Episode 3: The Round-and-Round 18-Month Checkup | ASD | Developmental Disabilities | Parenting

And so, the 18-month checkup arrived.

Ever since he started walking at one year old, the difficulty of parenting has gone up a notch.
He just moves around everywhere, all the time.
I'm constantly in 'if I take my eyes off him, it's over' mode.

I wonder if he'll be able to sit still for the checkup...
Actually, I wonder how long we'll have to wait.

I arrived at the checkup venue filled with anxiety.
What awaited me there was—the hellish 'round-and-round time'.

Why... are all the other kids able to sit still...?

My son got bored the moment we arrived.

From there began the hellish loop of: 1st-floor stairs -> 2nd-floor exploration -> different stairs -> return to the 1st floor.
Isn't this supposed to be a checkup, not field work...?

'Hurry... please, let our turn come quickly...'

My prayers were in vain, and the round-and-round hell continued.

At one point, he dashed into a room that looked like a 'senior citizens' club,' and I didn't know what to do.
(Of course I apologized, but they must have been surprised too...)

After the round-and-round hell, I finally reached the psychologist.

What I was told was—
'He's sensitive,' 'His development is on the early side,' 'There doesn't seem to be anything particularly abnormal.'

Are you serious?
I feel like we were the only ones running around like that...

Is this really okay?

However, I was completely exhausted after finishing the two-and-a-half-hour hyperactive hell.

...Well, if the professional says it's fine, then it must be fine.
I told myself that as I trudged home.

Episode 4: The Starting Signal -Age 2- | ASD | Developmental Disabilities | Parenting