Tim's Special Bowl...

Tim's Special Bowl

INT. VICTORIAN HOME - KITCHEN - MORNING

Busy Mama puts a selection of cereal boxes on the table, including Tim's favourite, Coco Pops.

Tim 

Mummy. Coco Pops. My favourite. Thanks.

Busy Mama  

Your welcome. Anything for my big boy.

Tim picks up a white ceramic bowl and looks at it closely. His index finger scrubs the inside surface for food particles, while he sniffs at it intently.

Tim 

This bowl's dirty. Look at those brown bits stuck. 

Busy Mama 

Let me have a look.

Busy Mama picks up the bowl and glances into it.

Can't see nothing.

Tim 

Mummy you haven't washed it properly.

Busy Mama puts her reading glasses on.

Busy Mama  

I have.  

Tim

Look closely. There's bits. Here. 

Busy Mama

Off course. You're right. Let me give it another wash.

Tim picks up another bowl from the table, while Busy Mama washes the one with bits.

Tim 

This one stinks.

Busy Mama 

Does it?

Busy Mama puts the bowl near her nose and smells it.

Busy Mama

It doesn't smell of nothing.

Tim

I saw it on the floor with Luna's food.

Busy Mama 

No, it can't be.

Busy Mama gives Tim the bowl she's just washed.

Busy Mama 

Tim! I've washed it.

Tim 

Don't want it anymore.

Tim gets up from his seat, picks up the smelly bowl and walks towards the sink and begins to wash.

Tim 

Let me wash this one.

Busy Mama 

Tim! Stop fussing around with it. You're going to be late for school.

Tim 

Don't bother with this one. It still stinks.

Tim leaves bowl in sink. 

Busy Mama

Stop it now! You need to have breakfast-

Tim

I'm not hungry.

Busy Mama  

You'll starve at school if you don't eat.

Tim

Don't like these bowls anymore.

Busy Mama 

Tim! I've had enough of all this bowl business. 

Tim walks towards the cupboard and grabs another bowl.

Tim

Now, let me show you how to wash this one.

Tim squirts a huge amount of fairy liquid.

Busy Mama

For goodness sake. It's to much. 

Tim 

I need a lot of it, to make it clean.

Busy Mama

Well... You better rinse it properly or you'll end up with a belly ache.

Tim scrubs and rinses his bowl thoroughly with running water.

Wow. That's looking like new.

Tim 

This is how you wash it.

Busy Mama 

Let me smell it. Mmm it smells fresh.

(Slight pause)

Tim sits down at the table with his clean bowl and pours Coco Pops into it. 

Tim. We've spent to much time with bowls. I can't keep up with it every morning. We need to think of a way how to ease the pressure.

Tim

I'm having my breakfast now. 

Busy Mama 

After fifteen minutes going round in circles with bowls. Tim... I'm getting pretty tired of it now. It's happened three times this week.

Tim 

Mummy, I can't help it. I'm sorry. 

Busy Mama 

I have an idea.

Tim

What is it?

Busy Mama

How about, I buy you a new bowl for your Coco Pops.

Tim 

Can I choose my own?

Busy Mama 

Course you can. We'll call it Tim's Special Bowl. Your own bowl, nice and clean and smells like new. How about that? 

Tim 

And by the way, no one's, I mean no one's allowed to touch my new bowl.

Busy Mama 

Exactly. There will be no more fussing around with bowls before going to school.  

Tim 

Mummy. I'm sorry. I promise I won't be late. Starting from tomorrow.

Busy Mama 

Tim, time's ticking on. Eat your Coco Pops. As fast as you can.

Tim

Can't wait-

Busy Mama

Me too. We'll choose it together over the weekend.


"TIM'S SPECIAL BOWL" written by Irene Katherine.

This small play highlights exactly what my son goes through most mornings. Tim suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), I personally find it exhausting having to witness Tim's urge for cleanliness. This has caused huge frustrations, tears and meltdowns. Together with his school and  support worker, we all continue to find solutions to ease the pressure, to help Tim manage his day. 
Since I brought his own bowl, Tim is a much happier boy in the mornings. He washes his own bowl the night before and keeps it hidden in his wardrove. He knows exactly where he keeps his clean bowl.
I never knew children who are autistic are most likely to suffer from OCD. Going through with it with Tim, has given me reasons to learn and understand more about this condition. This is why I'm so passionate to share my own personal experiences with a purpose to inspire others who may be going through similar situations.  
Please comment anything about OCD. How does it affect your child? What do you do to help your child?


   







WRITTEN BY IRENE KATHERINE/BUSY MAMA BLOG 2020