Go talk to a child that has Autism.
My cousin Double A is the whole reason I'm going into Early Childhood Special Ed.
I saw what Early Intervention did for him, and I wanted to make a difference like that for other kids and their families.
Ever since Double A was a baby we've had a strange connection. When he'd see me he'd come straight for me, and no one else. He still does that even to this day! He never calls me Shannon though, it's always ShannerBanner.
Me and Double A.
My Grandma Gloria has been going through chemotherapy, and this past weekend her immune system was built up enough that it was safe for us to visit with her while all the men went to the Priesthood session. My Aunt brought Double A and Double A's little sister. I haven't seen them in what feels like forever. The second Double A saw me he came running to me and gave me a huge hug all while accidentally ramming his shoulder into my throat. Thanks bud! haha. That night was full of one liners...
It all started when he ran up to my Grandma Gloria and asked her..
"Grandma! Are you in HEAVEN?" My Aunt tried to stop him by saying "No Double A! Wrong Grandma!"
That is what I like to call a classic facepalm moment.
Speaking of facepalm moments. Totally random. But come to find out my now married RM cousin Garrett, had no idea that in order to get pregnant, a girl must ovulate. You should of seen me try to explain that concept to him!!! It was awkwardly hilarious. Thankfully his wife thought it was hilarious too. I now will never make smart alec remarks when people ask where my sister and brother in law are. Especially when Garrett and Vauna are sitting next to me and I say under my breath "they're off making a baby" and they so happen to hear me.
Back to Double A! My Grandma has started losing her hair so she had my sister just shave it all off. She wanted to show off her new hair, so she pulled off her scarf.
Double A's eyes go HUGE and his hand flies to his mouth. And in his most concerned voice he says...
"GRANDMA! What happened to your HAIR???"
He then pauses for a second and then says...
"We're TWINERS!!!!!!"
Later on in this same night we convinced my Grandma to model her new wigs. She comes out with one on and Double A sees it and says...
"GRANDMA!!! You have HAIR!!! Are you all better now????"
Grandma then pulls off the wig to show him it wasn't real hair, and Double A whips out this awesome line.
"OH! It's a wig like GRANDPA!!!" (Apparently, his paternal Grandpa wears a Toupee.)
And that my friends, is why I love Double A. He's so darn aware of the world around him, and picks up on things that most people wouldn't. Also if you have a secret, don't say it around him. He'll pick up on it and then tell the world about it. He loooooves whispering secrets in ears.
Also today, I was told by one of our Autistic students that he did not want to tell the truth about whether or not he took a ball away from one of the other students. He said that after I had told him it would make me sad if he lied to me, and that it's ok to tell the truth. After he informed me of not wanting to tell the truth he then told me that he doesn't like to share and that he goes first. I think he might be guilty of taking the ball :)
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