Phoebe is Autistic.

She has PDD-NOS (don’t know what that is? Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified) To me…this is what it means: Phoebe needs CONSTANT attention- good or bad. She does not differentiate between the two, so that causes a challenge. Phoebe is afraid of new situations. Phoebe is very afraid of fireworks, thunder and lightening and tornados. Phoebe has the mentality of a 6 year old sometimes. She doesn’t get sarcasm, or understand most jokes. She learns from watching and listening, and says funny things- and knows they are funny, because she heard people laugh when they were told before. She has poor fine motor skills, but can write. She also has memorized the names of all the kids in her classes since the 1st grade, and can name them in order. She thrives on schedule, and lists of what will be happening and loves, loves, loves to be around other children.

She also loves me so much- she hates me. If I am more than 10 feet away she checks in. I am her world- and she gets her information about the world from me, so we end up being a close family. Does it annoy me sometimes? YOU BET. There are times I want to run away screaming at the top of my lungs…but I don’t (most of the time). Sometimes, I even laugh so hard it hurts my stomach. I find many of her little “things” funny.