Restaurants (original date 4/10/2010)

As most parents will agree taking children to restaurants can be hard. Having boys with Autism is even harder, I know many parents that won't take their children out to dinner. Mike and I try to do everything with the boys and help them overcome their quirks & OCD behavior. Dining out has been one thing we have been working on more lately. While on vacation in NH we took the boys to a restaurant that is more adult style than child friendly. The owners & waiter could not believe how well behaved the boys were and how they said please & thank you alll on their own. We had taken them before the busy time of night as we feel it is easier  for them to become familiar with their surrounding when it is quiet.
            We did this a few months ago when we had taken them to Old Theater Diner and they did a great job then too. Tonight we took them to Old Theater Diner again but this time we took them during a busy time, the place was packed. Our waitress remembered us from the last time we had been in, she was happy to see us return. The first time we went we had explained to her about the boys Autism, she understood because she has a nephew with Autism. She is great with the boys, she put their order in first so they wouldn't have to wait long. Rose really impressed us by always asking if the boys needed anything where as most wait staff just ask about the adults, she really cared about the boys.
      On a really good note, today Donald was very independent. I was talking with my friend Cindy in her store Little Pumpkins and told Donald he could go next door to Borelli's Bakery and pick out some deserts for the family. I  knew this would be a hard task as he has trouble with decisions, he can't match up clothes as it is too many choices. So telling him to go into a bakery and pick 5 different items would be hard. I gave him ten dollars and ask him how much does each item have to be less thn for him to have enough money. Without thinking he said $2 and he was right. Cindy and I couldn't believe it and then Donald said OMG, he had surprised himself answering it correctly. He went next door to the bakey, he came back after a bit and ask me what his Dad and I would like. I asked him to think about what his dad's favorite desert was, then he remembered carrot cake. He went back and came back a short time later with a box. Then Flo came in to tell me that Donald had stolen the hearts of all the girls at the bakery and Donald was the most polite little boy she had met. She was saden to hear we are moving as she said she would love to see hima grow up, I promised we would stop by when we visited RI.  Donald's anxiety was full blown during this task as his cheeks were bright red. I am so pround that he over came his fears &  anxiety to get some deserts.