How are Birthday's for your ASD child?

This year for Sammy's 9th Birthday he gets to see his grandparents from Mo. They are taking all of us to Great America for Autism Awarness Day. Sammy loves to ride , rides and this will be so fun and special. I am so happy that my in-laws wanted to go to this event too!!

They used to be very hard. He couldn't have cared less...but the last two years have been fun. He looks forward to it, the party, the friends, the singing - he knows it's about him. but for about 4 or so years - it had to be no biggie, until he was ready.

Ours are fun and unusual, Quincy actually came to Julian's 13 birhtday party...pizza, clowns, musician, and a yard full of kids...20 +people and 13 kids with different disabilities...everyone having a good time...I did post pictures of this day...Oh we also had a hispanic magazine out that day too...they wanted to show that all kids can have fun...we also had 2 serverly autistic children, 3 mild, and 1 aspergers...boy, did I love it, and we had so many angels in my yard at once...GOD is great!!!!!

I saw this quote "Our Asperger's son jsut doesn't "get it". He thinks tha since he has been in school with the same kids since kindergarten, that they are all his friends." Maybe he does have it right... I really wish it was that way because it should be :)

My ASD kids fourth birthday was last month. Honestly I was dreading it because you can't help but long for what should be. But it was actually pretty wonderful. My daughter knew it was her birthday and was basically NT and singing and asking for her presents. And this was this first time since my son was one that I have pictures of him smiling for the camera--even saying "cheese!" And this is my nonverbal son! When my mom showed me the pictures she took I was fighting back the tears. It was nice to do that for a happy reason for a change!

Our 14 yr old is an Asperger's kid. Our 16 yr old is PDD-NOS. They are both obviously very different. My 14 yr old still believes he is neurotypical. He just doesn't understand the socialization required of a 14 yr old young man. For his 13th birthday we invited several of his "friends" to the local bowling alley - had pizza and cake. Only 3 kids (other than his siblings) showed up. One was 4 years younger and the other 2 boys his age drifted off to play video games together, and they totally ignored our son. So, in order to save his feelings, we tried to skip the whole birthday party issue this year. Well. . . he hasn't let us forget it. So, we are planning a trip to go paintballing this fall. he will be allowed to invite 2 boys and our other son (birthday in Nov.) will be allowed to invite 2 boys. We think that our youngest will be the only one to have friends show up - but at least we will have met the requirement of a "party". Our Asperger's son jsut doesn't "get it". He thinks tha since he has been in school with the same kids since kindergarten, that they are all his friends. It is rough - especially the teen years, but it all seems to work out somehow.

Daniel has just one or two friends and their families over. Last year, we had a barbecue. That worked really well. There were no meltdowns, and the ASD kids were the focus of the party, so I guess we met the goal of having a good time!

We just do a family get together, BBQ, so it isn't that big of a change and not to overwhelming. This is the first year he seemed to know it was a party for him and he was interested in the presents for the first time. It is really amazing his progress from last year to this year. We started biomed in November. We haven't been to or had a children's party, not that brave yet, lol, maybe next year he will be ready.

Ours was different. Liv gets overwhelmed at B-day parties & just goes off on her own.. So, since it is her b-day we thought we would do it her style & not push anything. So, we went to her fav restaurant Red Robin. The red robin guy in the suit was out & Liv loves that. They sung happy b-day & she loved that. Then we went to my house & had cake & presents. It was different but, what Liv probably wanted. That night I was kind of down because at exactly that time last year she could sing happy b-day & was totally different experience. So, I guess it was kind of bitter & sweet. I will post some pix once I get the time. Cheers KC