“I Answered Almost All The Questions” – Exam Week With Ayub

“It’s not as bad as I thought. I answered almost all the questions.”

With my COVID negative test results (woohoo ) the kids went back to school this week.

Ayub sat for his math exam (“it was ok”) and science exam (“it was hard”). Tomorrow is history. And history is the toughest.

“Every time I remember one thing, I forget the other thing. And when I go back to the other thing, I forget the first thing.

“To rememberise* so many dates and names, of people and places, of actions and consequences, it’s tough. But he’s doing it. And always with that great big smile of his.

Some individuals on the spectrum have specific memory problems. Ayub, in particular, has struggled with short-term memory since he was little. It was one of the defining features that was noted during his ASD assessment with therapists.

He could be sitting at the table and I’d ask him to do something. In the time between acknowledging what I said and standing up, he would completely forget. And it’s not that he’s distracted or not paying attention.

His brain just doesn’t work like that.

But the way his memory DOES work, it remarkable to me. He can bring up past experiences of specific moments during family holidays, or even just the most mundane thing we did, and recall the moment with such sweeping detail.

That the light was just a little bit softer, or there was a breeze that tickled his neck, or that there was a man in a green shirt behind me who was eating a hotdog. Lol.

Ayub says he can see his memories and feel his memories but “can’t remember the memories.” Meaning to say, he doesn’t remember places or dates, or even have a rough idea of when something took place. But he can view it. Like a movie. I’m sure there’s a specific term for this kinda memory recall, but I don’t know what it is.

Anyway. Studying for the history exam is hard. Because there’s no first-hand experience. There are just words and dates and names and places. It doesn’t play to his strengths and so, once again, he feels less than.

Sweet, sweet Ayub. You’re already doing your best, and that’s all that really matters. Send good historical vibes to Ayub please

*Rememberise is Ayub’s word for remember and memorise.