Ryan and Nick Have Jobs

"Do you like working with kids?" came the unexpected question.

Ryan tried to suppress a smirk that overcame him. "Yes!"  He beamed.

By the end of the short conversation, which is very typical of my son with autism, Ryan had a job working with kids who would be getting pictures with the Easter Bunny.  It was a temporary, minimum wage job at the local mall.  A normal, first-time job for any teenager.

I was surprised.  And thrilled!

A couple of days later, at Nick's insistence, Nick was also hired.

A friend of a friend, who is a manager of this photo set-up, simply thought Ryan would be good with kids, so she asked me.  I knew Ryan loved kids, and I told her to ask Ryan.  I definitely wanted the question to come from her and not me.  MOM does enough to get Ryan involved in a lot of things--whether he likes it or not.  It'd be much better for her to initiate the process, and to not have me involved.

So Ryan and Nick have been on the job for several days now.  They struggle with communicating with the kids and customers, but they are quick learners.  Their boss informed me that she just has to tell them once, and they pick up whatever she is teaching them.

Now they wait for their first paycheck with great anticipation!!