One of the things that initially seemed non-AS about my son is the fact that he loves to try new things. You always hear that people on the autism spectrum like to do the same things in the same way, like to know what's going to happen, like familiar things. This describes me much more than my three year old son! If, for example, I take him to a bakery where there are four different cupcake varieties and ask him to pick one, he may pick the chocolate cupcake. He'll eat it and enjoy it, but as we're leaving the bakery he might say, "Next time I'm going to have the vanilla cupcake." He will remember that, and chances are the next time we're at the bakery he will try the vanilla or one of the other cupcake flavors he has not previously tasted. You would think he'd return to the comfort of the cupcake he knows he likes, but he's more interested in trying new things. He is the same way about pretty much everything. If I tell him we're going to the supermarket but it's going to be a brand new one we've never visited, he'll be quite excited. I now realize that maybe this is consistent with AS. It's like the "systemizing" Simon Baron-Cohen talks about--like my son is interested in seeing, tasting, experiencing all the different permeations the world has to offer so he can organize them in his mind. I can just see him one day (soon!) making lists, ala Nick Hornby, about Best Cupcake Flavors and Best Supermarkets.
Has anybody else experienced this type of thing with an AS child?
Yes, one I know very, very well!
Its kind of like a very wide obsession. I remember this documentary about a blind, brain-damaged and very likely autistic pianist who was a savant when it comes to sound, music and playing the piano and would always seem very excited in his language and stimming when hearing about all the orchestra that surrounded him.
Yes, one I know very, very well!
So you look forward to new experiences and changes in "the norm"?
My son loves to try new foods, and will eat anything, no matter how odd. Sardines, okra, anchovies, different varieties of mustard, spicy curries, etc. Of course, this does set him apart--the average NT 3-year-old won't eat any of those things! It just seems in some ways different from what I thought I knew about people on the spectrum.
I was the same way, I had to be the only 8 year old in St. James that loves brusslespouts
I LOVE a good curry. Unfortunately for my 5 and 3YO daughters, I cook it quite often. Though they've gotten somewhat used to my odd food choices.
I've heard that the trying different foods can be an "obsessive interest" (I'm sorry, I hate how clinical that sounds) and that its not unusual for an Aspie to try every different type of fruit or something to know what all the differences are.
My decorating style seems very "AS-like". I'm working on collecting a bunch of brightly colored plates to hang in my dining room. Each one is different, but they're all plates (flat and round) I think it'll be very exciting. I have other similar ideas for the rest of my house- groupings of similar things/paintings that are all the same but different.
I like your last sentence, "It just seems in some ways different from what I thought I knew about people on the spectrum."
Because while I can want to eat ridiculously spicy things and eat them like they were a peanut butter sandwich, sometimes I also want to eat very predictable and plain-tasting things.
When I think about it.
It's more of like an interesting in learning than an interested about the things I'm learning about. Which means that I do not necessarily remember all of it.
I was the same way, I had to be the only 8 year old in St. James that loves brusslespouts
MMMMMMM!!!!!! THOSE ARE GOOD!!!!!!!!
i like limma beans too.
Our son ate peanut butter sandwiches every day at school for kindergarten, once he was able to get them from the cafeteria. He would not eat the ones from home because "they were old." He also likes some foods that most other kids do not (favorite foods include brocolli, fish, and tofu). Some days he decides to have every color group of fruits and vegetables on the table in the morning, and wants to know how each one helps the body. Also, you mentioned memory. Our son would remember every line and character movement of his DVDs when he was in pre-school, which I found to be astounding. On the other hand, he got upset and yelled at me when his food was not placed in between the cracks of the kitchen table the other day (he assumed that I should just know better than to do that).
I suppose that each child is going to be unique, and ours are particularly so!