Ive been trying to persuade S to go to the shop, which is only 2 minutes away, for ages now. He wont go. He said he is too scared to go on his own....which is fair enough.

Friday afternoon he went with his friends to the shop to get something, a cap gun. Then Saturday morning he got up and shouted "is the shop open?" I said yes, and the next thing i know he is dressed and running around saying hes going down the shop to get some caps for this toy gun. After a manic few minutes of me trying to talk to him, have you got your phone, have you got money, what are you going to do after etc, He went of to the shop...on his own...end off!

So because *he* wanted something desperately that was within reach he didn't give anything else a thought...."I need caps from the shop" was his motivation and nothing could distract him from that! If I had said...get me some milk while you are there...he would have said "no, I'm not going then!"
It always has been on his terms....everything from playing to learning. The school call this manipulation!! yes...they have no idea, don't even get me started!!

I always say he sees life with blinkers on....he is purely motivated by what he wants..because that is how his brain is wired! He cannot see other peoples perspective or their needs. he is driven by his own needs. If those needs cannot be met, that's it...meltdown time. if something happened or needs to be done that doesn't fall within the remit of his wants and needs....its not going to happen, unless i can turn it around to fit him. I'm always 5 steps ahead, or at least try to be. He has always been like this, since birth, never interested in anyone or anything unless it can help him, because he cannot see any other way of looking at things. I have no idea if this makes any sense...please let me know! All I do know is that.....

This isn't manipulation....this is autism....