I’ve written a bit about Mateo’s struggles and challenges. Generally, even though his life has been mainly therapies, Mateo really is a happy kid. Today, I want to introduce you to a big part of who he is – the happy, fun side. Honestly, it doesn’t take much to make Mateo happy: The Wiggles or Mickey Mouse on TV, Krispy Kreme Donuts, Aunty Les’s cinnamon rolls, Peeps marshmallows, water, the beach, road trips, a deep pool, his cousins coming over to watch a movie (Mateo doesn’t care about the movie. He just loves having them around). The list of things that make him happy is pretty long. But he has stages of happiness too.
Stage 1: The Sneaky Smile with the Flirty Grin
Okay ladies, you know that side look, flirty grin I’m talking about. Think about when you are dressed up, sitting at the bar and have that first drink of the yummy frozen margarita or mojito. You look across the room and see a cute guy checking you out. In that moment you feel sexy and powerful and you can’t help but smile. That’s the sort of smile Mateo has perfected. He will give you that smile when he’s on a speed boat, or riding the waves on a boogie board or when he is chasing his cousins in the water. It’s a sneaky kind of I’m happy smile. Generally, Teo tends to ignore the world or he might come play near or next to you – but not necessarily WITH you. But these times – when you get the grin and the sneaky look? Well, you get that when he decides, “yup! Today I’ll play and interact with you.” But be careful! When he’s at this stage, my little flirt can get fresh too. Just a couple months ago, the school counselor was feeling left out since Mateo had been flirting with some of the other teachers, so she asked Mateo for a hug. He gave her one – along with a squeeze of her booty!
Stage 2: Excited Claps and Smiles
Okay, so Mateo doesn’t seem to get Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. I’ll pump him up before his birthday and on his birthday, telling him his birthday is coming up or everyone is here for you because it’s your birthday and you get to eat cake. But how much of it registers for him? I’m really not sure. I don’t get that clear excitement a parent of a neuro typical child might get, say before a trip to Disney World. But smaller things will get him excited and bouncing, clapping widely with a huge smile. When the engine starts on the boat and we’re about to leave the dock, or when we go far enough on the highway that he realizes it’s a road trip and not just a quick drive. We use rewards and First and Then to get him to accomplish a task so when he finally does clean-up or pack his pool bag and it’s time for the reward – yup, then you’ll see the Tigger bouncing, clapping and smiles. So, sadly, he’ll wake Christmas morning and see toys and presents and show very little reaction, but go over Chetumal bridge and turn right to go up the highway and, boy, will you see excitement.
Stage 3: Full on Giggles
I’ve learned over time that to get the giggles from Mateo, you have to enter his world. It’s when his big cousins go to play with him in the water and throw him in the air. Or when you start tickling him and he asks for “More! More! More!” When mommy jumps on the trampoline with him and does all sorts of craziness for him to imitate. These are the times when you will get the giggles. The same type of silly giggles you get when you are not quite drunk but super happy… you know that feeling where everything seems funny and you can’t seem to stop laughing. Well, Mateo is like that when you are actively playing with him with things he loves. As his mom, hearing those giggles makes my heart smile and all tiredness and grumpiness I feel from lack of sleep, float away.
Stage 4: Pure Drunkenness
No, don’t worry. Mateo doesn’t drink (We leave that fun to his momma). But when Mateo is overtired, oh boy! My Teo is the happiest drunk person around! Whether just sitting and playing on his iPad or running around like a chicken with his head cut off, Mateo has a point of over tiredness that he reaches where he will just start belly laughing with no provocation. I can never tell what triggers it, but he will just laugh and laugh. So much so that you can’t help but laugh with him. And when you start? Well, do you remember the scene in Mary Poppins when Uncle Albert sings I Love to Laugh and everyone starts laughing and floating to the ceiling – yeah, that’s how bad it can get. At times like this, I can’t help but look at him and shake my head wondering what the hell is going on in that fascinating mind of his.
My Teo can be many things on any given day, but happy, playful and fun – well, that truly is a huge part of his rather quirky personality.
