Childhood?
I wrote to my grandmother (who was my primary caregiver during my youngest years - under age and asked if she could describe me when I was little. I don't remember too much, particularly under age 6. Anyway, this is what she wrote:
"Well I will do my best. For one thing, you never wanted to go to bed. I would put you down and the next thing you would be up again. I think you just wanted to watch TV. I brought you story books that came with a tape and would make musical sounds when it was time to turn the page so around 2 or 3 you could read me the story back, but you had memorized the words verbatim from the tape. I thought that was pretty incredible. You always loved to be read to. You always got along well with the boys. You didn’t have any girl friends around you just mostly boys. You were very strong willed (and still are). You had and still have a great imagination. You were very friendly and outgoing. Do you remember eating the dog treats? The bacon strips. I caught you eating them and you thought they were ok to eat. If there was something on your plate you didn’t like you simply refused to eat and it became a battle to get you to finish your dinner. You never liked to dress up in frilly things. Always the tomboy. All and all you were a pretty well behaved child. Also I had given you a Teddy Rupskin and you loved that bear. I wonder where he is today? Oh I don’t want to forget that you were obsessed with videos. I started you on a collection of the Disney movies. Really anything of that type of movie you loved as a kid. And of course it carried through to your grown up years. You did like to play people. You were always good with Don. The only thing that puzzled me is that you lost that outgoingness about you later on, but your early years you were very outgoing, funny, strong willed, very smart and independent. That pretty much sums it up."
So, what do you guys think? There are some signs in there: super early memorization/reading, picky/odd eater and the starting of my special interest (not wanting to go to bed because I wanted to watch my videos).
It's very interesting that I was outgoing. I guess it's important to note that she said "You did like to play with people. You were always good with Don." Don was my grandfather through marriage, so he wasn't exactly a peer. haha.
P.S. I didn't ask her any specific questions...I told her describe me, my likes/dislikes, unique behaviors, etc.
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Aspie Quiz: AS - 141/200, NT - 77/200 (Very likely an Aspie)
AQ: 34/50 (Aspie range)
EQ: 32 / SQ: 68 (Extreme Systemizing / AS or HFA)
Diagnosed with AS and Anxiety Disorder - NOS on 03/21/2012
I was very outgoing as a toddler/preschooler. I'm still very outgoing with people I like. Not all Aspies are quiet. I've always been a loner and always preferred being by myself, but what shows my outgoing ways as a kid was AS is the fact that I was very "in your face." I would go up to random kids and talk to them. It was inappropriately friendly and demanding. When I developed my first "rambling" special interest at age 11 1/2, I was the classic case of the Aspie who walked up to people and literally started spewing off special interest facts. My mother taught me how to keep to myself and not ramble to just anyone. Over the years, I've learned how to pick the select few who get to see the REAL me rather than the quiet, inhibited, polite me I have to be in public. My opinion is that you sounded very much like how I was when I was a toddler/preschooler.
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Helinger: Now, what do you see, John?
Nash: Recognition...
Helinger: Well, try seeing accomplishment!
Nash: Is there a difference?
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