Backseat Parrot

One of the blessings that comes with having a kiddo that is “wired” like ours is that he has an incredible memory.  It’s so good, it’s almost scary.

If you met him and you were wearing a pink jacket, and blue jeans, had your hair in a braid, he’ll remember…and tell us, two years later, that you were wearing a pink jacket and blue jeans, and had your hair in a braid the day he met you.  Since I can barely remember what I ate for breakfast most days, I don’t question his recall about things like that; I accept them as true.

Of course, kiddo lies to us from time to time too (what kid doesn’t?), but never about details like this.  (He has no idea yet that he has a “tell” when he’s lying and I’m not going to let him in on that secret anytime soon!)

I’ve joked that I need to teach him how to play cards and then take him with me to the nearby casino.  I figure we can win the money to fund the multiple therapies he needs that our insurance refuses to pay for.  (More on our ongoing insurance saga another time.)  Yeah – his memory about details that are important to him is that good.  And it scares the crap out of me most of the time.

The way we understand this trait is that it’s the flip side of his sensitivity to outside stimuli.  Lights that are too bright, noises that are too loud, smells that are very strong and places that are too crowded easily overwhelm him.  (Heck – they overwhelm me, and I’m considered “neuro-typical” when it comes to brain wiring.)  He remembers it all, and can tell you what he remembers with minute detail.

And there are times, like tonight, when his stream-of-consciousness descriptions and unexpected memory jogs have us in stitches.

We had the chance to get out as a family for the Alma College alumni picnic tonight (Go, Scots!), and were on the way home from the park in my mommy van.  I was driving, hubby was in the front passenger seat, and kiddo was in his seat in back.  I got to a light that had just turned green, and noticed the car in the lane to my left (previously stopped at the light) still wasn’t moving.  I did a quick double-take to make sure I hadn’t misread the light, and then commented aloud why the car beside me wasn’t moving.

From the backseat came a loud sigh and then, in the most exasperated voice, “Awwww, Lord.  Could you get moving, car?  You have a green light.  You need to get going.  Come on!  Jeez!”

I know we shouldn’t have laughed.  I know it’s encouraging him to do more of the same behavior.  I’ve read the books and taken the parenting-a-special-needs-child classes.  I know it.  But I couldn’t help myself.  It was funny!  Because it sounded just like something I would say.  Oh, wait – it WAS something I said at one point!

I looked at hubby and whispered, “I wonder where he got that idea?” and he couldn’t keep a straight face, whispering back, “Do you really have to ask?  Sounds just like you!”  Thanks, honey.  I appreciate your support.  And I take comfort in the fact kiddo is not repeating other words he’s most likely heard come out of my mouth when my child-is-nearby filter isn’t firmly in place.

Fortunately, kiddo’s commentary about the stopped car was over quickly and we moved on to other topics.  And when I got to the highway, kiddo decided to regale us with tales of the times he’s ridden in hubby’s car and they’ve gotten lost.

Bahahahaha!  I love that our little backseat parrot is an equal-opportunity observer.