Samuel is eager to get out of the house these days. Now that he is not going out to school every day, he looks forward to his trips to the library, occasional trips to Target, and even going to church. After his vision exam last Thursday Samuel begged me to go to a small shop that he found out sells videos. Since he did so well at the eye doctor I wanted to let him do something he enjoys. My other children were still at my friend's house. I had to go to the grocery store near that shop anyways, so I agreed to take him.
I clearly outlined the conditions of our shopping trip: we were only in there to look, no buying videos. After all, he had a new video on the way in the mail. Samuel likes to e-mail his Dad with requests for new videos (with my help) and my husband had just ordered a Cyberchase video a few days before that.
For ten minutes, Samuel enjoyed looking at the videos and DVDs. He was particularly happy to find a display of Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. videos. It wasn't easy for him to leave these behind without a purchase. After I counted down our remaining time in the store he wasn't at all willing to leave. He grabbed a video and ran to the cashier counter with it. I had to gently but firmly help him take the video back to the display. He yelled and screamed as I escorted him out of the store.
I wish that we could have left the shopping center then but I had to pick up some milk at the grocery store. I knew it wouldn't be an easy venture with Samuel being in the mood he was in. He expects "treats" while we are out. I got him by the donut display without a problem but as we started for the aisle with milk he veered over to some bakery rolls, grabbed one and put it in his mouth. I reached for a bag, put it in and just bought it to save any further trouble that moment. I let him help me put the gallon jugs of milk in the cart. He needs practise carrying heavier items, he practically threw them into the cart! He had several other outbursts before we left the store, but thankfully I was able to pay without too much difficulty.
I am pretty familiar with Samuel's limits in running errands and I admit that I stretched them in this instance! I won't let this take away from my happiness at how well he did at the eye doctor's office!
2 comments:
My Junior is the same way and Noddy is just as bad. If I so much a go to the store for something Junior has a long list of things he wants and gets upset if he can not have them.
I hate to say it but I do not take him like I used to because I feel like we on "on display". People alway stare at the melt downs.
Junior always wants movies or games or new thomas tank engines. When we say no it is a real "show" for the general public.
Just the other night, my 3 year old son saw a new Thomas train in a magazine. He held it out and started asking to go in the van, which I assumed ment he wanted to go to the "special" toy store we visit when he earns a bribe . . .I mean prize. He threw such a fit for hours. I have this problem in stores all the time. At his age (three) people just assume that he is being a kid and it's not the autism, but as he gets older I can see where it will be even harder. He is pretty much banned by me from going to Walmart, because there are certain areas of the store that will trigger a fit. It's so hard to navigate around all these things, that I don't even try anymore. He can handle Aldi's, (Only four asiles) but even then he sometimes get entranced by something. Thanks for the great blog, I check it often, if just to read that someone else understands . . .
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