Lipstick and Autism

The previous principal took a new job, and a new principal had taken over. During the fall of 1988 my second-grade teacher was pregnant with her son, and she took maternity leave during late September through mid-November of that year. We had a substitute teacher for that period. Our substitute teacher was the primary substitute teacher for the entire school and by that point she had gotten to know me well enough to know my needs. There was a particular day I was crying uncontrollably, and she sent me to the principal's office in hopes of trying to calm me down because it normally helped me. I spent the entire day in the principal's office. While in the principal’s office, I received a paddling for crying so much, which only made my reaction worse. Punishment for my meltdowns has always been counterproductive. I was given a lecture by the principal explaining how she felt like my behavior was wrong. I never told my parents about the paddling, but I never told them anything specific, just answered yes or no when they asked if I had cried that day. That night, getting it of the bathtub, Mom saw the bruises on my bottom. “Honey said Mom in a calm but well-meaning voice. You have to find a way to control your crying. Daddy and I love you very much and want you to be happy. It makes us feel sad when you are upset. Lacey also loves you very much too. You make other people worry about you. When you cry like that you disturb the other kids in your class.” While I went back to school the following day and repeated another day in the principal’s office at school Mom went to work feeling tired from lack of sleep caused by feeling frustrated and worried about me. Struggling to contain her composure and focus on taking care of her patients, Mom confided in Dr. Singh whenever possible on that day about what happened to me. During the next several days mom tried to remain calm about my punishment despite feeling very upset about it. The rest of the family was very upset about it too. Lacey was too young at the time to understand all of this, I never told anything to anyone about school.