-- A letter to a friend that I thought I'd share.
 
My son Sean is an emerged autistic, and he has always had a quirk about
germs.  However, this issue has been escalating this year and, as usual,
many of of his feelings have been directed towards our ferrets.  He
communicates a wealth of feelings and ideas through Rocky and our
ferrets.  I hope that you appreciate the warm humor that goes on in our
home.  The joking around keeps us sane.  And the autism is part of him,
just like you might be teased for a quirk in your personality that makes
you special.  He learns through humor, without anxiety.
 
Dippy (my ferret) has always just been very brave with her taste buds.
lol.  Since I love food so much and since I only dislike one thing on
this earth (lima beans), everybody teases me and says she takes after
me.  She eats bugs, every crumb she finds on the floor, whatever we are
eating, has even tried to eat a squid once.  Lol.
 
The following is a conversation with Sean.  Or rather a lecture from him.
 
Lol
 
Sean: "No little girl!!!  That's so bad!  Give it to me!", he chastises
as he tries to pry her jaws open.
 
Chet: "Sean, will you just leave her alone.  God, why are you taking that
away from her?  It's a piece of ferret food."
 
Sean: "I know.  Give it to me little girl that's bad for you.  Don't you
know?!  Give it, give it, give it ..."
 
Chet: "SEAN STOP"
 
Me:   Hearing the commontion, I finally barge into the room, "Jesus, what
is all the noise about?!  Why are you fighting again?"
 
Chet: "Mom, Sean's ..."
 
Sean Interupting, " ... Little girl just picked up this ferret food crumb
right off the floor, Mom.  Now she's trying to eat it!  She could die!
Come one, give it."
 
Chet: ::laughing::
 
Sean: "Shut up Chet!!!  She could!  It has germs, stupid."
 
Me:   "Stop stop stoooooop.  Quiet!!!  Both of you.  Chet you stop
laughing right this minute!  You're just causing trouble and you know
better.  Sean, you call him stupid one more time and you'll be punished."
 
Chet: "Yes, mom."
 
Me:   "Sean it's okay.  It's ferret food.  Alright?  Ferrets do that
sometimes.  They don't mind."
 
Sean: "Mom are you kidding?  God!  Sick!  It has germs.  Don't you know?
You want her to get sick and die?"
 
Me:   "Sean, Sean, Sean ... it's okay, I promise.  She's a ferret.
That's what they do.  It makes them happy to find food.  They aren't
like us ..."
 
Sean: "Mom!!  But ..."
 
Me:   "Not one more word!  It's done!  It's over.  It's oooo-kay.  She is
not going to get hurt.
 
Sean: "M..."
 
Me:   "She's MY ferret and I say if she finds a food treasure on the
floor, she is allowed to have it period.  CHET ... don't you do it ...
I see your mouth creeping up ... "
 
Wolfy
http://wolfysluv.jacksnet.com
[Posted in FML issue 4827]