JOHNNY CASH!!!! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

[LeAnn]

HELP ME! My son thinks he's Johnny Cash lol. He dresses like him, has a guitar and watches Walk The Line 24 hrs a day. If you ask him what his name is he says Cash. It was funny at first but now I'm starting to get worried. It's to the point that my family has started calling him Cash. I've asked them to stop so as not to encourage him. He watches the movie all the time and when he does he dresses in a black button up shirt, black slacks, and black dress shoes, and sits with his guitar. I have to fight him when we go out in public to dress him in normal clothes. We have to pack his 'Cash' clothes and the movie in a backpack for him so he'll have it close. I'm at a loss and so are his docs and therapists. It's getting to be a hassle and get in the way of everyday routine.

Is this normal?

He has Asperger's Syndrome which is a form of Autism but even his docs and therapists are at a loss.

[Xandersmomma]

Feb. 23, 2007 at 9:43 PM

I'm not expert, but my oldest brother is mentally impaired. He loves Kenny Rogers, and has since I can remember. His nickname is "The Gambler, he named all his small pets Kenny or Gambler, he is never without a microphone when he's at home so that he can give impromptu recitals of his favorite songs. I can not tell you how MUCH I HATE KENNY ROGERS...but he's not as fanatical as he once was. In my experience with Stevie, and special olympics...they all have their "thing". Stevie's is Kenny, your son's got Johnny Cash.

I don't know much about Asberger's but my parents' method of dealing with Stevie, who does have autistitoid tencencies, was to ignore the bahavior.

[southerncharm]

Feb. 23, 2007 at 10:10 PM Could you talk to him and maybe tell him he can only be "Cash" at home but not when you go out? Sorry, I don't have good advice but my 14yr old loves Johnny Cash, he has his CD's and plays them all the time.

[shewith4]

Feb. 24, 2007 at 1:03 PM I wish I could give you words of wisdom, but I'm at a loss.  I agree wtih southerncharm.. maybe you'll have to leave those things at home, but then you might be setting yourself up for a meltdown.  I wish you luck and think you should invest in some ear plugs lol.

[ellianasmommy]

Feb. 27, 2007 at 4:49 PM i think its kinda cute but then i don't have to deal with it.  funny though that he would pick jonny cash. 

[sunshine06]

Mar. 20, 2007 at 3:10 PM Loxley loves Johnny Cash too!  When she was younger she knew all of the words to ring of fire and would sing them everywhere.  He is just using his imagination.  Dont discourage it at home.  Get him a Johnny Cash CD and let him listen to it in the car as a compromise to him wearing the outfit in public.  Let him listen to the CD at home too.  Try to substitute it for the movie.  Then slowly take away all of his black clothes.  He will find something else to immitate.  Try to get him into super heroes or something more in his age group.  At least he wants to be like Johnny Cash and not a Rap star.  Just make the change slow.  Doing it over night will be too much of a shock to him. 

[feather27]

Jul. 15, 2007 at 9:46 PM my sons name is cash and he loves johnny cash. Johnny Cash did a childrens album with kids songs. maybe like the other person suggested you could get that cd and let him listen to it.