“They’re like an old married couple! It’s so cute!”
When you have a child who is non-verbal/minimally verbal, it’s impossible to know what is going on at school, except for reports you get home and your child’s reaction at being there.
I have been curious because Jonah has been scripting something from school that I couldn’t figure out. He’s been ‘mimicking somebody’s “whine” from school and saying one of his classmate’s names.’
When he is playing by himself, you will often hear him saying this classmate’s name as if he’s pretending that they are there playing with him as well.
I wanted to figure out what was going on.
So we had Jonah’s student-conference at school yesterday.
Apparently, in Jonah’s preschool class, there is a girl that Jojo just LOVES to “bug.”
He doesn’t do this with other kids. When they are at group time, he will turn away from the teacher, and (with a sly grin) he will ‘get in her face’…
…Like his face will be inches away from hers. With a big old smile and dimple.
Oh. Did I mention that she is ALSO autistic?
So of course she doesn’t like it. And she will start to protest. And then Jonah will giggle.
If that doesn’t get a rise out of her, he will start ‘blowing’ on her until he gets a reaction.
At first, I was concerned about bullying BY JONAH!! But then his teacher told me that “they are like an old married couple.”
And then it made sense.
Jonah will do the same kind of thing when he wants to get a rise out of me. He will sit on my head, or softly throw a ball at me and laugh.
Jojo and this girl spend the majority of their time in class together. They are both in the same “extended” program for autism.
They were even in the same class together last year.
And apparently, her favorite way to ‘protest’ at school or away is by yelling “JONAHHH!!”
You guys.
He’s FLIRTING with her.
🤣