I can so relate to your feelings when your kids were diagnosed. Completely. Like you, I have hope that the world will accept them for their strengths and not try to fit them into a mold. Good luck to us all!

That comment about anthropomorphism (which I just spelled correctly without looking) reminds me of the time I was in the back of my aunt's van and tossed out the word "claustrophobic" in relation to how I was feeling. Oh and I was 6 too, btw. I know where I picked that one up. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the first one). In regards to fiction, I know I've said this to you before at some level, but I really do think I've learned more through entertainment (books, movies etc.) than by what anyone else has taught me. Maybe it's because I do it on my own time, at my own pace. :)

I have the greatest ecperience with the computers. I try to collect all possible games and ways of teacching aspies by computers, not other way, only by computers. I have found a lot of different ways. I am building a website rightnow so i hope at the end of this month you could find great links and activities through pc. I think we are very lucky that an Asperger guy like Bill Gates promoted the technology of computer so much (in our habd is the chance to take advantage of this).

Not planning to give him internet. My twelve year old (NT) daughter would go nuts as she isn't allowed internet in her room. Its just that I try very hard to keep them together and socialising rather than have them go off on their own all the time. I'm afraid that if I put a computer with games or whatever up there, he'll just stay there all the time. Am I being unfair? We don't even possess a playstation. I like to see them playing and outside with the animals etc. On the food stealing front, I may be able to offer some help. I have tried everything, giving them more food, giving them more treats, taking away all treats, having no snacks in this house etc etc. Nothing worked. Something my daughter said two weeks ago eventually clicked. It's not the food they're after. The sneaking of the food and having that be a secret makes them feel more powerful (I think!?!). What I've done is get three large tupperware containers and put their names on them and 'hidden' them in the cupboards. During my grocery shop I buy cereal bars, organic crisps, little juices, raisins etc and divide them between their boxes. Those are their secret boxes and they can snack out of those whenever they want. So far so good, but this may just be a good patch and maybe the 'secret box' has caught their attention and it won't last but for the moment it seems to be working. Let me know if it works for yours!

If you put the computer in his room, make sure you've got access to the router in your room. I find that a sudden lack of internet often gets my daughter's attention. I've also had the internet set on a timer through my router, which worked until I needed the internet when it was supposed to be off. Come up with a system before you set it up.

My son has just started the binge eating. It's always the crappy snack food that I buy as treats. I've never had to hide food before, but in the last couple of weeks I've found brand new boxes of Little Debbie junk food emptied on the living room couch. I'm contemplating getting a locking breadbox for the snacks.

For crying out loud - it's almost midnight and it sounds like someone has gotten out of his bed and is playing his video games. ARgh.

Oh, I did too. Particularly since this so-called psychologist lady had no clue what he was talking about! Talk about wasting money on education! Gotta love my little guys - all three of them are very lucky, they have excellent verbal skills and a massive vocabulary which I think helps them a lot. Thanks for your comment - any advice on provision of computers?

I really liked the - "Well, that's just classic anthropomorphism, isn't it, Mom?" Keep smiling Cheers Stella

No rain here! Am just fired up a little, I guess because I have finally managed to put this in perspective for my family. Isn't it amazing, how this aspergers is a constantly evolving thing? Last week, I was coping with food stealing (my kids will comfort eat in times of stress to the point of vomiting!) and having just explained to my daughter that two packets of cookies was why her tummy was all swollen and she didn't feel well. She ran up to our extremely pregnant neighbour, patted her tummy and shouted, 'My God, that's a lot of biscuits!' Luckily my neighbour is an OT, which is probably the biggest blessing yet, no problems with them being very loud outside. We just fell around laughing so she repeated procedure with everyone she met for nearly a week! This week, we are traumatised by sad things on the TV so we can't switch it on! My son is at the same time caught by animal documentaries its all he wants to do and everytime we switch it on she melts down, if we don't switch it on, he melts down. Its no wonder I don't drink anymore - I'm afraid I might not stop! As a piece of advice, my son is 8 and angling on a daily basis for a computer in his room. I have so far resisted on the grounds that I don't know whether I want to encourage him to spend more time isolated in his room. What do you think?

It's not all accolades and awards with Aspie kids. As sharp as my boy is, he's also a pill. Just when I think I've got the edge on his tantrums, he throws new tantrum sources my way.

So it's awesome to be Aspie, but it's got its drawbacks (but really who doesn't have issues?) Don't let me rain on your fun.