8 Facts About My Teenager With Autism

My son has autism. I've written about how he's skipped dances, how I'm worried he might not be getting a proper high school experience, and how I worry he might never drive.

But he's also an amazing kid. He might not be a "typical" teenager, but that's okay.

He's Tommy.

He's my son.

1. He only drinks water about 95% of the time. He says soda is too spicy in his mouth. He does get a juice box with his lunch at school, but it has to be fruit punch or orange flavored. Other than that, it's always water.


2. He can't take it if his sister gets upset. Or anyone, for that matter. I worry how he'll ever get a job because if a customer is disappointed, he can't exactly have a meltdown like he does now. For example, if his sister is being naughty and I have to speak sharply to her, he starts to shout, "Just KNOCK IT OFF, NATALIE! KNOCK IT OFF!" and slams his door. If he sees I'm upset about something, he reminds me that "it's not that bad. No one died. Stop it." He's going to have to find a very understanding girlfriend...

3. He doesn't like cheese on his burger. I'll always tell the waiter "no cheese" but sometimes the burger arrives at the table with cheese, and Tommy gets offended. "But I said no cheese like five times!" He says the melted cheese gets stuck in his teeth and he can't take that feeling.


4. He can draw really well! I'm not sure where he gets it because I can't even draw a stick person properly:

5. It freaks him out when people are sick. He stays far away or covers his nose because he thinks breathing in someone's sick breath will immediately make him sick. He tells sick people "not to touch him."


6. He hates sharing drinks because of germs. I once tried to share a water bottle with him and he about flipped out. "But that's gross. I don't want your germs!" I reminded him that he CAME OUT OF ME but he didn't care.


7. He used to not be able to touch Playdough. When he was three, the sight of it made him want to gag. With therapy he was able to touch it. But sometimes things still freak him out. Like pumpkin guts:

8. He's amazing! He doesn't let autism get him down. He even has his own YouTube channel where he makes videos on what life with autism is like. He did this one about having autism and being in high school:






Do you know someone with autism?