What's My Problem (Mom)?

It is no secret that my two children -although I love them dearly, have some social issues. It comes with the whole special needs territory. I recently found out about a socials skills group through my SEPTA parent's group (my favorite support group in the world) and after some hoop jumping, I managed to get both kids signed up for it.

It is held on a Saturday afternoon and takes about 20 minutes to drive there. Saturday was week 3, so my kids are starting to get into the swing of the group and the members thereof. 

Now when they are not fighting,  I get a huge kick out of the conversations they have together, I like to hear them try to figure out the world from their unique perspectives. And I bite my tongue sometimes to keep from laughing or interfering. The conversation in the car on the way to social skills group on Saturday started about one of the other kids who attends.

Grace: "That kid Paul: I thought he was OK, but then he drooled onto his shirt and sucked it back up again. That was disgusting"

Joe: "Well at least he isn't annoying. Jordan is annoying. He keeps saying the same thing over and over again."

Grace: "Well, maybe that's why he's in social skills group. Because he is annoying."

J: "Hmmm. So you think annoyingness is his problem?"

G (authoritively): "Yes. And Paul is there because he has a problem with his drool."

J: "But why is Daniel there? He doesn't have any problems."

G: "Yes you're right. He doesn't have any problems. He is like us."

J: "...and we don't have any problems.

...

"Do we?"

(about 30 seconds of silence)

Grace: "Mo-om? Why are we in social skills group? Do we have problems?"

Me (trying very hard to keep a straight face, a steady voice and my eyes on the road): "Well, I wouldn't call them problems, but you both have some things you need to work on. That's why you are in social skills group. Grace, you need to work on your shyness and your angry voice. And Joe, you need to work on looking people in the eye."

Joe: "Oh. I guess you are right, Mom. We do have problems"

On the way home, they didn't complain about Jordan once.

Comments

[Lisa Moon]

{laughing long and heartily}

Just brilliant again! I'm so enjoying your blog and am glad to have found you!

Thanks so much for the much-needed laughs. Ahh, children... (my son falls into the area more likely to be labelled ADHD, but my vision of 'the Spectrum' includes all sorts of shades and variation, which tend to defy those narrow diagnoses. Many of my friends likely fall on that same Spectrum somewhere... and I find them the most interesting, brilliant and yes, sometimes frustrating and always wonderful friends.

I was always afraid my Boy Child might not 'make it' due to his disregard for certain matters many consider important and his willingness to be TOO friendly, which could be off-putting (he didn't put on the faux-cool attitude kids must learn to fit in by middle school). I'm pleased to say, at 16, that he's a really exceptional young man with some very exceptional young friends.

[Katherine]

This was priceless!