- when i was really young i didn’t understand other children and i hated big crowds like family events or football matches.
- mum explained to me that i was wired differently, that it wasn’t a bad thing, She said that i could just do things differently but i would still get everything done. And that was called Aspergers!
- i learned to enjoy my Aspergers.
- when people call ASD an autistic spectrum disorder…or a disability, i don’t like it . I call it a difference and it doesn’t make me any less capable to do anything.
- Aspergers lets me look at things from a totally different perspective – i can think OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.
- it makes the world kinda complicated and you have to keep figuring other people out…
- when people say similes i don’t quite get them
- i didn’t used to get sarcasm – i had to ask was that it?
- when teachers say answer the question on the board, and there is no question mark
- sometimes teachers need to explain more to me that they do usually.
- sometimes when people say something they mean something else. That’s confusing.
- sometimes it really confuses me if someone shouts at me – i used to think that meant that they hated me. But now i realise its just that they want me to do a bit better at that time.
- it confuses me when a class gets a punishment cos i am a good child and if i wasn’t doing the wrong thing, why should i get punished.
- i don’t really feel pain – that’s why i am a good goalkeeper
- i also don’t feel hot or cold, so sometimes i wear an under-armour in a heatwave
- racism. i don’t get racism. i would never be racist but i don’t understand why you cant say what colour somebodies skin is, the way you can with their eyes. I would love to have dark skin.
- emotions. i made up a word “EMOTIOUS” and i use it to describe when lots of different emotions are all stirred in together. So if i am watching something like Les Mis, i need to be able to chat mum to tell the emotions apart.
- Aspies are very sensitive with all their senses. I call it “SENSATIOUS” when there is a really strong sensation.
- i used to hate sound of the crowd roaring at a football game, and cover my ears and scream. My parents kept bringing me and now i don’t notice the noise and i roar too!
- i hate the feel of baked beans. if there is one in my food it makes me actually get sick
- i don’t like the feelings of some of mums clothes fabrics. I always like cottony ones.
- i am really sensitive to smells. I cant deal with the smell of agriculture or anything to do with a farm.
- i dont like the smell of cigarettes – when i look at people smoking it kinda hurts my eyes.
- i hate people breathing on me- it freaks me out
- babies drool and have mucous and saliva- so i don’t really get into babies until they are a bit more mature and have dried up,
- before i say something i often say “no offense” in case i would offend someone.
- i like to move round, cos i cannot stay perfectly still.
- at home i can play a ball against a wall to work off steam
- in bad weather i spin around like mad a few times which i call helicoptering
- i HAVE to sit on one knee with my other knee (the right one) in the air
- when i feel nervous, emotious, sad or a bit hyper i need a “SQUISH” . A squish means mummy gets me in really tight hug and squeezes – its a bit like Temple Grandin’s Hug-machine. It really settles me down. In school when i need a squish i do things like roll up my sleeves, tighten my shoelaces. I love to wear compression gear like under-armour and underwear too small to give me a feeling of pressure.
- i don’t trust people or new things til i know them or have watched and tried out.
- when i was little i never get jokes, but now i have a good sense of humour – i love sitcoms like Fr Ted, Miranda, Spongebob, and Mrs Browns Boys (but it can be rude).
- sometimes now i know my autism head makes me do whacky things and we get a laugh at them, and then i can do a normal thing instead.
overall i like being different.
my friends like me just the way i am
i like the world through aspergers eyes.
when you get older, you can see that everybody is different somehow, thats what makes the world interesting.
I keep on learning at every new stage!
mum says she can read me like a book…… and i say i use her like an encyclopedia.
It works out good.
by Fionn
Excellent post!
thank you!
the more he understands himself, the more is able to take on 🙂
H
Well fionn – you just made me smile – and that’s good!
Keep up the honesty.
That was just a fantastic post to read. Well done Fionn.
Thank you.
From fionn
Inspirational..If only others could see the world through your eyes, it would be a much better place. Keep smiling.
Thank you very much.
From. Fionn 🙂
What a brilliant blog! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings with the people who read your blog. I think it really helps grown-ups to understand children (and adults) with Asperger’s and if grown-ups have a better understanding then they can help other children to understand too, then the world will be a better place. Well done! 🙂
thankyou
from Fionn
My little boy is 4 and this explains so much of his behaviour! I hope he learns to appreciate himself and have friends like you when he grows up 🙂
friends are hard at the start but good to have
from Fionn
Fionn, finding your blog today means more than you will ever know, although I’m guessing your mom will understand. Today I found out that my 7-year-old son has Aspergers, and that was kind of scary. Like you, he also has ADHD, and we’ve been dealing with that for a long time (except he’s really, really hyper!). But all the things that moms worry about popped into my head this morning: would life be hard on him, would he be happy, would he have friends, would he have a hard time in school, would I be able to help him.
Not only did you help me understand Aspergers like nothing else I’ve read today, but your blog put all those worries out of my mind. If my guy turns out as incredible as you, I’ll have done my job right. Keep going, Fionn. We need you.
