Be very proud of me (HUGE sensory challenge)

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.....I faced a HUGE (for me) sensory challenge the other day! You see, on our way to our grandparents' farm in Minnesota, we were stopping at someone's house for a couple days - the woman who owned the house was very, very sweet and lovable, and insisted that we call her "grandma." I'll refer to her as "Grandma R" from now on.

Anyway, staying at Grandma R's was wonderful, except...the day we arrived, Grandma R told us that for dinner that evening, she would be cooking these chicken sausages with mozzarella cheese and garlic in them. I really, really, REALLY don't like sausage much (I don't even like hot dogs), but Grandma R promised that they would be good. Besides, she was so nice, I would have done anything for her...I even added her to the very, very short list of People I Don't Have to Be Afraid Of.

So, dinner came around, and the sausages were served in hot dog buns, along with corn on the cob, potato salad, and coleslaw (all three of which I do like). My youngest sister dug right into hers (my other sister wasn't feeling good and missed dinner) but I approached my sausage with some caution. It wasn't till then that I realized that sausages/hot dogs are a full-blown sensory no-no for me....with every bite I took, my gag reflex was triggered, and I felt like I might throw up, but I managed to swallow each bite. I think I managed to get each bite down without letting on that I was nauseated. I managed to eat practically the whole thing, but I left the very last bite. Afterward, I gave Grandma R a hug, thanked her for dinner, and told her it was good.

The rest of our stay at Grandma R's was wonderful, but I hope I don't have to eat a sausage or hot dog again for a very long time...preferably never. I don't know how many more times I'll be able to handle eating one with that much dignity and poise.

I have the same sensory response to the texture of nuts. I haven't had any in 17 years.

You deserve to be proud of yourself, LtlPinkCoupe.
Learning to "choke things down", whether it is food or an unpleasant circumstance, such as sudden change, is a sign of strength and a good survival strategy.
However, if there is something like a dog under the table that you can slip the offending food to, that would be a good choice too.

kudos.

I didn't used to like nuts much, either, apequake...like, if there was a chocolate cake or a brownie or some fudge (all foods I like under normal cirsumstances) I would reject all three if there were any nuts in them. Although, I've gotten to like oven-roasted peanuts -you know, like the ones they give out on airplanes. I don't like the honey-roasted ones, though.

Thank you, Marybird....and yes, "choking things down" is definitely a survival skill I've had to learn over the years. I like your idea, too, about the dog under the table....if only our mom's schnauzer had come along with us!

Yesterday we were in a town that was close to Grandma R's house, and I figured I deserved a small reward, so I bought a cute little stuffed bunny for myself at a bookstore. His name is Fiver.

Thank you, cathylynn!

Haha. Especially brownies with those greasy squeaky walnuts. Ugh. I liked peanuts until I thought that I had an allergic reaction. It wasn't an allergy, but it was enough to end my relationship with any nut (minus the microscopic bits that may end up in granola "nut free" and the like.

I am very proud of you...my daughter has very extreme sensory reactions to some food, too, so I recognize how hard that was for you. She's still little, though, so instead of doing like you did, she offends the cook by loudly and emphatically stating "that is disgusting!" when served something she doesn't like

Congratulations! I got a piece of cartilage in a chicken salad sandwich when I was eight, and nearly twenty-three years later, I still can't eat it, even if I make it myself. Spinach and turnips trigger a gag reflex in me, so I know how hard that can be. Now take solace in the fact that you probably won't be "forced" to eat any more sausage for a long while.

I know how that is with wet bread. Seriously I can't do that. Hahaha. If non-toasted bread sticks around in my mouth too long I'll definitely throw up. I kinda rolled my eyes at first reading the title but upon reading the story I kinda said "haha, yeah. Kudos." and tried everything in my power not to remind myself of the wet bread problem.

Wow, you are very brave, I doubt I could have managed it. My sensory problems regarding food are absurdly extensive; I basically can't eat most fruits or vegetables, anything that's too cold or mushy with an inconslstent texture, nuts, fish, or eggs. Your sausage is the equivalent of my quiche, I'd definity vomit if I had to do what you did. Btw, I love the name of your bunny; I used to have a real bunny named Fiver, Watership Down is one of my favourite books

That's really nice of you and something to be proud for sure!

Besides the sensory issue, you also did it thinking about grandma's feelings. And that's something aspies usually don't get credit for.

I have the same problem with beans (in my country pretty much everybody eat this everyday). I managed to find a way out of this situation saying these words:

"I'm sorry. I have sensory problems and this type of food makes me feel ill. (one second pause here) . It looks REAAAALLY tasty, but I cannot eat it. (one second pause again and say the next phrase slower). Can you forgive me for that?"

The last sentence is really important because it states that you're not going to eat it anyway, but shows that you don't want to hurt their feelings. It triggers happines and willingness in them making the whole thing not an issue.

I'm proud for you, and very impressed. I wouldn't have put myself through that, though I would have tried to be diplomatic/ tactful.

I could not have pulled that off with any of the foods that prompt the gag reflex.

Be careful because your grandmother may decide to feed those to you again.

Great job LtlPinkCoupe!