Self Improvement > Leadership > Some Leadership Qualities in My Little Boy
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Article rating : 0.00, 0 votes. Author : Martin Floyd
This story is about my little boy. He was kind of funny as a tyke in that he loved to memorize hotel and motel signs. He was a little funnier when he wanted to watch the same shows over and over.
Then at two he got onto my computer and ordered me a printer! I still have the printer in the box because I intend to give it to him when he is older and can appreciate the story of purchasing the printer from AOL.
He took an immediate liking to the computer and would stay on it until he was made to get off it. When I say made that is what I mean! He would never just get tired of it and want to do something else in our home.
Over about a year from two to three years old I noticed he would pay minute detail to objects and follow the clean lines of cars or shelves. I knew there was a potential problem one night when I was working in my office at home and my son walked in and said “Dad, where did you get that book?” I said “what book?” To my surprise he was pointing to a book I had added to my computer books on the second shelf from the top of my left side book shelf.
If my definition of where the book was located seems a little too detailed it is because I have learned to talk in his language which is minute detail!
Maybe I am dreaming a little too much but I can’t help thinking he has some special abilities that will become especially important in the social or business world.
You see I had to take him in to get tested because he would get very upset regarding watching our big screen TV. He would actually go hit the screen when somebody was talking loud or mean on the particular program in progress. It turns out that it did not matter whether the show was a cartoon or whether it was a drama. The conclusion reached with the assistance of several doctors over about two years was that he had a mental condition called Asperger. He actually felt he was part of the TV show, not merely obsessed with the people or cartoon characters! It was not a show to him but real events.
Obviously I was upset to hear that he had some problem when he appeared to be so bright. I started to consume the material I could find on the condition and talked to the doctors as I could about what was going on in his mind.
The best characterization other than Asperger’s Syndrome I could get was that he was like a high-functioning autistic. Not that it sounded any better but the tem at least could be better understood when talking with anyone about him.
The more I read the more I realized that he was more normal than not normal. He seemed very adept at some things where other things just did not seem to matter to him at all.
I started to make up a list of all the things I thought he did very well and the list scared me at first! I
saw me in the list as well as seeing him!
It dawned on me that we were a lot more alike than I had imagined. I had the same condition he had. We both have what is defined as a neurological condition!
I found out that a lot of people inherit Asperger’s Syndrome (A.S.) but in this case my son is not my biological son. This author found out that among their qualities of personality the A.S. person is loyal, reliable, has a strong moral code, and sense of justice. Their cognitive abilities are somewhat unreal too as in having exceptional memory. My son knows the names of the people who bought our older home three years ago and can describe them immediately if he thinks of our other home (his first home).
His enthusiasm, knowledge, way of thinking and ability to think using pictures are truly remarkable. I had to try to come up with my own list of qualities or attributes that I thought my son exhibited which are very positive. That list follows:
1. Focus. He exhibits strength of focus that you can only appreciate. He blocks out all other activities going on or other people or noise. Yet when he is not in that zone he shows that he has little patience for “noise”, “smells”, music or singing. He will stand up and tell you to stop singing “happy birthday”, etc.
2. Internal Motivation.
3. Attention to Detail.
4. Independent Thinking.
5. 3-dimentional Thinking.
6. Logical Decision Making.
7. Cutting Through the Smoke Screen.
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8. Global Insights.
9. Honesty, Integrity, Sincerity, and a Keen Sense of Justice.
10. Unique Insight into “Things”.
The weaknesses such as social queues, making friends, playing with others, understanding what others feel or think, and difficulty talking with others about something they did will get much better over time. There are occupational therapies that will substantially increase the speed at which my son will mainstream and grow naturally into a first class citizen in our society!
In turn I have become very thankful for the public school system and especially the folks who share their knowledge and training with him. I am also thankful for all he is teaching me. Moreover, I have a new perspective on living and the possible today!
Martin Floyd 2005, all rights reserved.
Martin Floyd is a retired computer scientist who worked for several public and private companies including Centers for Desease Control, DOD, City of Newport News, Space and Warfare Command, and Sam Solomon Co., Inc. Martin holds an AS in MIS, a BS in CIS, a certificate in project management. Currently Martin is the webmaster for MMB&T and writes on business and computer topics. Martin started working in the grocery business when he was 8 years old. He worked from 3-11 P.M. Monday through Friday during school and Sundays. He worked for his grandparents for one dollar a day stocking, running the cash register, performing inventory and closing out the day's business receipts.
Visit MARTIN FLOYD at www.mmbandt.com
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