As our son has grown into his teenage years he has continued to amaze us. He can be so much like the "typical" teen at times. He is moody & frustrating just like every other teen on the face of the earth! He thinks he's smarter than us & better at things. My husband & I try to remind him that everyone has their own strengths & weaknesses. Ok, get that through to a teen! We have a lot of interesting "debates" at our house. His thinking is so clear to him. I have so many "grey" areas. His knowledge of the subjects that interest him are really something! He loves ancient history, animals & nature. I think it all began with his interest in dinosaurs as a young child & grew into more subjects as he learned more. He watches documentaries, reads factual books & website info on these subjects; then compares them to find differences. I say this not to tell you what my child can do; but to tell you not to give up on your child. Our "Aspi" kids are pure gifts from God. They help us to see things more clearly; to understand how much life is out of our control. When I grow impatient I try to remember how patient God is with me as I learn my life lessons. I have learned much about history that I didn't know before. I watch more historical shows & movies. When he & I talk, I try to ask him probing questions to make him think about his answer. I want him to do more than quote facts; I want the how's & the "why's. Why does he think this happened? How did they manage to do that with their limited capabilities? How can we use what we have learned to better ourselves today? I'll be the 1st to admit that I am not the best at this part. I get bored & frustrated at times. He talks with his dad more, as they share a lot of interests. They go for long nature walks & talk. This has been a wonderful outlet for him as we have lots of great trails in our area.