One of the concerns, when you have a child with autism, revolves around emotions, both the appropriate expression of emotions the ability to recognize or empathize with emotions in other people, called theory of mind.
David seems to be able to understand my emotions pretty well, although I have noticed that he often moves my hand away from my mouth when he looks at my face, particularly when we are cuddling in bed in the morning and, evidently I have a habit of covering my mouth I am sure in a subconscious attempt to protect him from my morning breath. It is as if he cannot really read my emotions from just my eyes and likes to look at my whole face before he smiles and talks to me.
Very recently, I have also noticed that he is starting to tell me how he feels. “I mad,” he will sometimes say. A few days ago, I scolded David because he kept turning off the TV while Andrew was watching a program. He looked up at me, his chin quivering, tears welling up in his eyes and announced, “I cry now” before he buried his face into my sweatshirt.
That is so sweet and so amazing! I think our kids certainly understand empathy (no matter w hat diagnostics say), they just don't always know how to handle it or express it...Brian has come up to me before, out of no where, and given me a hug when I've been feeling particularly upset or stressed and I have never chalked it up to coincidence...
ReplyDeleteAwwwwww...they especially know when we are upset with them and can take it so hard. I'm a total mush when they do that...
ReplyDeleteI think the "they don't have empathy" description of autism ought to be changed to "can't predict other people's feelings in advance". Once they see how we're feeling they can be very sensitive.
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