Pulling the Autism Card

I don't do it often.  I have a well-behaved, really quite lovely little boy.  Who, granted, is a bit quirky.  But I don't need to pull the Autism card very often.  Mostly I want people to see him for who he is - a really awesome kid.  But when he freaks out randomly at "wiggly sun spots" at his swimming lessons and refuses to get in the pool...  I feel the need to explain to his very nice teacher that he's Autistic, and has some sensory issues.  And when he is terrified at the photo studio because of the flash??  Well, I kind of shake my head.  A lot.  Because, seriously, kid?  I take your photo millions of times.  With a flash.  And you never blink.  But, yeah.  I pulled the Autism card.  Dude, sorry.  My kid is Autistic, and bright lights kind of freak him out a little.  It got us some extra time and some extra patience.  It also helped that we went on a Tuesday morning when nobody else was there...

He spent five minutes in my lap with his hands over his eyes before he finally settled down a little bit and kind of cooperated with picture taking.  It took a while for him to warm up...

It got a little better when I got him looking and giggling at me a bit...

And then the photographer pulled out the game-changer.  Which he proceeded to drive all over the studio the rest of the time we were there...

I planned on having pictures of Erin and Dex together, but wasn't really planning on having pictures of her by herself.  But, she was there.  So what the hell...

She was also at least seven times more cooperative than her brother...

Dexter was much better when we got around to taking pictures of both kids.  Maybe next time I'll just have him drive the damn tractor around BEFORE we try any pictures...

I think, though, if you asked Dexter how he liked the whole experience, it would be something like this...