Lately being out in big crowds have started to become a task. Not only because of overstimulation due to movements, sounds, colors, brightness and temperature. Nope but because of… you guessed it, food. Food is all around us at all times but most people don’t realize it. Well we do. And Ezra does even more. Being at events with snack bars or that allows outside food is starting to be something I dread and mentally prepare myself for. From simple things like Gatorade to chips to hot dogs and yes even bottled water. Anything edible that Ezra sees triggers his obsessiveness for food. He starts off by doing a couple of rituals (twiddle his fingers, tap his finger to his knee, touches a certain spot on a solid object 2-3 times), then he will reference a memory or video in relation to what food he is focused on. From there it snowballs into either him repeating that memory at a limited allowance of 3-5 times depending on his emotional state or him asking if he can have said food again 3-5 times. If by chance it is his scheduled snack time he is allowed to have his snack when asked but if it isn’t… he will throw a unique “tantrum” and ask when is his next snack or meal, what is it going to be, if it’s going to be hot or cold, is it going to be big or small, can he sit stand or lay down after eating it, then if all his questions are answered, then he goes to ask when will the following snack or meal be after that. And the same questions continue. And when I try to get his mind off of it and get him to talk about something different, he either throws another unique tantrum, or will talk about something different for all of 30 seconds then it’s back to food. So when we try to get him to focus on something other than food, we have to make sure it’s something really exciting for him, which is usually his other obsessions (elevators, hand dryers, babies crying, garage openers, or showcase showdown). And that’s a whole other post in itself. And if you’re still with me on this post, you just might have what it takes to try to think about what it’s like to be apart of this hourly struggle. I thank you for your interest in trying to understand this process that leaves some PWS parents second guessing themselves, inadvertently isolating themselves, and having to leave certain events or situations. Hopefully with more awareness and acceptance anyone dealing with this cruel condition can live with a little more relief from being judged, misunderstood, excluded, being mad at, or not being accommodated.