Smartest, Hardest-Working Kid in the World

THANK GOD!  After months and months of modeling and hand-over-hand, James has decided that he understands how to use a fork, when to use it, and where to use it.  He still needs help piercing sometimes but he gets it.  He stopped protesting and started eating, at the table, in a timely manner. ALL AT ONCE. Of course this happens when his OT is on vacation.  She will faint when she returns (she has been waiting for a breakthrough)! For months I had been participating in his OT sessions, brushing, joint compression, lotion, oral motor exercises. All to get him ready to eat. And then transfer it home. We did this at OT and home for awhile: major fighting, major yelling and not much eating. Then all of a sudden, James got it. BUT he put it on on HIS terms: toothbrushes go in the bathroom (that's where oral motor happens now); brushing and joint compression and lotion happen during dressing; and eating is done at the table with mom and dad! We have been eating breakfast well for quite a few days, and we were very pleased and planned to slowly move on to dinner.  James - the smartest hardest working kid in the world - had other plans.  Last night, after he had already eaten - pizza - he sat down at the table with us.  We had to scramble and get some chicken.  He sat there and ate with a fork, the entire time, until we were all done (even though he was finished before us).  AMAZING. Beyond amazing.  I am tearing up even now!