👾 UFO Catcher Meltdowns in Japan: One Prize, One Path

JoJo breaks down at the claw machine while JayJay stands by — a moment so many autism parents know all too well. One prize, one path, one big feeling. 👾💔

If you’ve ever traveled to Japan, you know how irresistible those UFO catcher machines can be. Bright lights, cute plushies, catchy music — and for JoJo, a perfect storm of excitement, obsession, and emotional overload.

Every time we step into an arcade, JoJo locks eyes on one specific prize. It has to be that one. No substitutions. No alternatives. Just that exact toy, in that exact position, from that exact machine.

The trouble starts when we try to win it. One try turns into five… ten… and before we know it, we’re in full meltdown territory. Tears, shouting, desperate pleas — and sometimes other people staring. It’s overwhelming for everyone.

Do we win it every time? Honestly, no. Sometimes we do, after spending way too much. Sometimes we leave without it, and the heartbreak follows us all the way home. But I’ve come to understand it’s not just about the toy. It’s about control, focus, and how intensely JoJo experiences the world.

We’re trying new strategies — setting limits, practicing “walk away” moments, even just prepping him ahead of time. But it’s still a journey. These moments aren’t easy, but they’re part of our real life. And maybe, just maybe, someone else out there reading this has stood by a UFO machine with a crying child and felt the exact same thing.

You’re not alone. 💙