“Did you see the Grammy’s?” Emma asked Soma yesterday.
And as I sat nearby watching, I marveled at how surprised I was by this question. In part because she was asking a question, something Emma does a great deal of when she is working with Soma, but not so much with me yet. I can’t tell you how much I look forward to that…
My surprise was not just limited to the fact that she was asking a question though, it was also because I often wonder how she knows all the things she knows. “The Grammy’s?” I found myself thinking. “How does she even know about the Grammy’s? Where did she see anything about the Grammy’s?” “Richard and I didn’t watch the Grammy’s. I can’t even tell you when the Grammy’s were.
After Soma told Emma that she had watched the Grammy’s, Soma asked Emma where she’d seen them.
Emma wrote, “At the airport TV.”
The airport TV? Seriously? I didn’t even see a television, let alone notice what was on. When we arrived at the airport we checked our bag, went through security and went looking for our gate, and when we finally found it, I don’t remember seeing a television anywhere near the seats we finally found to wait for our flight. What else has she seen in passing? What else would she like to know about? What things would she be interested in learning about?
I write all of this, because Richard and I often ask each other, “But where did she learn that?” or “How does she know about that?” And, well… this is, but one answer. There is information everywhere and my daughter is picking up information all the time.
I used to assume there was an input issue with learning, but my daughter continues to defy this idea. An output issue? Yes. Input? Evidently that’s my issue, not hers.
*Emma has given me permission to publish this on the blog.
Emma ~ January 29th, 2014
Emma's Hope Book 
Yep. Output is my sons issue. Input is my issue. It is one I am trying to be more aware of, though. I realized a little while back that I explained or described more about things to my 3.5 year old NT daughter than I did to my 5 year old ASD son. Why? Likely because I was getting more feedback from her. Now I am more aware that I am doing that and make an effort to either include Nathan in the discussion if we are all together or to do the same explaining to him that I would do if I were just with Lexie. So, input is now my issue because I am making it my issue.
Love it! Miss Emma is quite observant of everything around her! She takes in everything. I have a close friend who has 2 sons with autism and she said they pay attention to details of EVERYTHING and notice EVERYTHING that she didn’t notice. I think my friend has the same issue…she has the input issue, whereas her boys don’t. 🙂
My guess is Emma heard the TV before she saw it. I can’t unhear the airport TVs and will drive my husband batty by insisting that we move repeatedly until I find a place quiet enough to be tolerable. 🙂
Thank you. This is something my spouse and I are at odds about. Just what is it my son understands. I keep saying just because he doesn’t answer doesn’t mean he doesn’t know. I have a wonderful Aunt who once so patiently explained to someone who thought autistic and dyslexic were the same thing that “He (my son) is open to the Universe.” and is aware of so many other levels that most people ignore.
That should read – aware ON so many other levels. 🙂
Mine do the same thing, blow my mind really, all the time 🙂 They are here to teach us far more than we ever think we are teaching them
Awesome! Also a good reminder that a kid may be in the middle of something when we want them to follow us, change direction or similar.
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