Unexpected

One of my least favorite things to hear about kids on the autism spectrum is that they tend to lack an understanding of humor, and nearly everything “official” says they don’t understand sarcasm. And really, as much as I would love to believe that my own particular little snowflakes are just that much more special than the world, no, really, I know a LOT of Aspies who get sarcasm just fine.

Monkey has been… well… a little off, lately. If you ask him something you’re likely to get a snippy, snarky reply. With an extra helping of sarcasm. I don’t know what’s up. I suspect it may be puberty. Puberty is known for kind of being a bitch, y’know? And he appears to have the beginnings of a BAD case of it. Poor kid. You’d think they’d have a vaccine by now, or something.

Anyway, the other day he seemed kind of down, so I asked him if he was okay, and he kind of shrugged, so I told him that if there was anything he wanted to talk about—then, or some other time, either way—that I am a pretty good listener. He nodded, so I asked him if he wanted to talk right then, and he said yes.

Then he put a hand on my knee, and speaking quietly to his lap, said, “Mom, it’s just that…” (I leaned in, ready understand and try to help) “it’s…” (he looked up with a mournful expression) “it’s my time of the month,” he concluded, barely able to hang on to his guffaw until he reached the end, throwing his head back and collapsing in laughter.

Yeeeeahhhh. My poor Aspie, what with his lack of a sense of humor and understanding of nuance.

20 Comments

  1. Kira

    He is my favorite. Good luck with the hormone poisoning. Be strong.

  2. Kwaters7

    That literally made me laugh out loud!

  3. Little Bird

    We get sarcasm just fine. As long as its not subtle. And we can employ it with the best of them. Just ask my mom. She does NOT get my sense of humor most of the time. And that’s part of what I find so funny!

  4. Katie K.

    His lack of humor is positively tragical. Maybe we could organize a telethon or something to help him. :) My 17 year old nephew who has Aspberger’s has a delightful sense of humor as well as being intelligent and musically gifted. Whoever the researchers are that came up with that “lack of humor” garbage need to get out of the lab more.

  5. Tammy

    Literally roflol! Love that Monkey.

  6. Lara T

    LOL Monkey! That’s interesting Mir, thanks for sharing, because the lacking sense of humour/sarcasm thing is one of the few things that I thought was a strike against my son being an Aspie (he is diagnosed only with ADHD right now but I strongly suspect that in another year or so when I will request more testing, they will add autism!). Mine doesn’t use humour often but every now and then he does and he mostly seems to get our humour.

  7. Tracy B

    God love him!!!!!

  8. Aimee

    Yes, well, that does demonstrate an appalling lack of humor. Tsk.

  9. karen

    oh good LORD, puberty and the teen years are RIFE with that kind of sarcasm and ‘tude. My second child is almost seventeen, and is juuust starting to catch himself and say things like..”oh, that was kinda rude, huh?” Amen!

    I’m a bit surprised at that assumption of kids on the aspie spectrum, because the fella we know has SUCH a wicked sense of humor. Clearly, Monkey’s wit is one of his endearing assets!

  10. Jeanie

    That’s funny. Great sense of humor there.

  11. Melody

    Boy he really reeled you in! That is great!

  12. Chuck

    Wow, he’s really growing up! I am afraid to say, his sense of humor sounds dangerously similar to my own…

  13. Leslie

    I’m finding 13 is not a very pretty age. I’m also finding they don’t want to talk about it. I knew I was especially going to love this part of child-rearing.

  14. Heather

    Love it! Hehehe ;)

  15. Katie in MA

    It’s a shame your kiddo is so poorly adjusted.

  16. Katie in MA

    Hey! My (snort) disappeared! Mean comment box twisting my meaning. L’sigh.

  17. Becky

    He is the funniest kid every that doesn’t get humor. Lurve.

  18. Brigitte

    We were maybe a year or two slower than other kids at getting sarcasm (and most Aspie-ish sister needed to be trained by us to recognize it), but we all got it and used it just fine.

    If he can keep throwing out good ones like that, you’ll both get through his puberty gauntlet with flying colors!

  19. TC

    N both uses and gets sarcasm, though if you’re deadpan about it, he’ll check in with you just to be sure. He used to call it STARcasm instead, which always makes me smile. And he took to saying, “That’s starcasm! I see it in your eyes!” It is, of course, now everyone’s favorite phrase.

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