Lack of Reason or Logic

Over the years I've tried to figure out how to describe Kimmie's disabilities, her limitations. I tell people how she spells and reads sight words on a fourth grade level, has an amazing memory, knows her way around town, and has a very good sign vocabulary. They are always surprised. She's much smarter than people realize. But how do I convey what's lacking? How can she know so much but be as significantly disabled as she is?

The answer that we've come up with is that she simply lacks reasoning skills, is unable to follow logic patterns, and doesn't understand consequences.

Math is a logical, reasoning based subject and it tends to be her weakest. Of course, we aren't sure if it is her weakest subject because she doesn't understand it or because it does not interest her.

Kimmie knows what happens if she pushes a certain button or flips a switch, but more complex consequences she cannot grasp. For instance, if she throws a DVD box, we take it away and put it in the top of the cupboard. If she gets mad and has a DVD box in her hand, we will try to warn her that if she throws it we will take it away; however, she cannot follow the sentence through to the consequences. All she hears is throw and that's what she does. When we put the movie up, she doesn't seem to understand why. This has been repeated many, many times over the years and she still cannot link the movie being put UP, to the action of her throwing it.

Kimmie is amazing at following the calendar, remembering what day of the week it is and what number the day is. She remembers events, what day of the week they occurred and in which month--like going to the dentist on a Thursday in October or having a shot on a Monday in March two years ago. But if she wants to do something today and we tell her we have something else and cannot do that until another day, she'll have a melt down. If we tell her we are going to take sister someplace, drop her off, and go to a restaurant or go shopping, Kimmie is very happy. She loves to shop and go to restaurants, but waiting through the first activity of dropping her sister off is often too much for her. She can't understand and follow the progression of events.

Memory based things she is good at. Things that take more processing, analysis, well, that's where she's lacking.

Maybe that helps you understand Kimmie's disabilities, how she can be so smart and so disabled at the same time. And writing it out will help me explain it in the future when asked.

--Mom

Christmas Tree

Well, we finally have our Christmas tree up. Whew!

I was going to put it up last weekend. I asked Kimmie if I should put the Christmas tree up. She said yes. I told her there would not be any gifts under it yet, would it still be ok to put up the tree, if there are no gifts? "No."

It upsets Kimmie if there are no gifts under the tree. So, last weekend, I wrapped instead of putting the tree up. For a week we have had a pile of gifts in the corner. Kimmie has checked on them regularly to make sure they are still there. (While I was wrapping, she showed me the Winnie the Pooh paper I was to use to wrap hers.)

Yesterday, we finally had time to put the tree up. Kimmie was all smiles and especially liked seeing the gifts under it. She checked on our progress regularly. Tree. Tree with gifts under it. Tree with lights. And, eventually, tree with lights and ornaments! She was very happy. She still checks regularly to make sure the gifts are there.

Oh, and the stockings are up, too. That made her happy. I even put gifts in them. We'll see if they last until Christmas. One year we found her sitting with a gift from her stocking in front of her. She had not opened it. She just had it out and sat there looking at it.

Bethany is counting down with Kimmie each day. The math is a little too much for Kimmie, but she knows Christmas is 25, and she knows today is 12.

--Mom