I kept it simple...a few friends and family. They all gathered in the living room. Logan stayed in the kitchen. While all of his cousins were running around playing hide and seek or playing with his toys, he was standing at the refridgerator rearranging the magnets.
Time to sing "Happy Birthday"!!! We had to drag him to the table and everyone gathered around. He smiled...no tears, thank goodness! But obviously quite awkward with everyone staring. He actually attempted to blow out his own candles. I was amazed.
Next up...presents. We had to keep dragging him back to open the presents...he was more pre-occupied with the Spongebob tablecloths that were blowing in the breeze on our back deck. Finally, once he was engaged with opening the first few presents he got the hang of it.
Then the madness ensued. His cousin, who is five days younger, started to play with the new toys and Logan went ballistic. He physically attacked the child...scratching, shoving, pushing, and pulling. This went on over and over and over and then it would happen for no reason. All this child had to do was walk across the room and Logan would run over and slap him in the face. His senses were beginning to overload and the party was beginning to take it's turn to the dark side.
Once he was removed from the situation for the 4th or 5th time, he began to meltdown. Screaming, headbanging, slapping, and hitting me and himself. I took him out of the room again to calm him. This finally cued everyone in that the party was over.
Lesson learned: two year old birthday parties for autistic children may be more about the parent than the child.
Note To Self: Next year's birthday should be about better planning and sensory control and if that doesn't work maybe birthday parties are overrated?
As much as the last part sucks, I say celebrate - WOW - coming to the table with no tears? Trying to blow out his candles? YAY!!! :)
ReplyDeleteMore and more birthday party kids (even typpies) don't open presents at the party - they just send thank you's afterwards.
We're attempting our first b-day party for my ASD man this year, and that's the first rule on my list!
SpongeBob would have been top on my little guy's list, too!
Oh wow. Good try, tho. Agreed- it can be more about the parents than the kids. But you know what? Is it a horrible thing for our kids to be exposed to some sensory issues during some well intentioned events? Certainly a learning experience about sensory triggers and what may work to cope with them.
ReplyDelete