I have a lawn tracter whose key I kept in a drawer in my bedroom. Andrew had found it without my knowledge and had it for more than a couple of weeks. The key ring also contained the key to the storage building where I keep the mower. I have an extra key to the building but I don't have an extra key to the mower. I was getting the mower ready for use but discovered that I didn't have the key. I took Andrew's gameboy after assessing that he was indeed the one who had taken the key. He kept bugging me for the gameboy of course and tonight, after about 10 days, I have the key to the mower. The key to the building is missing from the key ring but at least I can now start the mower.

Andrew has Down Syndrome which causes many different other problems including slowness in mental growth. Andrew however is really a good thinker and he surprises me at times. I am sure that he was not wanting to really hide the key and that he just hadn't put it back but the point is that he had been told to leave my things alone. When he violated that rule I had to take something of his to make a point. He finally decided to search his room and found the key in his clothes closet. I made him work to correct the issue of the missing key because he really wanted to play his Gameboy.

I love Andrew very much but there are times when he pushes the envelope. I have to think out of the box to deal with Andrew and do things that I never had to do with his brother Jonathan. Have you had to think out of the box? Leave a comment and tell me about it.

Earnie