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April 8, 2009

The Aspergian Teenage Mind (in all of its wonder)

Hi! My name is Shash, and I write at Diary of a Crazed Mommy. My son, Spiff, is 14 and is an Aspergian teenager in middle school. I thought it would be a great way to get to know him better if I kept him up past his bedtime (non-medicated, and on a school night, no less!) and volleyed random questions at him.

We like to keep our kids on their toes around here, what can I say?

Ever wonder what a teenager is thinking? Are you slightly curious what runs through the mind of a teenager with Asperger's Syndrome? Well, now you can wonder no more!

Enjoy!

What are your hobbies?
Playing video games, watching TV.
Spongebob Squarepants and Penguins of Madagascar are my favorites.

What is your favorite subject?
Science. Because it is interesting with Labs.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
A video game designer for Nintendo.

Where is your favorite place to go?
IKEA. (even though it may sound odd.)

What is your favorite food?
Pepperoni Pizza

Do you have many friends?
No, I'm a pretty solitary person.

What is your idea of a perfect day?
Playing video games all day.

If you could change one thing about you, what would it be?
The fact that my life is a torture chamber. (Said with all the teenage angst he could muster!)

Do you think your life will get better?
Yes.

If you could say one thing about having Asperger's, what would it be?
I don't think it affects my life all that much in my opinion.

What do you like most about yourself?
I think I am pretty okay.

If you could be cured of your Autism, would you want to be?
No. Because it is a part of me. I think it is the good part of me.

Describe yourself in three words:
Determined. Persistent (as heck!). Solitary.

Are you happy being solitary?
Yes.

Would you like to have a girlfriend someday?
Yes.

Who is your hero?
My Mom

What is it like to have a little brother?
Torturous! And fun. Sometimes.

What are you looking forward to doing this summer? Anything special?
Kid's College. Doing the Leadership program.

What do you think people need to understand most about you?
That I am no different than anybody else. That I am as normal as they are.

What makes you happy?
Video Games

Have more questions for Spiff? He says he would love to answer you…as soon as he gets some sleep. Leave your questions in the comments, and he'll answer them! He can't wait!

6 Comments

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Filed under Blog, Dealing With Public Perceptions, Guest Bloggers by ShashK

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Comments on The Aspergian Teenage Mind (in all of its wonder) »

April 8, 2009

Faiqa @ 4:45 pm

Aww, you're his hero. That's huge!! And wonderful.

Alexis Ahrens @ 4:57 pm

What a great post, Shash! I think we would all do well to pay much more attention to our kids' perspectives on life, whether they have special needs or not.

I love that he said his Autism was the good part of himself. You are doing something very, very well as a mother for him to have maintained that awareness, esp into the teen years.

There is a school of thought that posits that autism serves as a mechanism for very gifted and sensitive kids to protect themselves from becoming influenced by the more toxic elements of mainstream society, so they can later express their well-protected gifts and help heal the world. I don't know much about it, but it's an interesting and lovely theory.

Cheers!
Alexis

Daisy @ 5:26 pm

My 17-yr-old with Asperger's would answer several in exactly the same way! They are both as normal as any teens — that is, if teens are normal. But let's not go there.