And thank your mom and dad for me. 😉
thank you so much
you made me smile
from Fionn
Laura,
its Helen.
I am so glad that you found the blog.
Fionn is a very happy and very self-aware child. I think that his self awareness and understanding is the secret of the success.
When Fionn was diagnosed, i knew nothing about aspergers, but i made a point of realising he DIDN’T have a terminal condition, he had a difference. So i have not relied on expert advice but on the reality that you KNOW your child best.
We had to decide on best (not always easiest) paths for Fionn, and have been pro-active in letting school know his problems, not reactive, when they tell us.
But there is NOT ONE DAY that we do not get a special laugh, or an enormous thankyou from Fionn for doing something that other children take for granted.
You chat your son, and when you both decide – maybe like Fionn, that even though its easier to sit in his room alonr and read, that will never help him get to the pub with friends at 18, and that people learning i the key to it all, then you’ll be the expert.
Hang in there
H x
Well Fionn, that was a pretty cool post, made me smile too :)))x
thankyou
from Fionn
Fionn,
I found your blog very interesting, especially the way you can now cope with experiences you found difficult when you were younger. It was good to hear that you have a good sense of humour. Know any good jokes? I like ‘Doctor, Doctor ..’ jokes. Here’s one I made up for you.
Patient: Doctor, doctor, I feel like I ‘m a wooden floor.
Doctor: Do you feel completely bored a lot of the time?
Sorry!! Keep writing, Fionn, it’s good stuff!!
hi dominic
i really liked your post.
here is my jokes… i have to say “no offence first” in case it offends anyone.
the joke is “yo mama is so fat……she fell in love and broke it!”….
and i have nothing against fat people i just like jokes and it seems that all jokes arent funny unless they offend somebody in some wee way.
mum says you are interested in autism so i hope you keep reading my blog.
and you can spread the fionn hamill word
only joking
from Fionn
fionn i cant tell you how much i have enjoyed reading your blog posts. i too am a aspie, and i am so impressed with your posts. you have a gift of writing and i love how well you put things into words. i hope you realize how much good you are doing for the autism community, you are makeing life better for us, families with kids on the spectrum and for kids not even born yet that will be on the spectrum. your writings are making such a impact on people in a good way. a wise person once told me that the best way to learn about autism is from someone with autism so this is why i try to educate as many as i can because like you i live with aspergers. no one can fully understand what it is like as us. so seeing you educate so many makes me so happy. the world can use more people like you. you are a very special guy. and i always love talking to another aspie because we speak the same language and i do not mean english, because for me autism is another language in a way. you are amazing fionn! and if by chance you ever want to talk, feel free to email me at brad.larsen1@facebook.com thanks again—brad
Brad,
THANKYOU!
Fionn is in bed at the moment, but i will let him see this tomorrow.
He has a great attitude and a happiness in how he is – much more so than the rest of the family- actually!
His aspergers has given him many strengths and he works through the challenges he finds – talking and discussing options with us as he goes.
But Thank-you.
i will get him to reply tomorrow – and can tell you in advance he thinks it “feels really lovely” when people say nice things about him – as he never assumes anything.
Thanks
Helen
thank you helen. i love how positive he is. with so many wanting to cure us its so nice to see that he is happy with who he is. and i love that you are happy with who he is. its cool to see. i look forward to his reply 🙂 —brad
that was really nice. Thank you for all your replies. I really like them.
from Fionn
i’m so full of pride, i’m about to explode just like that coca cola bottle mum told you about. you’re inspiring so many people, all those people who’ve left you these incredible comments are are only a fraction (i’m sure) of all the people who read and learn from what you’re able to put into such wonderful words. brad is right, the world does need more people like you.
thanks Cora thats a really really nice comment. You better come home soon.
Love you
From Fionn x
Reblogged this on deshocks and commented:
Yesterday I was on RTÉ’s Today Show, talking about World Autism Day, and on Sunday I’ll be chairing Cork Autism Association’s conference. It’s not something I know an awful lot about, and I have limited personal experience with it, but this blog by a boy with Asperger’s is an excellent explanation of how he sees the world.
D,
He is incredibly able to put asperger’s as it is.
I think the fact that he genuinely (thank God) loves his asperger’s helps.
He has decided (with a bit of common sense parenting) what aspects of “normal” programming he has to adjust to and almost learn. And otherwise he can analyse his strengths 🙂
He is genuinely such a happy positive child. And I don’t know anyone who doesn’t instantly love him
The blogging has been great for him.
He communicates so well, honestly and innocently.
So has had massive positive feedback from children, parents, teachers and autism charities using bits of it.
When he gets a response from a child having tried something and thanking him, he is so moved.
If its of any help at your conference, read or use one of his bits.
His aim is to help understanding.
My mammy’s favourite is the one ” I like being different!”- I wish my non-asperger’s children had his self-confidence!!
Helen
@helenhamill
When someone writes an post he/she keeps the image of a user in his/her brain that how a user can be aware of it.
So that’s why this piece of writing is outstdanding. Thanks!