Turning 16 is a milestone for most teenagers, but J is not 'most teenagers' ;
- He is helpful - he will fetch and carry things I ask him to, without the regular teenage shrug, "hrumph" and "do it yourself" reply.
- I don't have to worry where he is at 11 O'Clock at night, or deal with his grumpiness about me not allowing him out to someone's party.
- He doesn't have music blaring out from his room, rattling the windows, and annoying the neighbours.
- I don't have to worry about alcohol, drugs, falling into the wrong crowd, and the struggles young people face everyday from peer pressure, the media, and celebrities.
I've always believed in looking at the positives, and although he won't be out with friends, attempting to get served a pint of lager, or hanging around with older lads who drive, he will be safe with us at home, and will have everything he enjoys in his life - cake, iPad, his favourite pieces of Lego, and no stresses.
J has always been very tricky to buy for at birthdays and Christmas time, as he never played with toys in the way other children did, didn't like books (he refused to sit and have a book read from a very young age, and if you sat next to him as he looked at a book, he'd get up and walk away (!) ) and had no interest in these special days.
This last year, his love of the Teletubbies has resurfaced (thanks to YouTube and their clips, and the new episodes which have been made, on TV), and I've bought him two Teletubbies toys.
He won't play with them in the way they are intended to be played with - as he never did with any toy he was given as a child - but I know he will love them, as he likes the colours, and will line them up in unusual places, such as in the pots and pans cupboard, where four coloured pen lids are residing at the moment, in perfect line, and always in his preferred order.
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| Teletubbies Custard Train |
This is the Teletubby 'Custard Train', and it's a 'pull-along' toy. The Teletubbies are stuck into their seats, so they won't get lost.
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| Teletubbies Toaster Set |
This one is the toaster set, as he loves the 'Tubby Toast' scenes in the shows. There are plates and cups in matching colours, and again, I'm sure I'll see them lined up in random places around the house.
Despite him not playing with these toys as they are intended to be, he gets a lot of pleasure from them, and that's what matters.
The smaller presents are all the things he'll gain enjoyment from ; as an example of two of them - sand timers, in his favourite colours again, that I think he'll enjoy in a sensory way, and two big bars of chocolate - his other great passion!
He knows there is a birthday approaching, as the presents are wrapped and in view in the utility room, and every so often he will say randomly, "birthday soon". What he doesn't know is; the cake is locked away in the garage, as he'll eat it all without remorse, and in one go, if he had free access to it, and that he is the birthday recipient - I do reply, "yes, J's birthday", but I'm not sure if he computes this in his brain, or is bothered that it is his.
My baby is turning 16, and although there have been some very hard times, it's been an amazing 16 years, full of adventure, fun, silliness, and life.
