Now I’m Three and I Know ...



I know, never touch fire, that’s hot,
but I can touch ice, 'cause it’s not,
and puppies are soft and kitties are too,
so’s most of the stuff moms and dads give to you.


I know, never tell people they’re fat,
'cause it will hurt them if I do that,
and rocks aren’t for throwing at others
but it’s okay to throw pillows at brothers.


I know, daddy says swears I can’t say,
and I have to wear clothes out to play,
... 'cause one time I went outside naked 
and Mrs. Johnson saw me and she called Mommy 
and Mommy came outside and got mad and 
she yelled at me and I had to sit in a chair 
for a whole time out and …


I know, cookies smell better than cheese,
and to get one, I have to say please,
and how to go pee in the potty,
but not in my pants, 'cause that’s naughty.


I know, flowers don't need any feet,
and no dessert if I don’t eat my meat,
I've got to blow boogers in tissue,
and don't wipe off where ladies kiss you.


When I wake mommy up, never holler,
pennies are not more than a dollar,
and scissors are never for cutting my hair,
the barber does that (but I hate going there).


I laugh 'cause it's better than cry,
and you can’t squeeze a worm, it will die,
Daddy will laugh if I’m burping,
and Mommy’s kiss helps what is hurting,


I know SO many things, now I'm three
and this stuff helps me be a good ME.
I know lots more than I did when I’m two
of the stuff I can do and I can’t do.

The Great-Gramma Mystery



I was with great-gramma.
We weren’t walking fast at all,
so something scary found us
when we shuffled down the hall. 


Every time she took a step,
I heard a spooky sound.
When we stopped I couldn’t hear it.
It was quiet all around.


I looked to our left,
and then I looked to our right,
but we were all alone, 
not a monster was in sight.


Maybe it was gone now.
I guess it’s safe to go.
(I wish  she would go faster
Great-gramma walks SO slow!)


I told great-gramma we should run
‘cause the monster could come back.
Great-gramma said that she’s too old
and running hurts her back.


So we started walking slow again.
Sure enough, the sounds were back!
With every step great-gramma took
I could hear the thing attack! 


And then I started giggling ...
I know what’s chasing us!
Great-gramma don’t walk faster.
It’s barking spiders with hiccups!

Mud Pies



Today I'm cookin' the dinner. 
I’ll use a spoon made of wood 
and I know just how to mix it 
so EVERYthing I cook tastes good. 


I'm smushin' meatloaf but NOT any onions 
and veggies without any beans. 
See how I squished the smashed 'tatoes 
right by the burgers with cheese? 


Next I will make ice cream salad. 
Cookin' dinner is really fun work. 
Here's shovels and buckets of jello 
and marshmallow pies for dessert. 


Uh oh ... it's startin' to rain. 
Now mom will bring me inside ... 
The rain sure is wreckin' my cookin' 
but it will make MORE mud outside!

Scaredy Cat



I guess I’m just a scaredy cat ...
I feel afraid of everything.
Sometimes I almost jump a mile
when I hear a telephone ring.


It's even scary in my room
so I’ve got to have a light.
Who knows, there might be monsters
underneath my bed at night!


When daddy drives across a bridge
I always hold my breath
just in case the bridge fell in
I wouldn't be drowned to death!


Stick my hand inside a box?
First tell me what is in it!
Wait, my sister’s yelling ...
I’ll be back in just a minute.


I guess I’m braver than I thought.
Sissy made me sit beside her.
She said I was a hero
'cause I smushed a big black spider!

Daddy's Boots



Daddy left his boots for me
and here I have to stay
'cause Daddy is a soldier,
I'm in charge while he's away.


In Daddy’s boots I can pretend
that now I am the man
who does the things that Daddy does
as only Daddy can.


I help with little brother
I help with folding clothes
I help to set the table
and I hope Daddy knows


that every day I wear his boots
so I’ll feel close to him
and I try to keep Mom happy
till he comes home again.


I know that he’s protecting us.
That’s what soldiers do,
but his boots are way too big for me
and my job, being him, is too.


Mom, when is Daddy coming home?
I miss him all the time.
She said Daddy would be proud of me,
and his boots ... fit me just fine.

Bugs


I love teeny tiny ants
and itchy bitsy fleas,
spiders big and little
and grumpy bumble bees,


butterflies that flutter high
and beetles as they run
from marching caterpillars.
I think bugs are fun.


Skeeters like to bite me,
but lightning bugs, they don’t.
Flies that get inside the house
could bite, but they won’t.


Goofy racing centipedes
and slow and slimy slugs
are my very special favorites.
I    love    bugs.

Nuffing On My Plate


I’m sad, I don’t like nuffing
that’s layin’ on this plate.
Maybe it will go away
if I just sit and wait.


I sure don’t like this liver
and I never, ever could.
Can’t I have peanut butter?
With some jeddy, that is good.


These mash-ed tatoes are okay
the yucky gravy it is not.
It’s like havin’ plain ol’ oatmeal
and I hate that stuff a lot.


I almost like the green beans.
They’re green just like my frog.
But no one likes dumb broccoli,
not even Frank, my dog.


Uh oh, mommy said we’re havin’
chocolate puddin’ for a treat.
(sigh) ... maybe if I hold my nose
stuff won't taste so bad to me ...

Glad


Being glad is simple
and sometimes glad is great.
Sometimes glad is liking
almost everything on my plate.


I feel that way with birthdays.
Birthdays make me glad.
I like writing “I love you”
in cards for Mom and Dad.


But sometimes glad is hard to find, 
like when angry came last week.
Glad was nowhere, pushed away, 
and sad ran down my cheek.


Angry didn’t stay too long, 
that’s good, cause it felt bad ...
when it was gone, then it made room 
to put back my friend, glad!

I am ME.  I'm Matty


I’ve got this thing called autism
that can lock you up inside
but I am me, I’m Matty,
and I’m learning not to hide.


The state was slow to test me.
Mommy made them walk the line.
They said I might not talk
so mommy taught me how to sign.


There’s nothing slow about me.
Everywhere I go, I run.
I’m always on my tiptoes,
and I flap my arms when I have fun.


I love climbing and pretending,
I know movies word for word,
and now that I have learned to talk,
I repeat things till I’m heard.


I’m just like any other boy
in many, many ways,
but I like things to stay the same
so I won’t melt down today.


I have this thing called autism,
but I am Matty. I am ME.		
I’ll unlock my world inside
‘cause my mommy holds the key.

What's a Dad?


That's easy...


A dad is a like an oak tree, 
with his feet firmly planted
in the soil of our birth.

 
He’s the solid hardwood 
we all aspire to be,
strong, trustworthy, kind, 
and the one who will always
be there for us.


His long arms are
like protective branches 
reaching wide
around his grove of seedlings 
and anyone standing
in his shade
feels safe and secure
and loved.


A dad's trunk may widen, 
his leaves above 
may pale and thin, 
but he will always be 
our mighty and gentle oak, 
the creator of our forest, 
and loved forever.