My Own Misty Island Rescue!

I have a problem. My house is being invaded by Thomas the train. Wait, that isn’t true, my house is being invaded by the entire family of Thomas the train.

At last count we had 74 die-cast Thomas Take-and-Play trains, 12 Take-and-Play train stations, 20 Wooden Thomas & Friends trains, and 3 wooden play sets. There are 2 Thomas memory games, 2 Thomas card games, 7 Thomas puzzles, over 20 Thomas books, a Thomas & Friends scooter, Thomas & Friends Tricycle, Thomas DVDs, Thomas clothing, Thomas underwear, Thomas Lego sets, Thomas Track Master set (over 300 pieces), Thomas Early Engines, and a Percy push along. My house has been infiltrated by this small blue engine.

Is this happening anywhere else? Who does this train think he is?

The worst part of this is that I have forgotten two very important pieces in our house, the Thomas humidifier, and most importantly the 6x10 wall mural in Killian’s bedroom.  

This time two years ago my son had no idea who this small engine was. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse ruled our house with My Friends Tigger and Pooh in a close second. 2 MMR Shots later and countless Neurological tests, blood tests, etc, this is where we are.

Killian knows EVERY train in the Thomas the Train series. He studies the “maps” that come with each train so he gets to see who is next. Killian cannot read yet. He knows by memory and “visual cues” which train is which. Recently at Grandma and Grandpa’s house he asked for a “Viaduct.” What 3.5 year old knows what a viaduct is, or for that matter, wants one?

Does this make me excited or depressed? Am I proud or embarrassed my house has been taken over by a small blue engine?

On one hand how awesome is that he has such knowledge on one topic!?! On the other side, there is no end in sight. This “phase” has lasted over a year now. Every color has to relate to a train. Every “work” truck we see, every “bus” we see, every “freight car” we see, they all have a name.

Bertie the bus comes by our house four times a day. Killian watches out the window for him. Isabella goes through the center of town twice a week so we have noticed so far. Flora travels through Boston. Toby comes through Stoughton several times during the day. Hector has a couple of stops around Stoughton. George works on some of the farms in Sharon.

While this may seem “cute” or “silly” to some mommies, to this mommy, this is life. Thomas is my life. My family knows all of the characters now. Bailey, my daughter, knows most of them as well as Killian now because she is around it so much. Barbie rides through the playroom on Whiff, Bash, Dash, or any other of the characters.

This mommy wonders the side effects of such an affliction for Thomas. Is this going to lead to some huge disappointment in life? Can this life not give him what the Island of Sodor can?

Our pediatrician and Behavioral Neurologist always ask about his “obsession” with Thomas, so it is being monitored. Recently there has been a new “crisis” though. Killian’s team has discovered there is one and only one thing in Killian’s world that can be used for motivation.

Thomas the Train has sabotaged us!

How can we possibly take away the one true thing in his life that gives him utter joy??

When Killian is at home there is a “safety” outside of this world. Nothing can come in from the outside to hurt him or change him. The demands are much less in his home because of the demands placed on him outside of his home. If we then come into his home and take Thomas away, what does the child have?

I understand we need to begin working on friendship skills, but shouldn’t we work on friendship skills with the toys Killian wants to play with?

Mommies- help me out. The theory we are working with right now is Killian is “earning” his trains. We are about ½ compliant with this right now. There are some behaviors that do need adjusting or need to go away altogether. I just do not know if I can take the one thing that matters to this child away from him.

We have tried other toys so it isn’t that simple. We have to think outside of the box. If any special needs mommies have any advice for this mommy please share!!

In the meantime we are knee-deep in Island of Sodor. As you might have read in the last blog, we rotate the car seat from one side to another because the train tracks are on the wrong side of the road on the way home.

Til our next adventure…. I feel like Cranky!

If you are not familiar with us already, the is an excellent resource to help on the path we are all on!