Friday, March 14, 2014

If You Can't Buy It, Invent It

     As my autistic son grows up I find that what he needs doesn't exist. For example, when he was a youngster he wore a "onesie" like all other babies. This little body suit kept his diaper from sagging and also covered his little belly when his shirt rode up. Well, by the time he was five years old he had grown out of the XL size. I had this giant baby learning how to walk. And as a giant baby he also had a big heavy diaper and wandering hands. For another year I squeezed the boy into a toddler's onesie and found that the body suit kept his diaper in the place where diapers are supposed to be, around his bum and not his knees. Soon came the time when he was popping the crotch snaps of the largest size. There was no such thing as a onesie for big boys so I decided to experiment; afterall, isn't a onsie just a combination of a t-shirt and a tighty-whitey with an opening at the bottom? I bought a big-boy undershirt and some briefs and sewed them together. Then I cut out the crotch and used a bra "hook and eye" to secure the bottom. It worked liked a charm! So as he grows I just buy bigger t-shirts and underwear. There are so many advantages to this little invention. Mainly it keeps the boy's diaper up, but also, it keeps him decent when he takes his clothes off in public!
     Another nifty idea involves a belt and a chair. Invariably the cub feels the need to walk around while he eats. If allowed, he will carry his dinner plate throughout the house dropping food here and there. He  touches everything and soon there is Ranch dressing where it shouldn't be. Just trying to keep him at the table during mealtime ensures that I don't get to eat at all. After getting fed up with constant interruptions I got a nice wide "man-belt" and tied the kid to his chair. I lace the belt in between the slats of the chair and buckle it in the back. The boy can't get off his chair until I allow it. Now that he stays put I can casually eat without having to chase him down before he smears all the light switches.

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