(Not) Late – Tues 12th April 2016
By Jeannette | April 12, 2016
Today was a day in which literal issues and downright anxieties came through for D.
Why? Well, she had a school trip today and all the children were told not to be late, or they wouldn’t be going.
Now, for most NT children this would mean an “okay”, possibly an eye roll or two and they would know that it would be sufficient to be there on time.
It threw D into an absolute panic. Anxieties over being late (and therefore, to her, missing the trip) meant that she wanted to leave unbelievably early, so early that no one would have been around at school.
Anxieties meant that, even though we were most definitely not late, she wouldn’t believe the time on my phone as we walked along to school.
Anxieties meant that, even though we were opposite the school (one minute walk away), ready to cross the road ten minutes before the doors would open, she wanted to run into the road and get there quicker. She saw the school buses full of children arriving and assumed that she was late and that they were buses leaving (therefore she must be late).
Anxious moments outside the school doors as staff walked past her, going in before pupils were allowed in. More moments for D as the area around the doors got busier and busier as more school buses offloaded.
Another moment as her teacher went past all the children saying something like “oh what a day to be late”, (her not everyone waiting outside).
When D is over anxious like this morning, she doesn’t listen to reason or logic. Everything builds up and builds up within her and not even the visuality of a clock to reassure her that she is not late helps.
I know that the “if you’re late, you’re not going” was no doubt meant light-heartedly but D doesn’t understand subtle humour like that. She believes it because it was a person of authority saying it and nothing anything else could say would dissuade her.
I don’t even know if she enjoyed the trip because she totally ignored me at home time and then, because the woods are too muddy to walk through, we had to go past a primary school, with potential anxiety issues like children running, laughing, riding bikes or scooters when all she wanted to do was to get home.
Another day tomorrow and let’s see what it brings.
1 Comment
Robert Nielsen on 12th April 2016 at 8:13 pm.
OH, MY, this sounded familiar! I had very similar issues about time (and, according to my wife, still do) when I was younger–I ALWAYS had to be somewhere 5-10 minutes BEFORE the time that was announced. I read bits and pieces of this post, including this paragraph:
“I know that the “if you’re late, you’re not going” was no doubt meant light-heartedly but D doesn’t understand subtle humour like that. She believes it because it was a person of authority saying it and nothing anything else could say would dissuade her.”
–to my wife, and then said, “Does that sound like SOMEONE YOU KNOW?” She just looked at me and said, “I’m LIVING WITH HIM!” I smiled and said, “EXACTLY.”
Very well done!