I have to remind myself that good things ARE also happening. Lately, I have been dwelling on the "cons." The main one being: James has stopped talking. You can imagine how, in my mind, this is overshadowing the good. He can't get anything out, no matter how he hard he tries, opening his mouth wider and wider. His speech teacher is pretty stunned, not to mention his devastated parents.
James' self-stimulation, his "stimming," is out of control. I leave for a second - bathroom, doorbell, kitchen trip - and he has crumbled pretzels all over the couch. I have almost have to sit on him! He has also begun a behavior that I do not care for. Being very silly, giggling and laughing, or simply refusing to work for his Occupational Therapist. I caught him trying to hit her on Wednesday. I was heading to the bathroom and they were in the hallway. He had plopped on the ground and refused to get up. He went to hit her feet. JAMES ARTHUR!! And he stopped. I never interrupt a session, but this would not be tolerated. Get up NOW. He did. NO hitting! He nodded and was better for the rest of the session. Bizarrely, James has been having good days at school. Only one unusual incident happened. When play time was over, James tried to sneak the ball out of the closet after it had been put away. While it's not the worst, it is more of the same, intentionally being bad.
So quickly, after whining about these downturns, let me list some positives . . . At a recent birthday party, James agreed to have his hand - but not his face - painted. When asked, he picked a flower and then chose the color red. It was quite an elaborate design and I was impressed with his patience. We also had a houseguest for the weekend, and James was completely at ease. He also "participated" in Halloween. After coating his Captain Kirk shirt in his lunch, I squeezed him into a homemade Wiggles shirt from 2-years ago. Then as hundreds of kids descended on our block, he excitedly ran up and down the stairs as we gave out candy. When it became too much, he retreated back to the top landing and watched a video. It was the most he ever acknowledged the "chaos." So, if James can do it, I can at least TRY . . . Acknowledge the chaos and patiently work through it.
I have to remind myself that good things ARE also happening. Lately, I have been dwelling on the "cons." The main one being: James has stopped talking. You can imagine how, in my mind, this is overshadowing the good. He can't get anything out, no matter how he hard he tries, opening his mouth wider and wider. His speech teacher is pretty stunned, not to mention his devastated parents.
James' self-stimulation, his "stimming," is out of control. I leave for a second - bathroom, doorbell, kitchen trip - and he has crumbled pretzels all over the couch. I have almost have to sit on him! He has also begun a behavior that I do not care for. Being very silly, giggling and laughing, or simply refusing to work for his Occupational Therapist. I caught him trying to hit her on Wednesday. I was heading to the bathroom and they were in the hallway. He had plopped on the ground and refused to get up. He went to hit her feet. JAMES ARTHUR!! And he stopped. I never interrupt a session, but this would not be tolerated. Get up NOW. He did. NO hitting! He nodded and was better for the rest of the session. Bizarrely, James has been having good days at school. Only one unusual incident happened. When play time was over, James tried to sneak the ball out of the closet after it had been put away. While it's not the worst, it is more of the same, intentionally being bad.
So quickly, after whining about these downturns, let me list some positives . . . At a recent birthday party, James agreed to have his hand - but not his face - painted. When asked, he picked a flower and then chose the color red. It was quite an elaborate design and I was impressed with his patience. We also had a houseguest for the weekend, and James was completely at ease. He also "participated" in Halloween. After coating his Captain Kirk shirt in his lunch, I squeezed him into a homemade Wiggles shirt from 2-years ago. Then as hundreds of kids descended on our block, he excitedly ran up and down the stairs as we gave out candy. When it became too much, he retreated back to the top landing and watched a video. It was the most he ever acknowledged the "chaos." So, if James can do it, I can at least TRY . . . Acknowledge the chaos and patiently work through it.
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