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| Photo credit: Photo by Muffet on Flickr |
I was recently called to school to pick my son up because he had been running around the classroom instead of sitting in his seat. A discussion between my son and an administrator at his school ensued on my arrival.
Now, if you are neurotypical and hear what they said to each other, you will probably think that my son is being rude and disrespectful (as the administrator, no doubt, did when he heard this). If you are autistic, you will know that my son is responding to the literal meaning of the questions; his responses will seem reasonable and logical and it will be the administrator who isn't making sense.
Administrator: "Do you know why your mother is here?"
Son: "Why?"
Administrator: "Because you were running in the classroom instead of sitting in your seat. Is that what big 7 year olds do in school?"
Son: "Yes, because I'm 7 and I did it."
Administrator: "No, we don't. You're a first grader now, not a kindergartener anymore. Do first graders run in the classroom?"
Son: "Yes."
Administrator: "No, they don't. Were the other first graders running around?"
Son: "No, but I was, so first graders do run around."
I hate to say it, but I think I snickered. It was like one of those situations where someone is learning a new language and inadvertently says "suck my balls" when they mean to say "I'm having a ball!" As official translator between the two worlds, I clearly have some work to do.
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