School

[Lord Riot]

Hello

Did anyone else always feel like they didn't quite fit in and understand why certain things were happening when at school? I always felt around 5 years or so below my year group, socially and in awareness of rules, etc.

When I look back on things now, I seem to notice that at the time it's hard to actually appreciate or 'get' everything fully. Now I'm older I can make a conscious effort to try and get the most from opportunities, but back then life totally passed me by and I just existed in a bubble going from one day trying to avoid bullying at school so I could go home and make model aeroplanes or draw pictures to the next day with the same again.

Even now, mentally I feel miles younger than my age, just in terms of my values and interests.

Is this quite common in a lot of us with Aspergers?

 

[Southern Discomfort]

Yes, this is very common is autistic people. You're describing a textbook sort of example of school life for a autistic teenager.

Here's a video of a guy who shares the same (what some may call immature behaviours and interests.

I personally was different. I learnt that in order to catch up I would need to stop and observe and copy others. But I still got it wrong every now and then. And there would be times when I'd just test something just to see if my theory was correct. For example if you've got someone who is antagonising you and a mutual person comes in to make a comment on them too, don't thank them for doing so because they're not doing it for your benefit, they will most likely then turn on you and make some sort of negative comment. The best way to react is just to not say anything.

 

[xudo]

Absolutely. I'm still far more immature than other people my age, but it doesn't bother me

 

[Kirsty]

Hello

Did anyone else always feel like they didn't quite fit in and understand why certain things were happening when at school? I always felt around 5 years or so below my year group, socially and in awareness of rules, etc.

When I look back on things now, I seem to notice that at the time it's hard to actually appreciate or 'get' everything fully. Now I'm older I can make a conscious effort to try and get the most from opportunities, but back then life totally passed me by and I just existed in a bubble going from one day trying to avoid bullying at school so I could go home and make model aeroplanes or draw pictures to the next day with the same again.

Even now, mentally I feel miles younger than my age, just in terms of my values and interests.

Is this quite common in a lot of us with Aspergers?

You described my life perfectly!

 

[Bolletje]

I'm happily immature at 31. Sometimes I feel like a badass adult for doing something pretty mundane (I did my taxes today!) and then I look over at my friends buying cards and houses and I'm humbled again. It's okay though, one isn't necessarily better than the other. I'm just on a different timeline.

 

[Sashi]

An item on the chart of “List of Female Asperger Syndrome Traits” is “Is youthful for her age in looks, dress, behavior, and tastes.” I don’t know about looks, dress, or tastes, but I think I qualify in behavior. Maybe that explains why I, who isn't far from 60, has my MIP toy robot roaming the floor. Occasionally, I have to stop typing to rescue it from being trapped under my chair legs.

When I left working for Uncle Sam and went to work subbing as an aide for my hometown school district, I wondered how I’d get along with the kids. It has turned out I am better at it than I would have thought. I act “YOUNG” for my age. My grand niece and nephew, my playmates, can back me up on that.

On a Friday, I was escorting a student with autism to gym class. I was glad when a couple of other kids wanted to play with him. One of them got a basketball knowing it was a favorite of my student’s. It was mine too! The other kids let me play too. At the end of class, one of the kids came up to me and said, “You are a lot of fun!” I told her thanks and waved a big smile. That little girl just gave a high-five to a 58-year-old going on 10.

 

[Walsie]

Yep. I still feel like that at work and with my family; always the last to know anything.

 

[Bolletje]

 

[Aecho]

I was bullied a lot in school for being different by both my peers and some teachers. Earlier though I never played with the other kids and just kind of watched others play I guess?