Stimming (or the use of repetitive behaviors in order to self-soothe) is something Knox started doing around 16 months. He would hold objects (preferably stick-shaped objects) in his left hand, in front of his face, and shake them repeatedly. To be honest this is something that never really bothered me…I just always knew he’d grow out of it eventually. He has since has stopped that behavior, but does still have other ways of self-soothing outside of his binky (which yes, we still allow him to have and are working on phasing out). Sometimes Knox will lay down on the couch and “play” with your kneecaps--aka move them around--or poke at/pick at your tattoos…and these things can be really jarring, especially if you’re not prepared for them.
This past summer Knox and I stopped by a local fish market in order to pick up lunch. It was a humid 90-degree day outside and it felt like an oven inside the market…and it was jam packed with people waiting for their food. I ordered some fish and chips for us to split and was told it was a 20 min wait, so I looked for a place to retreat. After standing for about 10 min we squeezed into a bench next to an elderly man and his wife. By this point Knox was starting to lose it, and I honestly didn’t blame him. The heat and smell of fried fish was starting to get to me too. I whipped out my phone and turned on nursery rhyme videos and he calmed down instantly. Suddenly, I saw Knox reach over and grab the inner elbow of the elderly man sitting next to us…he immediately started wiggling around a large vein on the inside of this mans elbow. I was HORRIFIED. I pulled his hand back and profusely apologized for my grabby son. And let me tell you…this wonderful, understanding man insisted I allow Knox to go back to touching him. We (him, his wife and I) sat and talked about Knox and life for a few more minutes until our order was ready…with Knox content, playing with this man’s arm vein the entire time (and me cringing the entire time).
Moral of this story: I can only hope that everyone treats Knox with the same kindness this man and his wife showed to him that day. <3
