Love on the Spectrum’s Tanner Smith’s Mom Reacts to Watching Her Son Go On Dates

Love on the Spectrum star Tanner Smith‘s mom, Nicci Smith, shared what it’s been like watching her son go on dates on the Netflix hit series.

Nicci found Tanner’s season 3 blind date with Shyann difficult to watch because his anxiety was elevated, while she was very introverted.

“To me, that date was very uncomfortable, because I know him,” Nicci told Today on Monday, April 14. “I felt bad for both of them — I think she had a bit of stage fright and didn’t know what to say, and he felt like it was his responsibility to carry the conversation but didn’t know how to draw her out.”

“Everybody sees Tanner as the happy, joyful guy,” Nicci continued. “But when you’re autistic, anxiety is always there — and he was really struggling. I was ready for the goat date to be over. It just wasn’t clicking. But he learned from it, and he did a good job.”

Autism is a neurological disorder that is usually diagnosed in childhood. Those on the autism spectrum often have issues with social communication and interaction, as well as repetitive behaviors or interests, according to the Autism Science Foundation.

Tanner, 26, was diagnosed with autism when he was 2-and-a-half years old.

Nicci was much happier with how things went between Tanner and Callie Truelove, as their personalities were much closer aligned.

“Callie is an open chapter,” Nicci said of her son’s love interest. Callie, 21, has the rare genetic condition Williams syndrome. Those who have it display unique physical features, have delays in cognitive development and potential cardiovascular problems, according to the Cleveland Clinic. However, Callie proved to be quite sociable, just like Tanner.

Nicci said she and Tanner got together with Callie’s family recently and had a “lovely time.”

“There was a lot of chemistry. They bounce off each other very well, and let’s just see where it goes,” Nicci said of her son and his potential girlfriend.

“They’ve been coming to see us, and we’re planning to visit them next. They have a pool and horses, and Callie wants to show Tanner her world,” the proud mom said of her son’s blossoming romance.

Tanner shared an update with fans about where things stand with Callie in an Instagram video posted on April 11. He noted how she came to visit him and his family in Clemson, South Carolina, where they went out to dinner at the Shepherd Hotel, where Tanner is employed as a maintenance worker.

Tanner told fans he had a hamburger and french fries for dinner, adding with excitement, “It was good!” The group also had “strawberry cake for dessert.”

Nicci was heard off camera asking, “Have y’all been kind of famous tonight?” as the noise of the bustling restaurant inside the hotel could be heard in the background.

Callie replied how she was overwhelmed with the amount of love that was shown to her and Tanner from fans that evening.

“I am not used to this response, so it was wonderful. It was so humbling being able to meet so many sweet fans of Tanner and we had a blast,” she explained. Tanner added, “We did enjoy ourselves.”

“The update is that we are hanging out. We are enjoying it, and we love ourselves and we love hanging out together,” Callie said about where thing stand between herself and Tanner. “He is just the sweetest guy I’ve ever met in my whole life.”

The duo plan to spend the upcoming summer enjoying the pool and horses at Callie’s house. “I wanna take Tanner on my side of town, into my neck of the woods,” she revealed.