Manly Man

Image via Wikipedia"I haven't had one shaving cut," announced the young man formerly known as Elmer*.

He's only shaved once. But the 6'2", 200 lb 14-year-old is the picture of young manhood. The peach fuzz covering his cheeks and chin was getting out of control, so after a few day's urging, he took razor to cheek and did the deed.

Today he picked up shaving gel; "I'd better get two cans," he announced, "I'll be shaving again tonight."

"Shaving what?" I wondered, but did not say.

Because he is no longer *Elmer, the tween Looney Toons fan who wanted a pseudonym like MamaEdge's boys, Taz and Rocky. He is now Dude McDude; Dude, for short, a whisker-growing, deep-voiced, young man.

Message in a bottle

Elmer's on a bike ride.

He may be functioning beautifully in junior high.

On the trap team and out in the world.

But the kid can't spell.

At all.

My sister-in-law tells me that two of her "neuro-typical" kids can't spell either, so maybe there is something other than autism going on here.

Still, Elmer get credit for trying not once, but twice to write a message

And for getting out there on his bik.

The blessings of normal

Your ASD teen smells, gets surly, thinks you're stupid, discovers Facebook, watches MTV, drinks milk from the carton, listens to Weezer, and, you think, "Thank you, God."