We have all seen the commercials. The ones in which some attorney or law firm is rambling off things that may entitle you to sue. Ever get a paper cut from unwanted junk mail? You, too, could be entitled to monetary compensation. Poke yourself in the ear drum with a faulty q-tip? Let us help you get the money you deserve. Ever get an aspirin stuck in your throat? Join our class action lawsuit. While these types of commercials have always been mildly annoying, this weekend, I was given a real reason to want to kick the sleazy lowlifes responsible for these ads square in the….shins! Of course I was going to say shins.
This weekend, we were in our car, and The Boy took me off guard, shooting a question completely out of nowhere, from the backseat.
“Mom, am I brain damaged?
“What? No, of course not! Why….”
“Well, what is it called that I have again?”
“Asperger Syndrome. It is a type of autism.”
“And that’s not brain damage?”
“No, absolutely not. It’s just…wait, why are you asking this?”
“Well, I saw a commercial on TV that said that people could sue if they were caring for a loved one with Down Syndrome, autism, or cerebral palsy. It said people like that…like me…would need a lifetime of costly and burdenfu….burdensome care. It said I was brain damaged and could have been injured at birth.”
Of course, I went on to explain to him how brains can be wired up in many different ways. Like his train set can be put together to make many different kinds of tracks. Lots of people like to stick to the track on the front of the box, but others build all sorts of different kinds of tracks. Just because those tracks were not exactly like the track in the picture, didn’t mean they were wrong (or damaged). And then we talked about all of the cool and exciting things that people may see while following that different track to wherever it leads.
So there was that. Just when the psychologist had him convinced that autism was almost like a superpower. I have always been prepared to help The Boy make sense of it if a friend (or even a stranger) says something that may chip away at how he sees himself. I just never expected it to come from a low budget TV commercial.
13 responses so far ↓
1 kristen // Sep 11, 2007 at 12:20 pm
The thing I actually, truly love about this is the way you used the train track analogy to put it in perspective for him. It’s really one of the most original ways I’ve ever read about in terms of having the discussion. Of course, my son loves trains. And this would absolutely get his attention. We haven’t had the conversation yet, given him a word like autism to hold on to, but he’s not quite 6, so it really hasn’t come up in that way.
As for the ambulance chasers, I agree. Talk about perpetuating a misconception and putting ideas into people’s heads.
Thanks for this, Mel. I think this is one analogy that can be tailored to meet a whole lot of questions about why we are all unique.
2 kellypea // Sep 11, 2007 at 3:00 pm
I used to call these conversations Car Talk. No, not like the two guys from Boston on NPR =) but with my boys. I remember them like they were yesterday they were so powerful. I never knew what question would come. Quite the amazing explanation, Mel, which proves again how lucky your son is to have you.
3 Carrissa // Sep 11, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Wow. That one hit home. My son is being evaluated for Asperger’s at the moment, and I worry all the time about how we will discuss this with him. I like the super powers angle
Kids are scary perceptive, and it’s hard to know how they will filter what they hear. Your son is truly super, and so are you for not letting him forget that.
4 petite mom blog // Sep 11, 2007 at 4:59 pm
That is awful that your son had to hear that from a commercial.
5 Dory // Sep 11, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Those rat bastards!!!
BTW, we just had our appointment yesterday to kick off The Dinosaur’s “official” AS diagnosis.
6 Lydia // Sep 12, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Bless his little Aspergerlicious heart. Fortunately I have not had to have this conversation with Benny yet. When I do, I hope I do as well as you did.
Speaking of Q-tips, did you know that they cannot imply on the packages anymore that they’re for ear-cleaning. It says something ridiculous like: “A multitude of uses!” *cackle* God forbid you should actually put one in your ear. GOD FORBID!
7 Jennifer // Sep 12, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Yet another reason I hate those flippin’ commercials.
Sorry he took it to heart. He does have a superpower, in my opinion.
8 AngelNicki // Sep 12, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Hmmm.. maybe you should sue those lawyers for emotional damage! Give them a taste of their own medicine!
9 Cakehead // Sep 13, 2007 at 4:57 am
Awww, that makes me sad. I hate those dang commercials too.
10 That Chick // Sep 15, 2007 at 1:26 am
When I was a kid they wouldn’t say the word “tampon” on television. Now you hear all kinds of crap. My son asked me what erectile dysfunction was the other day. Egads!
Anyway. Sounds like you handled it really, really well.
11 cynthia // Sep 18, 2007 at 5:27 am
What a wonderful analogy you used with your son.
I agree, those commercials belong nowhere , but the garbage can.
12 Jen // Sep 18, 2007 at 6:25 am
Oh. that’s horrible. Your son is amazing to have remembered all that from one commercial - and you handled it beautifully.
13 the new girl // Sep 29, 2007 at 11:37 am
I so love the track metaphor.
I’m stealing it.
Just wanted you to know.
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