What Do I Do Now?

I've gotten into the habit of driving my son into school in the morning and picking him and my daughter up after school. Mainly because there were some kids irritating him on the bus and I felt he needed to start his day off on a positive note. 

I also started a new job, which means later hours, and them taking the bus home from school. Of course, he was the first to lodge his complaint about how he didn't want to do that. None of his friends are on the bus with him, and he is bored.

It's very common for my son to complain about being bored. I tried to explain to him that it's a short ride home and he should feel grateful he has the whole back of the bus to himself and no one to bother him. He says he's lonely and has nothing to do. When did the bus ride home from school have to be entertaining?

Raising a child with a developmental disorder has its interesting moments. It seems he needs to busy every minute of the day. If he isn't engaged in video games, watching televison or building with K'nex, he's bored.

This leads to him pestering his sister to "play" with him. Yes at 15, he still uses that term. She is 12 and has moved on from needing him to occupy her. She listens to music in her room or draws or dresses up her stuffed animals to entertain herself.

It also poses a problem when she has a friend over. He is in their space, trying to entice her friend by diverting her to something he thinks might get her to play with him. My daughter immediately gets annoyed and starts yelling at him to leave them alone.

Often times he comes to my husband and I and asks, "So, what do you guys want to do?" or "What am I supposed to do when Shaina has someone over?"

It is unfortunate because it is so difficult for him to make a connection with kids his age. He wants so badly to have someone to hang with, but when I try to guide him to call someone to make a date to hang out, he is reluctant. 

I'm not sure if it is because he doesn't want to be rejected, or if he is just plain uncomfortable because he doesn't know what to say or how to say it. He has tried, but boys his age don't feel the same compassion that a girl might for another girl.  I've heard my daughter many times say she is friends with someone because she feels bad or sorry for them. 

Today was just another day in the life of dealing with PDD. I reminded him that I am in the car alone a lot. I listen to music to pass the time, I actually enjoy it. I think for a fleeting moment he actually considered that.