Patient Dad
I read a funny anecdote that describes one aspect of the lives of parents, teachers, and other people involved in the daily lives of individuals with autism. Did you hear the story about Donald?
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One time a dad was shopping for groceries with his little son who was irritable, fussy, and loudly demanding candies and treats. The father seemed to have everything under control as he pushed the cart down the aisle, quietly staying, “Just be calm, Donald. We’re almost finished, Donald. It’ll be alright, Donald.”
A lady passed by their cart and commented to the dad about his patience and his calm response to his son’s disruptive behavior. Then the lady leaned down to the boy and said, “Your daddy is very patient, Donald. Hang in there, little Donald.”
The dad looked at the lady, interrupting her comments and saying, “Wait a minute. HIS name is Henry. MY name is Donald!”
This story has three morals for people interested in the well-being of individuals diagnosed with autism:
1. The story illustrates the futility of constantly nagging, of repeatedly saying “don’t” and “you’d better not” to our youngsters in public places.
2. Dad demonstrates the benefit for both dad and kid of responding positively and calmly in tough situations.
3. Dad readily confesses he is struggling with his patience, then deals with the situation and his impatience in a constructive manner.
TIP FOR THE DAY: We might do well to copy this dad by putting these three helpful tips in our pockets to pull out when we reach the end of our rope in a public place. Making reassuring comments to ourselves in the face of trying circumstances is one key to a calmer daily life.
We have some great resources to help all of us when we reach the ends of our ropes. Click on the Toolkit tab on our webiste for great resources; http://FAQautism.com
NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com
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