Obsessions

Monkey has gone through various little obsessions in his life.  When he was newly diagnosed it was spinning objects and we came down a little hard on that one.  We refused to let him play with toys that encouraged the behavior as if that would 1. stop him or 2. make a bit of difference to his development.  I mean really, if you just STOP him from spinning things he’ll be better, right?  It sounds pretty stupid, even to me, in hindsight 🙂

Anyway, we now embrace, and at times encourage, his obsessions.  The ones we encourage are those that he’ll share with his peers…obsessions about trains or playing ball, for example.  There are some that are just so unique (and cute) that we enable him despite the fact they won’t ever be very useful to him.  The latest of these is his obsession with receipts.  Not just any receipts though, he prefers the receipts that the library hands out each time you check out books.

On Friday, I came home from work and was greeted at the door by Monkey, “‘per (paper)?”  I told him I didn’t have any paper but that I could go and get some if he wanted, he replied “Yesssss!”  So I tromped off to the library only to find that it was closed!  I forgot that it closed at 5 on Fridays.  Dang.  I went home feeling guilty and a little apprehensive.   I didn’t know how Monkey would take it when I walked through the door empty handed.

I was, again, greeted at the door, “‘per?”  I apologized and explained that the library had closed, I didn’t have any paper.  “hoot (receipt)?” he clarified as he eyed my library bag.  “Sorry bud, no receipt.”  He wandered off and started searching through various books to see if he could find one he had somehow missed.  I was expecting a night of constant “‘per?  hoot?” but he soon moved on. 

On Saturday, he once again asked for paper.  I knew the library was open so I asked him if he wanted me to get him some paper.  “Yesss!!!”  I asked him if he wanted to go with me.  He firmly said “Noooo! Home! Dogs!” as he walked as far from the front door as he could get.  I grabbed my coat and keys, he came running to yell “Byyee!” as I left the house.   When I got home, about 20 minutes later, Monkey ran to me and shoved his arm into my book bag.  With a worry line between his eyes he searched “‘per? hoot? ‘per?”  He finally found the receipt and took off running while he hugged it to his cheek, “Awwww, hug!”

Not 5 minutes later, Monkey was in tears and asking for paper.  What???  I began searching for it but Duhdee had to break the news to me.  Monkey had FED IT TO THE DOG!  Copper, the older, gimpy one, has an obsession with paper too.  He will shred and eat any paper or piece of cardboard he can find.  Monkey will often tease poor Copper-dawg with his paper and play keep away.  He thinks that is hilarious, right up until Copper wins and eats his prize.  *Sigh*

The library was closed for the day but…Umma had been tricky.  She had checked out her books and Monkey’s books separately and had TWO receipts!  Of course she then had to spend the rest of the weekend chasing Monkey around telling him “He’ll eat it, put it away!” and telling Copper “Touch it and you go in the crate!” 

Do you think the librarian will mind if I ask her to put each book on a separate receipt from now on?  Actually, I think the better question is…do I care if she does?