Learning about Aspergers

I subscribe to a LOT of blogs. Most of them are vegan food blogs, but there are some comedy ones and writing ones as well. I recently included My Aspergers Child to the list of updates I receive almost daily. I am so glad that I did. I thought I knew a lot about Autism Spectrum Disorders, but I am learning more every day. With this research, I have been able to learn that the behaviors I see every day are normal for a kid with ASD. I am able to tell my mom that the violent meltdown in the middle of the mall food court really is normal for Aspergers. I am able to get some ideas for dealing with every day issues, including food issues that are so typical.

I have a lot of ideas for what I would like to do for Drew, but not a lot of ideas on how to do them.

I want to change his diet. I want to try a gluten-free/casein-free diet. I want to add probiotics to his diet (along with the iron and fiber and multivitamins). I want to make sure his body is free of yeast, and get him off sugar. I am pretty sure he has a problem with yeast, as he has always had constipation, craved sweets, and has always had bad breath no matter what I do.

How can I change his diet when there are about four things on the planet that he will eat, and when his list is shrinking every day?

I have purchased a white board to hang on the wall and I write a weekly calendar so he knows what to expect as far as babysitters and appointments, etc. I made a list of the rules of the house so he has a visual reminder, as well as a list of his chores. I wrote his daily schedule on the white board so he knows the routine. I set up times for the kids on the computer so there is no argument about whose turn it is. I let him set up a fort in the living room so he has a place he can be alone. He attends therapy weekly with a therapist who specializes in children with autism spectrum disorders. He has an appointment with a doctor and is on the cancellation list.

But how can any of this help me when I am in Walmart and he runs away from me? And then when I find him, he is with a woman and an employee, and he is hanging onto a railing and won't let go until he gets what he wants, and there is a crowd of people standing around, and then I have to have someone I know from school (who I happened to run into) have her husband carry him out to the van (where Garrett and Grace are waiting), and Todd is texting me wondering where I am because I have to pick him up from work, and Drew is beating on this man I don't know, and when I manage to get the child lock working and shove him in the van, he comes forward and beats on me as I am trying to drive, and Garrett gets upset and yells and cries?

My arm hurts me today. My heart hurts me more.

It's a long process. But it will get better. I will do anything.