did I have a clue WHICH words he would use to do just that. LOL
Posted by Dinah on April 16, 2005, at 12:46:49
In reply to My autistic son using bad words... LOL, posted by Spriggy on April 16, 2005, at 12:19:25
Well, my own reaction was to send a swift prayer of thanksgiving upward, without worrying overmuch about which word he chose. Because actually it wasn't a half bad choice as a way to express what he's feeling. Bravo for him!
But perhaps you could have a bit of fun inventing exclamations that wouldn't offend but are equally as expressive, and use them yourself in appropriate circumstances. Eventually he might finds one he likes as well. And it could be cathartic and fun besides for you and your husband.
Phish!
Of course, that wouldn't have the felicitous advantage of the current word, which lets everyone else also know exactly how he's feeling.
I'm glad he's doing better. What are chelation treatments?
Posted by Spriggy on April 16, 2005, at 13:16:12
In reply to Re: My autistic son using bad words... LOL » Spriggy, posted by Dinah on April 16, 2005, at 12:46:49
He takes an oral form of DMSA and Alpah Lipioc Acid. We give it to him every other weekend ( so 4 days a month) every 4 hours.
About the 3rd month of this, we saw some serious improvement. He started making eye contact (he could not do that before), he stopped the self stimming (waving his arms around and flapping his fingers, etc..), and he started to eat more foods (he was SUPER picky before).
After 6 months, he started TALKING. Threw us for a loop. I mean one day he said, " I'm angry." It was clear as a bell. Then from there, he began to talk more and more.
As a matter of fact, as I type this very thing, he is behind me yelling at his brother, " Jacob Michael is naughty!"
LOL..
Yeah- maybe we can teach him to say "crap" or "darn" or other kind of words. Words that won't get my husband fired. LOL
Posted by Spriggy on April 16, 2005, at 13:18:15
In reply to My autistic son using bad words... LOL, posted by Spriggy on April 16, 2005, at 12:19:25
I wanted to say that I didn't punish him or anything.
I just told him, " Austin, those words are not nice and hurt people's feelings so let's not use those words anymore okay?"
He says, " okay mom."
LOL
We'll see how it goes at school this week.
Posted by anastasia56 on April 16, 2005, at 13:35:51
In reply to Re: My autistic son using bad words... LOL, posted by Spriggy on April 16, 2005, at 13:18:15
that is too funny that you prayed for him to speak and this is what you got! better than nothing i guess. compared to some of the stuff i understand kids say perhaps this is mild?
dinahs idea to introduce some alternate words to say sounds good. my nephew says "i'm frustrated" when he is.
sounds like this may have been an 'on bus' discussion with the kids.
bless his little heart. he sounds adorable when he understood what you told him about not saying that word again. i can see his face as he agreed it might not be a good thing to say.
ana
Posted by Susan47 on April 16, 2005, at 15:41:56
In reply to My autistic son using bad words... LOL, posted by Spriggy on April 16, 2005, at 12:19:25
Oh that is just too incredibly cute. Your son is such a source of wonder and joy!!!
Posted by damos on April 17, 2005, at 21:31:33
In reply to My autistic son using bad words... LOL, posted by Spriggy on April 16, 2005, at 12:19:25
Well if ever you wanted evidence that He works in mysterious ways, you surely got it. Thanks Spriggy, you and your kids are a joy.
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