Every once in a while, someone will ask me what special talents Casey or Rob has (like Rainman and counting toothpicks). I always answer that everyone has special talents and that autism has little to do with that. Both kids love music, both love art and painting. They both remember everything, but Rob doesn’t usually mention it. A few days ago, I got another scary look into Casey’s memory.
I was reading when I heard her say “Tennessee.” I asked who was going to Tennessee and she giggled. I went back to my book and she said, “July 23, 24, 25, 26, 2004.” And “Alabama Grill” (She loved eating there when there was one in Pigeon Forge). So I asked her what day we ate at the grill that trip – and she told me July 24th. And then told me what she had to eat.
I asked what dates we went to Tennessee and North Carolina. She thought a moment and said “July 23, 24, 25 26, 27, 28, 29, 2001.” And then she said we went to Tennessee with Grandma Rose, Grandpa Mack, Uncle Jeff and Joann on June 8, 9, 10, 1989 and that she threw up and Grandma was mad. (Casey would have been about 14 months old at this time.) And she was right – there was a mix up in our reservation and my mom was furious. And Casey threw up our second day there.
I knew she could have gotten the month and year of trips from the back of photos, but not the dates, nor that she threw up or Grandma was mad. So I asked when she had her wisdom teeth pulled (no pictures of that!) and she thought a moment. “September 19, 2012.” Dog bite? “October 10, 1997.” Chicken Pox? “March 15, 1997.” I asked when she fell out of her crib (She was a climber!) “May 20, 1990.” When did she cut her leg badly? “September 25, 2009.”
What happened on March 24, 1988? “Cried, rode in truck home.” (That would have been the day she came home from the hospital – 2 days old!) She told me the dates Mandy and Rob came home from the hospital after they were born and the day we moved into our house. I was writing everything down as quickly as I could think of what to ask! I asked what she got for her first birthday and she rattled off pink bear, book, blocks and other items. (Some are in pictures, some aren’t)
Then she was done. No more asking. I couldn’t do anything but sit and look at the long list and think that I couldn’t remember what I had for supper last week, let alone what I ate in a restaurant 15 years ago! I wanted to know everything – but at the same time, I didn’t. Does she remember the times I was mad? Or crying? Does she remember the mistakes I made? Does she wish she could forget bad things that happened? Does she remember the mean things that have been said to her or the teacher that didn’t treat her right?
One of our Facebook followers reminded me that while she may remember the bad things, she will remember the good and how much I always loved her. I really appreciated her saying that. I know it’s true, but sometimes, I get so wrapped up in the negative, I need a friend to remind me to look at the happy stuff, too. 🙂
This is just more proof that you never know what talent may be inside your child, just waiting to be discovered. I have seen Casey’s memory in action many times, but when it’s a long list like this one (I didn’t write all of the dates, here) it’s like a wake up call to just how huge her memory is! Another friend posted that her son could recite movie lines. Casey loves dates (birthdays, anyone? 🙂 ) Rob knows car parts, but I only know this because I see what he searches for on his iPad. 🙂 Although they both know our home phone number, knowing anyone else’s is not interesting to them.
Your child’s memory is probably huge, too – especially about whatever he/she loves to do. Maybe they know every train schedule or the lines to their favorite movies. Maybe they have a “map” in their head and can always find the car when you are out. (Rob can do this – he knows where the car is and which door of the store we came in.) Maybe math facts stick in their head or they can point out every constellation. Whatever their interest is, use it to help with the skills that are lacking. If you think outside the box far enough, every obsession can be a learning tool.
Oh – by the way…. After I text Mandy about this, she laughed and told me to ask Casey what day the calendar will end. (meaning – the end of the world.) So I looked at Casey and asked when the calendar will end…. She looked at me like I was an idiot (not the first time for that look!) and said…
December 31. 🙂 🙂 🙂