TIM'S SPECIAL BOWL..

Tim's Special Bowl

INT. VICTORIAN HOME - KITCHEN - MORNING

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

Tim 

Yum. Coco Pops. My favourite. Thanks Mummy.

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

Oh yeah. Can see that. Let me give it a quick 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

Can't smell nothing.

Tim

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

Busy Mama 

It wasn't this one.

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.

Tim 

Let me wash this one.

Busy Mama 

Tim! You're going to be late for school.

Tim 

Don't bother with this one. It stinks.

Tim leaves bowl in sink. 

Busy Mama

Time's ticking. Need to have food-

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

To much fairy. 

Tim 

Needs a lot to make it clean.

Busy Mama

It will need a good rinse after. Don't want you to end up with a belly ache.

Tim scrubs and rinses his bowl thoroughly with running water.

Wow. That looks amazing.

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 too much time fussing around with bowls. Hope it's not like this 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 of 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?

Busy Mama

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

Tim 

Can I choose my bowl?

Busy Mama 

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

Tim 

And by the way, no one, 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, it's okay. Finish your Coco Pops quick.

Tim

Can't wait for my new bowl-

Busy Mama

Me too. We'll choose it later after school.


TIM'S SPECIAL BOWL written by IK CREATIVE MIND.

This script highlights exactly what my son goes through most mornings. Tim suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), It is exhausting to witness Tim's urge for cleanliness. This causes 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 wardrobe.
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 would like to share my own personal experiences 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?



TIM'S SPECIAL BOWL/WRITTEN BY IK CREATIVE MIND 2020