A Party with a "Ding"

So, I said something yesterday. Something about how great Alex's been doing. Well, of course I put it in type, I even mentioned it to Zach and thus, it was jinxed. Okay, not jinxed, but Alex is who he is. One part of who he is comes to involve the sensory pieces. Keeping that in mind, we attended a sleep over party for 12+ kids in the neighborhood. Oh boy.

Alex actually did the best that he possibly could. He ran with the boys, some that he barely knew, and others he knew even less. He hugged the girls (whom he knew better), visited everyone, adults included, and was his happy self. The more activity, the more running and chasing, swinging of plastic golf clubs and exploring of the 2 tents with 2 rooms each (it was a camp-out sleep over), the harder it was for him to "appropriately" process all the information. As things wound up, he wound up and his ability to articulate, communicate and manage himself flew out in the breeze that was also winding up through the night.

Hitting. Poking. Finger poking usually to the face. Hitting with an open hand to the face; more like a hit-push combo that throws back the receivers little head. That's what Alex does when he has a difficult time processing information. Screaming almost always accompanies this... or at the bear minimum, a "Ding". Ya know, the airline commercial where the people are naming or listing the different things that make this airline different is preceded by the 'ding'... yeah, he dings, but his ding is accompanied usually by a smack to the head. So, dinging, hitting, poking, pushing started. Apologies followed. He was trying to relate. He did the best he could.

In the end, he was ready and he knew it; to come home that is...we never planned on actually sleeping over. After a dinner attempt, both at the party and at home (we live next door), and the second round of play at the party, Zach brought Alex and Violet home. Alex didn't complain, argue, whale or the throwing the head back for the peak up the nostrils pieced with the high pitched, wide mouthed whine/cry that grates under even the most hardened parent's skin. Nope, None of that. He happily made the steps up to the front door and came in seemingly refreshed.

Of course, he didn't go right to sleep, but why would we expect that!