Typewriters and Texts

My fourteen-year-old son Tate has autism. Tate is growing up. There are definitely pros and cons. One of the greatest benefits is that Tate is able to express his opinion and verbalize his wants better than ever before. One of the biggest drawbacks is that Tate is able to express his opinion and verbalize his wants louder than ever before. We have longed to hear his opinion on things for many years but when Tate has an opinion or an interest he is relentless these days. And he knows how to text. Tate’s siblings hear dings and vibrations from their phones several times a week, sometimes several times a day, and some conversations can go on for a long time. There is a new interest in Tate's world this week.  

Tate saw the new Peanuts Movie this past weekend and the Goosebumps movie a couple of weeks before that. There were characters that used a typewriter in both movies. Tate began a dialogue with his older sister about typewriters a few days ago and became convinced he NEEDED one. His sister happened to be the owner of a vintage pink typewriter and loaned it to him. He’s had it in his possession for forty-eight hours and has hammered out note after note, as well as his Christmas wish list. His first love may still be texting but the typewriter has him bewitched right now. He even incorporated the typewriter and notes typed out into a group text with his siblings this evening. Take a look:

The word Tate typed the most in these short videos was "here." Get it? "Here watch me type a word" is what he kept texting them. The campout Tate is referring to in the above text and the following text is one he has planned without any parental consent. He planned one mid-winter last year that never came to fruition and he's held a grudge for ten months as you will see in the text below. Depending on the weather, it may or may not happen again. Tate will not listen to reason at this point and is arguing against the weather factor by assuring us that two hoodies instead of one is the answer to frigid weather. A friend from Texas was over at the time of his list making so he included her.  Somehow he has determined that those without freckles will not be invited into his tent. Your guess is as good as mine on how that criteria factored in. Ironically, Tate does not have freckles. The three siblings he wants to include in his outing do have freckles however. 

Here are some texts Tate sent last week when his camping trip (to the front lawn) was in its earliest planning stages:

Do not feel too sorry for the outdoorsman here. Tate has opportunities over the summer to sleep in a tent. 

Another group text this week from Tate showcased his new dresser. The reason he was asked about naming it is because Tate has named all his siblings' cars and insists they call their cars by name. 

And lastly, Tate has been trying to convince me that he has too many chores around here. 

Nice try Tate. Nice Try.

If you liked this post then you will surely like this one: More Texts From Tate

Tate, Texts, and Tents

One of the things Tate loves to do is to plan camping trips. His idea of camping though is a little different than yours probably. Tate wants a tent set up within a few feet of the house. He wants an extension cord and all his electronics set up next to his sleeping bag. And a tent full of snacks is a must. He’ll spend the evening in the tent and when he decides he’s tired enough to go to sleep in the early morning hours of the next day he’ll be ready to haul it all back in to go to bed. Tate especially loves it if we have a little campfire. He won’t roast hotdogs or marshmallows like the rest of the family but he’ll eat a hotdog bun and be content. A couple of times a year Tate decides it is time for us to have one of his camping experiences. Last year he planned one, long after it was too cold to carry out, and he perseverated for at least a month about us ruining his camping trip because we would not set up the tent due to the temperatures. He still brings it up occasionally. He’ll say things like, “You cannot ruin this for me like you did that camping trip.” Tate holds a grudge a long time.

So, last week when I started getting texts from Tate about camping I began praying for a warm weekend and no rain. As he often does, Tate began his planning by making lists. He loves numbered lists. My friend happened to be over during one of his planning sessions so he included her in the texts with me and his siblings. She is from Texas, thus the Texas reference in this text. 

The references to clothes (close) are probably because he fears I will tell him it is too cool to camp. He's telling me everyone will be dressed warm.

The video clip he sent me was about seven seconds long. He showed me that he had two hoodies on. His hoodie fetish will be fully satisfied. Camping and doubling up the hoodies.... He will truly be a "happy camper." 

It seems Tate is punishing his dad and I for “ruining” the last camping trip and has declared this one will only be for people with freckles. He's been announcing over and over the past two evenings that grown ups do not have freckles. The funny part to me is that Tate has no freckles either. His siblings do though. Ha!

Stay tuned folks and see if we are able to pull off a front yard camping experience for Tate in the next couple of weekends or not. I'd sure hate for him to have two strikes against his unfreckled parents.