Willie is Willie Today: Raising A Son With Special Needs

The name of my Blog is Who are you Today? This is because one unique thing about Willie is his rich, make-pretend world, that he sometimes prefers. On any given moment, Willie may have magically morphed into one of his characters: Slash from Guns and Roses, Batman, Darth Maul, The Phantom from The Phantom of The Opera. Each of these characters serve a psychological purpose for Willie, depending on his mood and his latest struggles.

Yesterday we got though 4 hours with no imaginative speak. Willie was just Willie. I sat with him, ate with him, walked with him and just soaked in his "Willieness." He smiled, he spoke about real things, he laughed, he complained,  he was present.  We were not at home. We were not in the Mall or a Restaurant. We were with Willie, in his world, at his School.

It wasn't until later that I realized perhaps there is a correlation between Willie taking on another personality and where he is. In other words, could it just be possible that Willie can remain himself when he is at School?  But when he comes home, or ventures forth from that trusting, safe, adapted environment, he resorts to imagination to cope?  This just may be the case? And if so, how ingenious of Willie to use such coping mechanisms for a world too scary, undependable, and not-designed for his best self.

I will be paying closer attention in the future to see if this theory is correct. The verdict is out. In the meantime, I will enjoy my son, his idiosyncrasies, his imagination, his beauty and profundity. But I much prefer to talk to him than Slash! SSSHHHH, please don't tell him!