Sometimes I find it very difficult to determine whether a behaviour is due to autism, or due to just bad behaviour. I tend to go with autism most of the time. He really is a good boy, very happy the majority of the time. But there are times he pushes me to my limit and I can’t decide whether it is autism causing it, or just a kid thing!
We needed to go to a couple of shops today, so we decided if we left the house at 4pm and do what we needed to do, we could then get McDonalds for dinner. So I told our son, first shops then McDonalds. So far so good.
We got to the first shop and he kept repeating “we go to McDonalds” getting louder and louder, until he eventually just stopped in the middle of the shop and screamed “WE GO TO MCDONALDS”. I took him out the shop and told him first shops then McDonalds as it was too early for dinner, but he just kept screaming at the top of his voice “WE GO TO MCDONALDS”
I was just standing looking at him and eventually, in between screams, I told him calmly he was embarrassing me shouting at me. He got concerned looking at my face and he calmed down.
During this, daddy was in another shop but heard us when we left our shop and came outside. Daddy just walked up and said time to go home. Of course our son asked for a McDonalds again but daddy said no, we are going home.
When we got to the car I said to him calmly, “What did I say? I said first shops, then McDonalds. If you can’t go to the shops, then no McDonalds”
We are now home.
We take him to shops alot and he is normally ok. He knew he was going to get a McDonalds but still behaved like this. He had a snack before we left the house, so it wasn’t due to hunger. I used the now and next structure which always works for us. I have no idea what caused this today.
I always give in, so I learned today that I need to have a bit more discipline. I don’t know if I can blame autism for today. Certainly his reaction was heading for a meltdown which would lead me to blame autism, but I done everything “right”
Autism is so unpredictable. We left the house a happy family and we are now home 20 minutes later stressed and upset.
Super Autism Mum 