There Isn't A Right Time, But There Is A Good Time...

"So anyway mum about that new Pokemon X and Y game..."

This morning, I was forced to conduct a 12-point turn out of our driveway due to a post van parked in not such a sensible place behind me. I was doing this in an unfamiliar hire car which isn't fitted with Debby-proof maneuvering alert sounds and all the while Bobby was asking me something about installing Pokedex Pokebank or something similar.

We had roughly five minutes to get to school in the British summer sun (which does actually exist, it has proved this week) and the air-conditioning in my temporary tin can on wheels (which Gavin actually likes, he's on his own here) was making a horrendous noise and not appearing to actually do anything.

In other words, a classic case of neurotypical overload.

"You're stressed," observes Bobby, pointing out the obvious (but not to him so let's give him credit) and all the while adding to it by:

a) pointing it out and
b) asking me why I didn't get the garage guys to come and move the car for me and
c) going on about Pokedex Pokebank as if that's actually going to have a calming effect.

As I roll up to an unforgiving line of rush hour traffic, I decide to chat to Bobby about his all important timing.

"Bobby, you know when you're feeling a bit stressed about something and then I ask you to do something and I might ask you to hurry up. You know how your brain goes on overload and you feel even worse and you may explode? Well it's the same for me when you talk about Pokemon when I'm trying to get you to school in the morning. I just can't focus on what you're asking me to do. You see there's a right time and a right place for saying things, and this really isn't the right time. Can you think of when a good time would be?"

"When you're more relaxed?"

"Exactly! Yes, when I'm more relaxed."

Bobby waits until the car comes to a standstill by the traffic lights...

"So, I'd really like to download this Pokebank for my Pokemon and it works with the DS because..."

"Bobby, I'm still stressed!"

"Oh."

Choosing a Good Time Social Story

I guess he thought that because the car had stopped, my entire focus could be extended to him. Or else he thought that I'd probably agree to anything at this point, which is why he picks on me and not his dad when there are new things to be downloaded.

I pointed out that I think he needs a Social StoryTM about the right time to say things, so here it is - see right. I've been careful to refer to a 'good time' to ask me for things rather than a 'right time'. For a start, there is never a right time to ask me impossible questions about Pokemon software but I may just have to live with that.

Secondly, choosing a good time isn't really a black and white skill but requires an element of sensitive decision-making. There is no such thing as right and wrong here, but if Bobby can improve his chances of getting my attention then he should give it a shot without feeling anxious that he could be 'right' or 'wrong'. After all, I'm as guilty as he is of occasionally being way too excited about a new idea to notice that someone else is in the middle of something.

Will let you know if this does any good...in the mean time, Bobby kindly brought in Mr Huff Puff to help me cool down on the journey into school.