Image via WikipediaIn a single month, the ASD teen got a job, trained for a job, worked a job, excelled at a job, and quit a job.A roller coaster ride for anyone, especially someone with Aspergers. And his Mom.
He was excelling, giving it his all, which is how he operates. He would come home feeling good, but exhausted. He missed some school, struggled to juggle & coordinate his three schedules (school, law enforcement exploring, work). (For those of you who don't have ASD or ADHD kids, this is known as an "executive skill" and is challenging for our kiddos.)
He double-booked himself one day, which escalated the issue to crisis stage. He struggled to manage, calling around to find a replacement. Striking out, he sank into a silence, emerging once or twice to announce "My heart says one thing; my brain, another."
Next day, he himself said, "There's too much on my plate right now. I took this job too young. Maybe I can handle it when I am 16, but right now, it is too much. I appreciate the opportunity and I even enjoy the job. But it is too much."
Which is essentially what he told the store manager. I listened from the hallway, as the manager expressed his disappointment and said, "Without giving 2 weeks notice, you will never work for this company again."
"I understand," said my son.
I do, too, now. I was disappointed. I was sad. But now that he's back in his pre-working routine, I see that it was too much for him. There was too much on his plate.
Thus we grow.
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what those this high and low means?
ReplyDeletewell, from the father of a 6 y/o autistic son, i applaud you and your son for the job. even in the "disappointment", there was growth. good for him to even go out to get a job. there are a whole lot of 15 year olds who just stick their hand out to their parents for some cash.
ReplyDeletewe are a few years into our journey. still having to sort out things from time to time. i always enjoy hearing anothers' success in the ASD world. Ya'll are not alone - of course you probably already know that.
i loved the title to your blog. the anonymous nature of your blog is basically what i have done as well. just a way to journal periodically and throw some thoughts down. i wish i did it more often. it is liberating (well, at least a little).
continued good luck to you and your son as ya'll journey along with this crazy, crazy world of ASD. our families live in a different reality that alot of people realize, dont we? (btw, i can understand the store managers stance ... but if he lived in your shoes, he would have left the door open for your sons' return in the future.)
When my son was younger and really trapped in his autism, another mom told me that things would improve as he matured. I didn't believe it. But things have improved. The age of miracles is not dead.
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