Top 10 Sky Meltdown Triggers

Well, I made it ten days. Ten days until I broke down and bought a Diet Coke. So not only did I fail in my goal, but I'm probably also damned (click here if you have no idea what I am talking about). Like I said, I'm new to the whole giving up something for Lent thing, so I'm hoping there are do-overs.  Or maybe my inability to make it for forty days proves my spiritual inferiority? I'm not sure, but I tend to think God doesn't care if I drink Diet Coke or not. I'm a free-wheelin' Protestant, though, so what do I know?

I'll bet you're wondering what drove me to drink (Diet Coke, obviously!). I'm pretty sure it's the full moon. I mean the full moon and its apparent impact on the behavior of a certain 8 y.o. ASD kid I know. Sometimes Sky seems to come a bit unhinged, and I am starting to see that things like changing seasons, unpredictable weather, and the phases of the moon influence this.

The behavioral challenges vary. Sometimes it's a type of echolalia marked by the repetition of certain unsavory words or phrases ("butt" and "poop" come to mind). Other times it's heightened anxiety, and this time it's an increased likelihood of meltdowns. I've said this before, but when Sky melts down, everything else grinds to a halt (although we are getting better at, whenever possible, isolating him with one parent while the other goes about the daily routine with Stow and Pink P). What makes me crazy is that it is nearly impossible to predict why or when Sky will melt down with any kind of accuracy. Two days ago it was a lid left off of a marker (not even his). Today it was Pink P's unclear explanation of the cupcake picture she drew at school.

That said, certain things are sure to get his goat if he's at all out of sorts. Here's a list of the Top 10 Sky Meltdown Triggers:

1. Pink P: Mommy, I'm wearing my fast shoes today, so I'm a cheetah. Sky: No, you're not.  Pink P: Yuh-huhh. Sky: (*meltdown*)

2. The sauce touched my rice! (*meltdown*) 

3. Stop singing princess songs! (*meltdown*)

4. The sun's not out yet, why is it time to wake up? (*meltdown*) 

5. "Homework" doesn't make any sense. We work at school, we don't work at home. Whoever invented homework didn't know what they were talking about. (*meltdown*) 

6. Stow, don't touch my stuff! (*meltdown*) 

7. Nobody understands me! (*meltdown*) 

8. Sky: Pink P that's not how you spell [INSERT WORD HERE]. Pink P: Yuh-huhh Sky: (*meltdown*) 

9. Babies make bad choices! (*meltdown*) 

10. I wish I was an only child! (*meltdown*), or alternatively, I wish I was a twin! (*meltdown*)

Clearly, he's a boy struggling for control of his world, and we'll keep working to help him find the balance between being able to accept what he can't control and being able to take control when he can. Until then, I'm probably gonna need a few Diet Cokes, though.