shopping with autism

We headed out to find a new suit for Jake.  He has a couple of appearances in the spring so he needs a lighter suit and we had a lovely gift card burning a hole in our wallets.  

The weather is dreary and damp so Jake put on this huge wool sweater plus a fleece lined jacket and headed out the door. 

I always laugh when we enter the dress-clothes stores because salespeople don't really know what to do with us.  My hair was piled on top of my head, I had not makeup on so the purple bags under my eyes enter the room first, and I'm in yoga pants!  

The salesman approached us and then with a slick deke of a pro hockey player, walked past us, after getting a good look.  Then, I guess guilt got the best of him and he turned around and came back.  "Can I help you?"  I only answered that I needed Jake sized so we could look around at suits. (Little known fact, I used to work in a fine men's clothing store back in the day.) Perplexed, he pulled out a tape, sighed and took a measurement over Jake's sweater then directed us to the appropriate rack.

We quickly spotted and chose a great light grey suit, ON SALE! Jake was doing his little happy wiggle as he eyed the suit... the ties... the shoes... the suits... the ties... the shoes... the pocket squares!  The salesman disappeared and came back with a dress shirt for Jake.  He handed it to Jake with directions to put it on, in order to try on the suit coat.  

Off Jake goes to the changing room with ONE direction. 

As I waited and glazed over while watching the awful news blaring from the TV, Jake emerged from the dressing room wearing the dress shirt.  The salesman promptly tried slipping the coat onto Jake's arm.  It went up a little bit and then seemed like it was tight.  

Jake said, "Whoa, it's tight with my sweater on."  

The salesman was very surprised and confused.

I guess we didn't tell him to take off his wool winter​ sweater first, then put on the dress shirt. He did do exactly what he was instructed. 

Next it was time to try the pants... "ok, let's try the pants now."  Jake promptly started to drop his drawers in the middle of the store! <Gasp>!  "Right here?" he asked with his jeans unbuttoned and his underwear cresting the waistband... "NO NO NO!"

To me this was CLASSIC Autism at its finest.  I love when these lessons are taught naturally and spontaneously.  Poor salesman had to learn this the hard way... now on to the shoes... what could go wrong?!?!