This morning I came across an old OT report on my son, who is autistic and was then aged nearly 5. It was only written 8 months ago but it made me laugh because THAT BOY IS SO WEIRD!! In a good way, of course. It stated that he shows affection to adults he has a close bond with by climbing all over them and squealing into their eyes, and it made me laugh because he's almost completely stopped doing that, but while it went on it was really intense. He used to stick his fingers into my eyes, and when he wasn't doing that he'd stick his face right into mine so that his chin was resting in my eye socket. He'd twist my head to one side to get good access; we must have looked very strange as we walked around Sainsburys!
He's pretty much stopped doing that now but his new way of showing affection is just as odd. He grabs my hand, twists it from side to side to look at it intensely from every angle while grinning happily and making a really high pitched squealing sound. When he wants to get closer he'll put my hand over his face and squeal into it. It's strange but I find it completely charming, except when I'm trying to do something else. He wants my hands when I'm driving, when I'm cooking, when I'm changing his nappy - he's very strong so it takes a lot of effort to disengage myself!
I suppose I should have guessed that something was up when he was a few months old and he insisted on showing affection by pressing his nose really hard against mine. For a baby he was very strong, and the pressure on my nose could be quite painful!
Anyone else experienced this kind of love?