Jun 04 2008
My autistic answer to, “What do you want for dinner?”
what-do-you-want-for-dinner-p1.mp3
what-do-you-want-for-dinner-p2.mp3
The ability to make a decision still escapes me sometimes. Usually I can work it out on my own; however, there is still one thing I find nearly impossible to decide: The question, “What do you want for dinner?”
To which I most commonly reply, “I don’t know. What do you want?”
The comeback usually is, “I asked you first.”
And my go to rebuttal, “What are my choices?”
Even in a restaurant, I find it difficult to order my own thing. I usually ask the people I am with what they are having and pick from that short menu. If there is one person present, then we both have the same thing the same way.
I try to think of few things we can have and usually land upon the last three nights of dinner before another question is thrown my way.
A bit irritated with the lack of response, “Well, are you going to answer the question?”
Again, I answer the question with a question, “I don’t know. What do you think?”
“I picked last night, tonight is your night. So?” By now, the impatience has me stressed and the decision weighs heavier as the seconds tick by.
By this point, I am wondering what the other person likes and offer up a few things, “How about….or….or….maybe…?”
Now this line of questioning could go on until I am either given choices or until the other party gets so irritated with me that they give up and either pick something or settle to have what ever is on hand, no matter how horrible of a dinner choice it may be.
Yes, I have even seen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as a dinner entrée, and I usually opt for the left over rice. Rice is my go to food when I cannot make up my mind about anything else.
The problem is simple really, there are just too many different things to have for dinner and although I know that I am very please with my choice to just have a bowl of rice with some gravy, most people want a decent meal.
I have been able to pick from a menu on my own now and have discovered that I do have a vast pallet for certain types of food. I can make a decision now when a menu is presented.
However, the never-ending battle of who is going to pick what we have for dinner tonight rages on. The line of questioning is getting old and more and more I find myself stumped as people around me find it too much that when it comes to dinner, I just cannot make a decision.
My son does the exact same thing every day, except with breakfast. I try to give him a small number of choices, but some days even 2 or 3 are too many.
My husband & I do this nearly everynight.
We can never figure out what to eat.
This is to true & funny.
Keep up the good work.
Granny
Autistic Insights…
My mom found that fruit or dry cereal were usually something I would eat if I would eat at all.
I still am not a big breakfast person!
Granny…
It is funny! At least, in reflection.
Thank you