July 31, 2007
it was the best sandwich ever
Today at lunchtime I did what I always do and made lunch for the boys. Henry was stalking me around the kitchen grumbling because I told him that he could play on the computer AFTER we went to the pool but not BEFORE which was apparently a HUGE injustice. So I put him to work finding place mats for lunch, mostly just to shut him up. He did that and then sat at the table grumbling about how long it was taking me to make the sandwiches and couldn’t we EAT already and get the whole pool thing OVER WITH so he could play on the computer?
Argh.
When the sandwiches were ready (which took like ninety five seconds, I swear to you) I asked Henry to call Charlie to the table. What I MEANT was would he walk to the bottom of the stairs and call his brother; what he HEARD me say was would he lean three inches to his left and holler “CHAAAAARLIE! LUNCH IS READY!”
Like I couldn’t have done that.
Charlie came running and took one look at his sandwich and crumpled to the floor moaning that he wanted Spaghetti Os, not a sandwich. No, I said, we’re having sandwiches, and besides I heard that you ate a LOT of Spaghetti Os when I was gone. (Wade’s theory is that Spaghetti Os are fine ONCE a day, but TWICE a day is too much. Uh, sure.) So Charlie curls up on the floor and moans.
I ignore him because I am mean like that and this is what’s for lunch.
Henry says, Charlie you need to eat your lunch or you will be tired at the pool. No, Charlie says, I don’t want that sandwich. And he stamps off up the stairs.
I ignore him.
Henry eats his sandwich and asks for another; I give him Charlie’s. No thank you, he says, I don’t want Charlie’s sandwich, because he might change his mind and decide to eat it. So I make him another sandwich even though I’m pretty sure Charlie won’t eat his.
Charlie comes BACK downstairs and hides in the bar. Henry says, Charlie, come eat your lunch so you can go swimming. I say, Just ignore him. Charlie says, I don’t want that sandwich.
And then Henry does something remarkable: he starts to play with Charlie, to tease him. He pretends he doesn’t know where Charlie is. He says, I wonder where Charlie could be! in a pretend serious voice. He looks under his chair and Charlie’s chair and asks me if I know where Charlie is.
And Charlie starts to giggle.
Henry gets up from the table and makes a big show of looking for Charlie, who is right there in the bar. He looks under the table and in the bathroom and in the study, and then acts completely surprised when he turns around to find Charlie–who is screaming with laughter by now–in the bar. And he says, Come eat your sandwich, Charlie.
And Charlie says, Okay Henry. And he eats the entire sandwich.
When Henry was diagnosed with NLD, the doctor told us that he would struggle socially, that he would have difficulty empathizing, that he would probably not make friends easily or become strongly attached to people. She also told us that he would most likely always be very literal, and would have a difficult time with puns or word games.
She was wrong.
Every time Henry does something like that–encouraging Charlie to eat, diffusing the situation with play, distracting Charlie and then redirecting him–my cold dead Spaghetti O hating heart melts a little and I want to call that doctor and say LOOK AT HIM NOW!
Charlie came and sat at the table and said the word “derriere” until Henry begged him to stop and none of us could stop laughing. It’s not really funny, derriere, but today it was hysterical. And if I were really smart, I would finish this with something about Henry having a big BUT or this being the END, but I won’t.
Posted by Susan @ 10:08 pm • Uncategorized
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July 31st, 2007 at 11:12 pm, Jack's Raging Mommy Says:
My brother was never supposed to be able to hold a job or do anything “adult”, and even though he still lives with my parents he has a job, pays his own bills, etc. I think that love and good care can play a vital role in a person’s development, regardless of any condition they may have. Really it just goes to show what a great family you have
August 1st, 2007 at 8:03 am, bgirl Says:
That was a fantastic post - I’m all weepy.
August 1st, 2007 at 10:37 am, Homestead Says:
Ok, my favorite line is “She was wrong.” But my second favorite line… and the one that had me laughing… was every time you said Charlie was “in the bar” because, truly… that would make him mama’s boy, wouldn’t it??
In the bar. Derriere. The eleven-year-old boy in me salutes the eleven-year-old boy in you….
August 1st, 2007 at 3:50 pm, Sheryl Says:
Go Henry! What an awesome big brother you are! I love a happy story.
August 1st, 2007 at 9:17 pm, jm Says:
Oh yay! I LOVE that story. And I think I’m a little bit in love with Henry too.
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:54 am, MaryP Says:
That was a great way to start my day. Thanks. (And yay, Henry!)
That leaning to the left and bellowing? Happens around here all the time - only our youngest is 12…
Which is why we, too, need a bar.
August 2nd, 2007 at 8:24 am, Meredith Says:
These doctors, what the hell do they know, huh? I know, sometimes they are right and they save our lives and yadda yadda but when we were told that our one year old son was globally developmentally delayed when he was a year old by a pediatric developmental specialist after she spent all of 10 minutes with him, it broke my heart. Now at 2.5 he does everything most 2.5 year olds do, including pretty rigorous puzzles, talks a blue streak, and poops on the floor during a potty training session then points to it proudly and says, “Mamma, I pooped on the floor, like a big boy!”
Go Henry Go!
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:53 am, Kari Says:
I hate doctors.
But doesn’t it make you proud that Charlie listens to Henry? ‘Tis the same way around these parts: mama has no authority.
August 2nd, 2007 at 3:42 pm, Jeana Says:
I love this story.
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:45 pm, undercovermutha Says:
I remember. You’ve come a long way, baby.
I could just hug you because I’m so happy for you.
August 2nd, 2007 at 8:02 pm, jody2ms Says:
Excellent, excellent post. No wonder the BIG MAGAZINE is schmoozing you.
August 3rd, 2007 at 8:30 am, Lisa Says:
this post made me laugh - and recall similar experiences! I love hearing about sibling interactions - they’re always fun.
August 4th, 2007 at 9:35 am, AngelNicki Says:
What a sweet big brother! Many “Typical” boys would probably not be able to figure out a way to get their little brother cheered up and eating a sandwich!