OCD

I know one day AJ will read this and say, "Seriously mom I am the way I am because of you!!"

Ever since AJ was tiny he has always been very particular... I have ready many autism websites and other things different people mention, just to see if there is something I should be doing. Not autism because he is delayed in anyway, but just because he reminds us of rainman sometimes. (Is that stereotypical or what!?!) He also reminds me ALOT of the red stapler guy in the movie Office Space, the way he mumbles under his breath sometimes just reminds me of that guy and always makes me laugh. Anyways the obsessive complusiveness has definitely gotten worse lately and involved more items. He used to always close doors.... I mean every door that was anywhere HAD to be closed. People would always try and mess with him and open when he wasn't looking, but about 10 seconds later he would notice and close it. All his toys have to be lined up, which I hear is common but still sometimes I just want to say, "Make a mess, for crying out loud!!" Too many people, too much noise and he shuts down. He also has this finger thing he does when he gets worked up where he starts rubbing his finger tips and thumbs together. I've come to deal with this and normally with enough preparation we can get through anything.

Lately though it's the food that is driving me CRAZY!!! He used to eat fruit cups all the time, well the last couple of days he won't eat any piece of fruit that is "ripped" or not completely perfect. Tonight it was the same for the olives on his pizza... if the olive was "broken", he wouldn't eat it. Lunch today ~ he had noodles, same thing only perfect noodles. If you try and make him eat a "broken" piece then he acts like he is going to throw up. What in the world! At what point is he just being stubborn and choosing which food he wants versus an obsession that maybe should be dealt with. I tried showing him that food is meant to be cut or broken up and I eat food like that all the time.

Speaking of obsessions the one with vacuum cleaners is definitely growing. If we come visit you PLEASE don't mention that you own a vacuum. He'll want to vacuum and inspect all the parts and empty out the container that holds all the "fuzzies". That's what calls everything that gets vacuumed up. Everyday he will look under couch cushions or the floor to see if there is something he can vacuum. I'm blaming this obsession on Mark's dna since he has a brother that loves to vacuum everyday (:

I guess I just wrongly assumed that my son wouldn't mind getting dirty and would never notice a speck the size of a pinhead on the floor or only eat perfect shaped food. oh my.... I guess this is just a lesson for me to met him on his level.