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My youngest son (7 years old) has Aspergers and ADHD. He is quite a challenge. We have been doing really well for a long time. Now all of a sudden he is having tons of meltdowns. His last melt down, just a little while ago, lasted for about 10-15 mins. I don't know what to do with him except ignore him and keep telling myself, this can't last all day! Then comes the moment when I think, "Oh, I think he is finally calming down! Thank you, Lord!!!"

What triggered this latest meltdown was that he wanted to play his video game on the TV. His brother also wanted to play it. I decided, in order to make it fair, we would draw straws. His brother won and Knight #2, who was already starting to melt down just went completely balistic. He grabbed the game case and was keeping it from his brother. I told him that if he didn't calm down and give the game to his brother, he would be grounded from all games for the day. He refused so I grounded him, thus causing him to continue to melt down.

You know, you read all the books and listen to the "experts" and still when the rubber meets the road, it can be such a challenge to know how to handle these little ones! It is so easy to feel like you are doing all the wrong things. I don't want to give him preferential treatment just because of his issues and yet there are times when he simply can't be dealt with in the same way you would nomally deal with other children.

What I really need is to find ways to keep him from going into full blown meltdown. But how do I do that without letting him have his way every time? The kid needs to learn that in life things don't always go your way. I thought he was finally starting to learn this and now it is like we are back to square one!

On a positive note, after he finished this latest meltdown, he was sitting on his bed, blankie and thumb in mouth. I asked him if I could have a hug. He didn't respond so I sat down next to him and put my arm around him. He didn't pull away, this is good! I gently told him that he can't always have his way and that if he had just listened then he would have gotten his turn with the video game too. Now he is sitting here watching his brother play the very game he melted down about not getting to play!