Alex's Obsessions

Quite a while back I blogged about Spencer and

his obsessions. Alex is next on my list! Alex is our

most austistic of the triplets. All of them are non-verbal

but Spencer and Harry will verbalize a single word

request. Alex hasn't been able to

say a single word yet. He does nod

and gesture to communicate. But don't get

that confused with having a voice! He has a big

one and is actually very loud! :)

~~~~

Alex has been my little shadow this summer! He

is very interested in watching what I am doing

and has become very knowledgeable about

household chores. He knows how to unload the

dishwasher, empty trash cans, and put away

the folded laundry.

~~~~

But as with a lot of children with autism, even

a good thing can turn into an obsession.

Alex obsesses about having things in a straight

line. The shoes above are a good example.

This line is straight to him. He has to make sure

the heels are touching and then that starts a curve

that can't be straightened. I've seen their shoes

like this and will straighten the line with all the toes

touching the baseboard, only to walk by a few minutes

later and he has "corrected" the situation. :)

The tv remotes have to be perfectly lined up on the

coffee table and he will straighten them many times a day.

~~~~

Alex also is very obsessed with the trash cans and what

goes in them. For a while, he was throwing all kinds of

things away when we weren't looking.....unopened mail,

papers on my desk, even an insurance policy that

we needed to sign and mail back....luckily we thought

of Alex, and dug through the garbage and found it. :)

~~~~

This summer, the trash obsession has risen to a new

level with tissues! He comes running when he hears

me pull a new one out of the box! Even with his

sound reduction headset on, he can hear that!

He stands beside me, waiting to take it from me

to throw away. It is actually quite humerous because

sometimes he takes it from me before I'm finished

wiping my nose! He also has to have the trash

arranged a certain way in the trashcan!

And he does this with dirty clothes in the hamper!

~~~~

So, if you need anything organized, (even trash!)

let me know and I'll send Alex right over!

Hold on to your tissue until you are finished

with it, though!