Phoebe has a weird memory. She can memorize names, addresses, and pet names. If you know her…you know what I am talking about. In the first grade, her teacher (love her) told me after the first day of school was over that Phoebe had sat on the playground on a bench. When the teacher asked her what she was doing, Phoebe began to point at the children and say their names…one by one. The teacher had never read the class list, nor did she even know the names. Phoebe must have seen them….and put them to memory.
In the 4th grade, the General Education students were doing a Science Project. I asked Phoebe if she would like to do one…and she said yes. She says “Yes, No, Yes, No”to just about everything I ask her, so I wasn’t impressed. Her idea was “name all the 4th graders.” We took a poster board, and Phoebe named every 4th Grader at Arrowwood Elementary. Phoebe was not in a Gen. Ed. room…she was contained in an autism class. I wrote…and she talked. I wrote all the names, by class, on to the board. At the end…there were even a few that Phoebe said…”OH! Take them off…they left, or they moved.” Most of Phoebe’s peers were quite impressed with her project….as most of them didn’t know all the names.
Most recently, Brendan has become ultra obsessed with Football. This includes the NFL, and MSU. While watching the Superbowl last January, we were struggling to think of the Green Bay’s QB’s name. From out of Phoebe’s room we heard…”AARON RODGERS! BRETT FAVRE USED TO BE…BUT HE LEFT.” I was amazed. This continues now…on Sunday when we watch.
So, if you happen to run in to us, and she wants to know your name. Just tell her, because she won’t forget. And, when I’m old…she’ll help me to remember.
This autism thing is a strange disorder.
Phoebe ASD World 