Autism and Turning the Page on Little Boy Stuff

My son has grown out of a lot of his “little boy” stuff quite naturally. He simply stopped playing with toy cars, airplanes, and even Transformers when things like devices and computer games became more interesting. This transition happened pretty much on schedule.

Did he give it all up?

Well, two things were still looming as things that needed to be “retired.”

The first one was his bed—a race car bed.

We got this bed when our son was about three. We got it used, but in like-new condition.

Last year, I began to talk to my son and my husband about the need for a transition. My son was fourteen and really couldn’t keep sleeping in a race car bed.

Besides, he’s getting kinda big and beginning to outgrow it.

I began the slow process of informing my son that replacing it and buying a regular twin bed needed to happen. He was no longer a little boy, he could no longer sleep in a little boy bed.

What happened?

Turns out, the problem wasn’t my son’s desire to hang onto the bed.

The problem was in finding someone to take the bed.

First, I tried to sell it on Craigslist. I figured $100 for a bed and take it off of our hands.

I got crickets.

So, I gave up on making a bit out of it and just wanted to give it away.

Between my husband and myself, we knew five or six families with a young-ish boy. Everyone we asked wanted the bed, but had to turn down the offer because of its size. The bed is about two feet longer than a regular twin bed.

All of our suitors wanted it, but the space just didn’t work out.

Finally, we found someone. They had the space and a truck!

We purchased the new bed and made arrangements for pick-up of the race car bed.

The exchange went well and I’m happy to report that the new little boy loves his race car bed.

What else did I do for this transition?

The room itself also needed upgrading. It still had a lot of “little boy” pictures, for example.

It also was in desperate need of a paint job.

I did what my dad did for me at that age, I asked my son what color he wanted for his room.

Red.

I bought some paint (a light red), and painted the room.

My son went through his wall things and “retired” a bunch of them, only keep one or two in his closet. The rest we donated.

I bought a new comforter and sheets for the new bed.

Today, my son has a more age-appropriate room. It looks awesome, if I do say so myself!

The transition went pretty well, I have to admit. Turns out, he wasn’t that emotionally attached to the bed, even though he said it served him well and he would miss it.

But, he understood the need for the transition.

Is there anything else that needs that type of transition?

The second thing that needs to transition OUT of my son’s “little boy” existence is his comfort toy.

I tried a couple of years ago to “retire” it, but that attempt failed.

At least I got the bed out of there!

Autism and Turning the Page on Little Boy Stuff