DOES ASPERGER'S MAKE KIDS MEMORABLE?

It's Tuesday afternoon and I'm exhausted.  Since Sunday night, Jacob has been asking me if he can go to school.  He insists that he's better now and he should be allowed to go back to school.  And when I tried to explain that it's March break and there is no school this week, Jacob got extremely upset.  Jacob doesn't want another week off.  He just wants to put his illness behind him and begin moving forward again.

Shannon and I both have been trying to encourage Jacob to have another holiday week and relax, but he's not having it.  So I decided to redirect Jacob's emotions, so last night I told Jacob that today we'd go downtown for lunch and then visit the art gallery.  Well, today came too soon.  I'm still a little down from being sick myself and today I felt really sluggish.  But we all know that when you promise a child with Asperger's something, you'd better follow through.

So we're downtown enjoys french fries and I'm ready for a nap.  But I can't stop, I have to keep going.  Then we went to the gallery to check out the new exhibits.  We were on the 2ND floor when Jacob spotted the security guard that was on patrol.  Jacob told him "Remember, no photography, no eating, no bags and no touching the exhibits."  The security guard and I were both shocked.  Neither on of us could believe that Jacob remembered all that.  Then the security guard said "I remember you, you're very well behaved."  The guard then told me that he wished that all kids were as well behaved and aware of the rules as Jacob was.  He even said that some parents could be more like Jacob.  I was shocked first, by the fact that the security guard remembered Jacob because of his good behaviour, then because the guard said that Jacob was acting more appropriately than some adults.  Then it hit me.  All the hard work that we'd been putting in was paying off.  I never realised before how well behaved Jacob was during the entire time out today.  I couldn't believe that a security guard would remember Jacob just because of his good behaviour.

Before we began our trip home, I decided that Jacob should receive a reward for being so good.  So we got a chocolate chip muffin at Tim Horton's.  Jacob was so good today and the weather was incredible.  It didn't take long for me to forget how tired I was once we spoke to the guard at the gallery.  The only scary thing is that the break has just begun and I have no idea what to do tomorrow.  Maybe I can suggest staying home, but I don't think Jacob will go for it.  So I may end up back at the gallery again before this week is out.  At least I know Jacob will be well behaved.