Bobby is an advertisers nightmare. He isn't influenced by commercials. He does like them, especially the Empire Today carpet commercial (1-800-588-2300), which for some unknown reason is pretty popular in the autism community. He also likes commercials for attorney Edgar Snyder (we live in the Pittsburgh tv market), that coincidentally lists a phone number.....I am beginning to see a pattern...melodic phone numbers.
He's not interested in what the commercial is pitching, he it only interested in the jingle. He'll never call these numbers.....he doesn't really know what exactly a phone number is or how it's used (at least I've never taught him). Bobby hasn't ever wanted ANYTHING from a commercial. No toy, no video game, no new trend. He isn't impacted by product placement in stores. Big, flashy, expensive displays are a waste of money to grab Bobby's attention.
He isn't envious of the possessions of his peers. He has never wanted the same clothes (his clothes have to have comfort, not style), or shoes (he prefers Crocs and flip flops) that the other kids in school wear. Not jealous of their winter coats, in fact he prefers not to wear one at all. New backpack or lunchbox to fit in? No, he could care less, and prefers that one that he is used to....no new one please.
Bobby isn't materialistic. He doesn't have any prized possessions that he would be devastated if he lost (say in a house fire). He'd have to have a new iPad ASAP, but the latest and greatest isn't necessary, he still likes his original one. Not because it is an Apple product, but because it houses his favorite Nick Jr tv episodes, and because he can watch his favorite few YouTube videos, which he has watched hundreds, if not thousands of times. He doesn't need unlimited videos to chose from, his favorite 15-20 are more than enough. None of his toys would need to be replaced, in fact I threw away 4 garbage bags full a couple of weeks ago and he wasn't fazed at all.
Imagine just liking what you like and not being embarrassed whatsoever by your likes. He still watches toddler television and would not stop and turn it off if a typical peer walked into the room. He doesn't hide his likes, he proudly watches his favorite shows and eats only his preferred foods without any regard to how others may judge him.
His wants are utilitarian, a way to get his physical and sensory needs met. He wants specific foods, and wants to go to the store and "push the buggy" so that he can pick out his favorite foods and make sure the fridge and pantry are full. He also requests the beach, trampoline park and going for rides....which are all needs to calm his senses.
Imagine going through your day without the ego's need bogging you down. Not worried about how the rest of the world sees you....social media would cease to exist!!!! I wonder what decisions we would all make if we weren't thinking about how the rest of the world would react. What would we wear, eat, do??
There is obviously a big down side to this as well. You'd also have to imaging an existence in which you don't get to share your likes with others. You know, when you try a new food that you can't wait to tell your friends about. It's also an existence when you don't get to share the joy that others are experiencing when they share a new find or experience with you. You'd miss out on so many new experiences.
What kind of chaos would the world experience if no one cared about what anyone thought about them?
I spend a good deal of time thinking about how (I think) Bobby's brain works and what makes him happy, in hopes to give him as happy a life as we can give him. I thought that I'd share a glimpse of my afternoon pondering of Bobby's mind on this April day in honor of Autism Awareness Month.
Running through the tire aisles at Walmart....so much fun!!!
