charliesmum | (no subject)

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charlie

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Charlie doesn't do well with things he has no control over. I think that's why he likes numbers and puzzles and video games so much. He can control the outcome, more or less, and they are orderly and have rules you can follow.

This is why he doesn't do well with things like natural occuring incidents like Tuesday's earthquake and this weekend's hurricane. Which he doesn't know is a hurricane yet, and I hope no one tells him. The earthquake's made him anxious enough this week.

I'm inland enough that we're probably just going to have strong winds and rain, and maybe a downed tree or two, so hopefully he'll survive it without too much anxiety.

I'm just worried that this, along with the earthquake, is going to start making him think Harold Camping was right after all.

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While I understand your desire to not make Charlie anxious, how does he learn to deal with all that is out of his control if you avoid what neither of you can control?

It's kind of a 'pick your battles' sort of thing. He also gets really upset when the cat 'yells' at other cats, and I'm working at getting him to confront that anxiety, but if he finds out NOW that we're having a hurricane, his imagination is going to go wild, and my entire weekend will be trying to assure him nothing is going to happen to him, and I don't want him worrying all that time.

WHEN the hurrican hits, then we can face it head on. And I hope it isn't too bad around here!

I hope so too. I hope that you both find ways that help him cope.

I know how he feels. I'm not coping well with the thought of a hurricane either.

I know. I hope it goes well for you. I wish I could help. I'll send good thoughts your way at least.

Maybe you should just focus on keeping calm. I don't know if autistic kids take their cues from adults as much as other kids, but if he picks up on your worrying about him, that will increase his anxiety.

Yeah, that's good advice. Generally I wouldn't fret too much; as I said, we're inland enough that I don't THINK it's going to be a big deal, but everyone is going on and on about getting flashlights and food and water, and blah blah blah, so I'm getting more anxious then I should!

My director even cancelled rehearsal for tomorrow as well as Sunday, and that's not like him!

I hope the stupid thing just blows itself out to sea.

Even if you're inland, that is a hella-big storm. You will get wet and could lose your electricity so please make sure you have water and ice and plenty of non-perishables. And batteries.

It's not blowing out to sea. It's going right over NJ. Please tell me you have supplies, I'm worried about you both.

Edited 2011-08-27 01:44 (UTC)

Yowch, poor Charlie.

Charlie is much smarter than Harold Camping.

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