10 Ways in Which Charlie & I Are the Same

by Kristina Chew, PhD on July 21st, 2007

It goes without saying that Charlie and I are very, very different—-and yet, with each day that passes, I feel as if I discover ways in which we are the same. Such as:

We have black hair, brown eyes, and the “Wong nose.”*

We thrive on music and listen to it all we can. (Charlie on his iPod; I have inherited the Shuffle originally given to Charlie by Jim and me.)

We respond to moments of anxiety by becoming OCD.

We like the taste of ginger (pickled, in stir-fry and gingerbread—-and of course there is the story of the Gingerbread Boy).

We prefer a fair amount of structure in our lives.

Goodnight Moon is a favorite book for both of us.

We are drawn to the colors blue and green.

We like sitting in the passenger and back seats of the car while Jim drives us around on routes of his own devising (especially around New Jersey).

We like school and are not happy if we miss any days.

We like Vietnamese food, especially anything with rice vermicelli.

*Wong is my mother’s maiden name.

If you write up your own list of 10 ways that you and your child are the same, let me know!

Photos courtesy of Sakurako Kitsa and foodmuse via Flickr.

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Rose
Jul 21, 2007 at 10:13 am

1. We both have a wicked sense of humor.
2. We both have “Morton’s toe”, the second toe longer than the big toe.
3. We are both 5′8″ tall.
4. Although we are both gentle, Ben is much gentler than I am.
5. We both obsess on certain subjects.
6. We both love potato chips and chocolate (but not together).
7. We both like to cuss.
8. We both like to pick on each other constantly.
9. We both love to argue.
10. We both are shy, reticent to make friends. But once we do, they are “for always”.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jul 21, 2007 at 10:16 am

Ditto #2 for Charlie and me—–he and I both wear the same size shoe for now, but that’s not going to last!
Karen
Jul 21, 2007 at 10:51 am

1. We both have “Chiara” eyes (from my side of the family).
2. We both love music and are good at remembering lyrics quickly. We have also both been known to cry due to being touched by music.
3. We both hate chaos and crowds.
4. We both love Mexican food best.
5. We both hate being upside down.
6. We are both afraid of water to some degree, but we are working on it.
7. We both love impressionism.
8. We both speak in metaphor at times.
9. We both love going to the beach.
10. We both love walking around the mall.
Rose
Jul 21, 2007 at 11:35 am

This is fun, Kristina! I hope a lot of people try, as I love reading it for some reason!

Morton’s toe is a sign of royalty…that’s what my family always said. Isn’t it scary that you wear the same size? They grow too fast!!! I tease Ben by pushing his head lower (as in, DON’T GROW UP), and live in fear for the day he is bigger than me. Fortunately, I am much fatter and can still sit on him, or threaten to ,at least!
Stimey
Jul 21, 2007 at 1:13 pm

I posted mine! Find it here: http://stimeyland.blogspot.com/2007/07/10-ways-jack-and-i-are-same.html
The Music Stops Here: Autistic Boy Blocked from Entering Store
Jul 21, 2007 at 1:27 pm

[…] son Charlie loves music and he also really enjoys shopping—and it could be said that he does not always act […]
VAB
Jul 21, 2007 at 1:44 pm

I took you up on it.
http://aoskoli.blogspot.com/2007/07/kristinas-meme.html
Daisy
Jul 21, 2007 at 1:51 pm

That’s a wonderful idea! I’ll let you know when mine is posted. I will probably do it for both my son (Aspergers) and my daughter (NT) so as not to leave her out.
mcewen
Jul 21, 2007 at 2:29 pm

Sharing! How great.
Cheers
Penny
Jul 21, 2007 at 3:36 pm

Ten characteristics my son and I share:

1. We can sleep anywhere.
2. We’re Tarheels (he was born on campus, I got my PhD there), in opposition to his father, a Dukie.
3. Green eyes.
4. Richards eyebrows.
5. We like to go out–we get restless when we stay home too much.
6. We love live music, any kind.
7. We both like the opening theme on Doctor Who.
8. We both like sweet potatoes.
9. We both love the farmers’ market.
10. We both prefer to avoid sunlight.

That was easy!
Liz
Jul 21, 2007 at 11:45 pm

Oh, fun!

