September 29, 2005
the boy just ain’t right
For the longest time, we thought Henry had Asperger’s syndrome. We had all sorts of reasons, but among them were some ‘classic’ autistic behaviours, including flapping his hands when he was excited (imagine the Chicken Dance gone wrong) and shaking his head rapidly from side to side when he was bored or tired. I’ve pretty much grown to ignore both of these things, except at the dinner table, where they pose a constant threat to the plates and glasses we are eating from.
Yesterday, after I picked Henry up at school, we came home to have lunch (yes, at 3:00 p.m.–he’s still not eating at school, although it doesn’t seem to be slowing him down any). The boys were at the table, finishing their sandwiches; I was standing at the counter, with my back to them, doing I don’t know what, when I heard a plate clatter onto the tabletop. I swung around and said, ‘Hey! What’s going on?’
I didn’t think I sounded too upset; I mean, I didn’t want anything broken, but they’re just dishes. But Henry started to cry. Wow, I thought, he must be really tired.
I knelt down next to his chair and said, ‘It’s okay, buddy, nothing broke.’ And then he REALLY started to wail. ‘My head! Ow! MY HEAD!’
I was completely baffled. ‘Henry, what happened?’
‘I HIT MY HEAD!’ he cried.
‘You did? On the table?’
‘NO! ON THE PLATE!’
Now I was starting to get the picture. ‘Buddy, what were you doing?’
‘I was going like this,’ he said, and started waving his head around like Stevie Wonder on crack, ‘and I hit my head on the PLATE! And it HURTS!’ By now, I could see a red welt on his forehead. Because, by god, he HAD hit his head! On the PLATE!
I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him, solely so he would not see that I was laughing uncontrollably.
Through all of this, Charlie went on eating his sandwich. When Henry finally pulled himself together, Charlie looked at him and said, ‘Henry, what did you do?’
‘I hit my head on the plate,’ Henry said sadly.
And Charlie started to laugh. And then Henry laughed. And I felt better, because really it was so damn funny.
He hit his head on a plate!
Sheesh.
Posted by Susan @ 12:42 pm • Uncategorized
RSS feed for comments on this post.
TrackBack URI
September 29th, 2005 at 1:32 pm, Candace Says:
Oh I have BEEN there. Let’s see…Christopher has hit his head on plates, corners where walls meet, tables, beds, chairs, MY head, windows, cars…and he’s hit his head WITH so many objects I can’t even begin to list them.
But you’re right. It’s just damned funny.
September 29th, 2005 at 2:00 pm, The June Cleaver Diaries Says:
Alex went to school with a huge bruise over his eye, and I have no idea how it got there. I spent the afternoon freaking out about the possiblity the teacher thinking I did it , and then of getting a call from Child Protective Services. Alex says he doesn’t remember how he got it. That kid has unbelievable pain tolerance, and he’s rowdy. I swear I’ll get that call someday…
September 29th, 2005 at 3:22 pm, McSwain Says:
Remind me never to read you while munching on carrots. I nearly choked! My kid does this kind of thing all the time. And it is so hard not to end up in a giggling heap on the floor sometimes!
September 29th, 2005 at 4:10 pm, Misfit Hausfrau Says:
Thank God for Charlie, eh??? Sweer boys!!
September 29th, 2005 at 4:28 pm, sarcastic journalist Says:
That sounds like something I would do.
September 29th, 2005 at 5:01 pm, Heather Says:
Okay Susan…fess up. Your story seems a little incomplete…Its starts off “For the longest time, we thought Henry had Asperger’s syndrome. We had all sorts of reasons,”…and I tend to perk up a bit when I read these things. I can’t say I am disappointed…I mean the plate incident is pretty classic. We should get He and Owen together when Owen is doing the “I’m BlEEEding” jive. He gets DOWN! wow..it could be a pin prick…but man does he MOVE! So, get He and Henry doing Stevie on Crack and we could potentially fund their way to Harvard…
How did I get here?
mumble
Funny post! Gotta love Henry!
September 29th, 2005 at 7:20 pm, Jenorama Says:
Are you sure he doesn’t have Asperger’s? Christian flaps so much he makes jokes about bird mating season!
September 29th, 2005 at 7:25 pm, Jenorama Says:
Do you ever privately call him “Forrest” or am I the only one who does that?
September 29th, 2005 at 8:02 pm, M&Co. Says:
Poor Henry. Sweet Charlie. Liquor for soon!
September 30th, 2005 at 12:29 pm, ieatcrayonz Says:
Here I thought you and M were going barhopping “liquor for soon!”
Well, at least H got injuries from something hard. I’m still wondering how L got so bloody from falling down on the carpet.
September 30th, 2005 at 1:01 pm, Mary P. Says:
Harry was waving a small plastic hammer around. Clocked himself right on the bridge of his nose. Boof! He was distressed and tremendously indignant. Now, I know how that hurts, and it makes your eyes tear right up, so I was really, really kind and gentle with him. While I shook and shook and shook with laughter…
Good moms have a sense of humour. Even when it has to be (snigger,snort) covert.