We attended a workshop for people dealing with adolescents with FASD last night. During the workshop the presenter kept mentioning how parts of these children are lagging behind. Paul’s ability to function when he is tired, hungry or stressed is functioning at about a 2-4 year olds level. He will become sullen and almost unbearable. He started a fight over ice cream the other night when he was tired. He was supposed to be making his lunch but he wanted ice cream. We knew that he didn’t have a very good sleep the night before and had been seeing the warning signs all evening. We told Paul that he couldn’t have ice cream because he had been playing video games instead of making his lunch and didn’t have time. He responded by stomping his feet, sticking out his lip and crying “I don’t wanna make my lunch! I want ICE CREAM!” I think that if anyone could here the exchange that followed with out seeing Paul would have thought we were dealing with a toddler. Allot of Paul’s words were muffled by sobbing. We finally ended up telling him that he was tired and needed to go to sleep. The next day probable would have been the same if Paul hadn’t been more rested. Again he waited until it was time to make his lunch and hop in the shower before he asked for ice cream. Because he was rested and better able to cope he accepted “If there is time when you have done everything you can have ice cream”.

It is amazing what a difference a little extra sleep makes with Paul.

~Living with Paul