Bathroom or Bakery?

I can tell from his stride whether he’s had a good day or bad.

Hii Mom! he projects stills 1000 feet away strutting his stuff.

I don’t call back but do smile when he reaches the car door.

Can we go to Isabelle O’Briens. I have to use the restroom.

I burst out laughing, Are you kidding me?

I can think of 30 restrooms and 3 bakeries that were closer than Isabelle Briens.

You mean you want one of those almond croissants?

Why, yes I do, he said smirking with me.

He is nothing if not a connoisseur of musicals, soundtracks, and cinnamon rolls. A foodie after my own heart. Hers are the best, made of a legit French pate a choux rather than the heavy American pastry we settle for on Sundays from Panera. Don’t even get me started on the almond croissants.

What could I say? Sure, let’s go and I’ll get some almond cakes for Dad. (Best gluten free pastry one could concoct.)

When do our kids learn that we will almost always say yes to a potty request? Toddlerhood? Grade school?

This is a new skill for Reid; call it theory of mind, manipulation, humor, or creative communication. Anyway you slice it, I’ll take it.

Andrea Moriarty

Autism Unplugged

I consider motherhood a profession. My husband and I adopted boy-girl twins at birth which gave me full-time employment and job security. I homeschooled them for 5 years which elicited admiration, shock and pity from the neighbors mostly because by then my son had an autism diagnosis and some obvious behavior challenges.