10 ways my NT daughter and I are alike:

1. The Goodwin chin (although it may be really the Glines chin….)
2. Hang our clothes up on the floor
3. Like to drive manual-transmission vehicles
4. Very similar senses of humor
5. Ginger! Pickled, fresh, gingerbeer, bring it on.
6. We are both offended by others who are rude to waitstaff, doormen, and others who are providing service
7. The Goodwin ears are strongly in evidence
8. Negligible button noses
9. Horses! Love ‘em. I think she’s creeping up on me in the horsemanship department
10. Love of learning
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jul 21, 2007 at 11:49 pm

5, 8, and 10 here with me and my little guy. Charlie does 2; I use hangers—-
Innovative Piano: A Tale of Two Music Books
Jul 24, 2007 at 10:25 am

[…] deep-running—almost of physical—love of music is something that is the same in Charlie and me. (And so, if autism is the result of a spontaneous genetic mutation as reported in a recently […]
mommy~dearest
Jul 26, 2007 at 1:13 pm

It took me an awfully long time to add to this! We have a lot more in common, but here’s what I came up with off the top of my head:

Top 10 Things Jaysen and I Have in Common:

1- We love chocolate.
2- We have a passion for words and writing.
3- We prefer to stay up late.
4- We share a love for music. ~He loves classical, my preference is slightly more eclectic.
5- We tend to let some things slide, yet are totally OCD about others.
6- We love the water.
7- Speech Therapy. ~Jaysen currently for expressive/receptive language, me for stuttering as a child.
8- We both take meds. ~Jaysen Risperdal, me whoo-hoo Lexapro!
9- We have a warped sense of humor.
10- We each have a “cafe au lait” birthmark in the same place. ~Left buttcheek if anyone is that curious.

…and for a bonus:
http://mommydearest1514.blogspot.com/2007/07/10-things-in-common.html
mom-nos
Jul 26, 2007 at 1:22 pm

My list is posted!
March Day
Jul 26, 2007 at 4:44 pm

Hello Kristina -

I have been reading your posts for several months now, but I don’t think I have introduced myself. I’m mom to TJ - 7 (autistic) and CR - 3 (neurotypical).

I posted my list on my blog today. Thanks for sharing your list of you and Charlie!
Heidi Clover
Jul 26, 2007 at 6:02 pm

What a wonderful idea, and made me think of my Sami in a new way. I have posted my list on my blog. Thank you for sharing.
Steve
Jul 27, 2007 at 1:34 am

Here’s my 10!
Lists of 10
Jul 29, 2007 at 4:19 pm

[…] over a week ago I posted a list of 10 ways in which Charlie and I are the same: Many of you posted a list of ways in which you and your child(ren) are the same. Here is the list […]
Lee (Shawn's other half)
Jul 29, 2007 at 5:29 pm

I loved reading everyone’s lists!!
Since we have two on the spectrum, I’m going to do SJ and let Shawn do MJ. Here goes:
1.We are both good in Math.
2.We could live on pasta.
3.We both have low muscle tone (with corresponding flat feet)
4.We are both Harry Potter fans (I finished the seventh book, he is on the third)
5.We both like animals especially our dog, Stitch.
6.We both adore babies ( he is still asking for a baby sister)
7.We both have an easy going personality which is partly due to not being the first born in our families and having a stronger personality older sibling (two in his case).
8.We are both Red Sox fans-this one is one SJ thought of when I asked him how are we alike.
9.We both enjoy soaking in the whirlpool tub-he doesn’t like the jets on, but I do.
10. We both can spend a great deal of time on the internet-me reading blogs and doing research, him with his Webkins character and finding cheat codes for Wii and DS games.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jul 29, 2007 at 7:36 pm

Charlie would love a whirlpool tub!
Shawn
Jul 29, 2007 at 10:14 pm

I’m feeling such pressure. Lee’s given me an !

10 ways MJ and I are alike.

1. We’re both computer geeks.
2. We both have hair best suited electric clippers on very short settings.
3. We both love figuring out how things work and fixing things that don’t.
4. We both hate to lose.
5. We both struggle with the best way to handle moments of anxiousness.
6. We both hate loud noises and bad smells.
7. We both get board doing repetitive things.
8. We both like to take trips.
9. We’re both likely to cut the tags out of our shirts.
10. And like Lee and SJ, we are both BoSox fans.
jamiee
Sep 4, 2007 at 12:02 am

I posted mine, thanks.
Once Upon a Snowy Afternoon
Dec 6, 2007 at 1:32 am

[…] had told Charlie that we would make one of his favorite dinners—Vietnamese summer rolls; Charlie calls them spring rolls, as we erroneously referred to them as such a long time ago. […]