A New Best Friend

My son recently decided that Peter Pan is the most amazing super hero of all time.  Until this past weekend I just couldn't figure out why Peter Pan was so amazing.  I thought maybe it was because he could actually fly without wings, unlike Batman or Buzz Lightyear.  Maybe it was that Peter Pan is a young boy with a sword,  dressed in forest green tights, surrounded by laughing children.  To my surprise it was none of the above.  It wasn't the tights, the flying powers, or the ability to fight Hook while laughing.  He had chosen Peter Pan because of his shadow.  If we go to the store, so does Peter Pan.  If we go to school, so does Peter Pan. If we are playing at home, so is Peter Pan.  The best thing about this new friendship is that I do not have to keep track of a plastic toy nor do I ever forget to bring him with us on our daily outings.  It is so amazing to watch Branson and Peter Pan (Branson's shadow) interact.  They fight, jump, run and twirl.  It is this kind of friendship that reminds me of the Holy Spirit.  Constantly available, unable to disappoint or cause harm, comforting, dependable, and loves light over darkness.   So when you step outside today and see your shadow remember we all have a best friend who will never leave us, who has unlimited super powers, and who loves us no matter if we are fighting, jumping, running, or twirling.  

O How I Love Reality

Sometimes I forget that my son has SPD.  I subconsciously know that the SPD is there, but I get busy running kids around town, buying groceries, and doing mommy things.  I look at it this way, either  I enjoy visiting lala land as a survival technique or my son is actually overcoming enough hurdles that days are becoming easier.  One could also argue that it is a combination of both and that we are just getting comfortable with SPD.  What ever the case may be, it is days such as these where someone has to remind me of his struggles before I snap back into reality.  I laugh now thinking of all the times I would get upset when others would focus on his inability's.  Now I just smile because I know that my son is different, but it is a good different.  He may not be able to climb rocks, but he loves deep.  He may get scared of unpredictable noises, but he has a spirit of peace that lights up every room he enters.  He may not speak perfectly, but he can sing like an angel.


So for all you parents out there fighting the SPD fight:


Rejoice in reality. Speak goodness over your children. Lift them up when the world wants to knock them down. Focus on their strengths and praise their accomplishments.  But most of all,  find comfort in knowing that our little ones are predestined for glory.   

FIRED

I thought it was important to let everyone know that I was recently fired from my full-time position as a translator.  Although I took pride in this job, I am pleased to let you know that my translating services are coming to an end.   After three years of interpreting my sons mumble jumble, Branson is finally beginning to speak where other people can understand him.  He is able to hold his own conversations, voice his opinion, and even argue with his sister.  There are moments where he gets confused and moments where he reverts back to his own language but for the most part he is holding his own.  Daily my husband and I wait in anticipation to hear what he has to say.  I know his sister, Chandler, feels the same way because she rejoices with him every time he completes a sentence.  Just yesterday she would irritate him on purpose just to hear him yell "hey, stop that sister!"  Throughout the day we try to find things for him to talk about just to hear his voice and connect to his thoughts.  If I could, I would bottle up these days of verbal expressions just to remember every word he speaks.  I feel so blessed to have taken this road with SPD, because without it I may not have understood the true value of speech.

Breakthrough

Today my son, Branson, concord every toy aisle in Target! (Yes this is a big deal)! In the past we would have to skip certain aisles in order to have a peaceful outing.  The BABY aisle and the MONSTER aisle are the two main aisles we skip, thanks to the motion sensor toys that go off when you walk past. We also have to make sure that children are not in the aisle, because we know that typically every button on every toy will be pushed and unpredictable noises and motions are just not how we roll.  Okay so that is a normal Target outing, but today was different.  First we started in the puzzle/game board aisle and made our way to the legos.  This was easy until Branson found new display boxes that light up and make noise as you pass by.  At first he back pedaled quickly and wrapped his body around my leg.  Then in a matter of moments he was interacting with the display by pushing the buttons and listening to the new sounds.  He even looked up at me and said "mommy do you hear that noise?"  Next we headed down the dreaded aisle of loud monster trucks, unpredictable dinosaurs, and scary monsters (star wars and wrestling figures).  This aisle ended up being the hardest, but he did it.  I did help him pet the dinosaurs and he even ended up pushing the sound buttons on a few trucks.  After this aisle the rest seemed to be a breeze.  We looked at every toy possible and even took home a rubber snake and a grasping claw.  I have to confess that it is days like this that keep me humble and I realize that we can find a thankful spirit in even the small things.

How to Spot an SPD Parent

You know your a parent of an SPD kid if:

You cut your child's hair while they are sleeping.

You never take tag's off of new clothes or new shoes.

You know words like: vestibular, hyper or hyposensitivity, proprioceptive dysfunction,
neurological process...

You grocery list is ruled by foods with or without textures.

You find playing with moon sand, play-dough, and shaving cream is as relaxing as a spa treatment.

Your child has 5 different coats made from 5 different materials.

You know potty training is like breaking a wild stallion (O so difficult, but not impossible).

You carry an arsenal of random toys in your purse, car, or pocket.

Your home looks like the inside of an Occupational Therapist room.

You can spot Casein, Gluten, Food coloring, and Preservatives from a mile away.

Last but not least,

You diagnose other children with SBD (spoiled brat disorder), MMS (master manipulator syndrome), or any other acronym that suits the case.

Hypo What?

The first time I heard the specialist diagnose my son Branson with hypotonia, I had him repeat the word a few times just to pronounce it correctly.  Since then, the foreign word Hypotonia has been added to my daily vocabulary.  According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes, "Hypotonia is a medical term used to describe decreased muscle tone (the amount of resistance to movement in a muscle).  It is not the same as muscle weakness, although the two conditions can co-exist" (National Institutes of Health, 2007).  Not all children with SPD have Hypotonia, but in Branson's case Hypotonia plays a leading role with his SPD and it affects him greatly.  Climbing stairs, playing sports, or even dancing to silly songs tires him quickly.  His endurance levels are not the same as other children his age, which makes for short play dates.  I have learned that short periods of rest that contain low stimulation contribute to better days.  In addition, small protein snacks are becoming my new secret weapon.  More importantly, I find giving myself breaks throughout the day keeps me fueled to accomplish the day’s events. This means that I rest when he rests. So to all the parents lined up with excusses-put down the laundry, walk away from the dishes, and actually breathe for a few moments. It's hard to believe, but I promise the house will still function with or without you taking a breather. It takes practice and sometimes I still give into my motherly chores during nap time, but in general I am learning that busyness cometh before destruction.

NO Pants-NO Pants!

I am sure, as parents,  we have all struggled with dressing our toddlers.  As for me, my son has decided that pants just aren't his thing.  Side Note - (Children with Sensory Processing Disorder, textures are a parents best friend and worst enemy).  In the past, I have purchased numerous amounts of pants that were made from various materials.   Fleece and cotton with an adjustable waistline have become my son's favorite pants,  but today was a new day for pants.  Getting ready for school, my son yells out with a fearful cry NO Pants, mommy, NO Pants.  Now this is not your typical toddler fit, but rather an SPD episode.  These episodes fluctuate in intensity, but today he was coming out of his own skin with anxiety and fear.  So I slammed my cold coffee, threw on a hat, and decided to play superhero one more time for today is the day where I create a new way to wear pants.  My first thought was where is my mom she'll know what to do. My second thought was he could just go to school with no pants, but it is 29 degrees out and the teacher might call CPS, but then it hit me.  Favorite pajamas layered underneath the pants.  Believe it or not, it worked.  Yes he looked a little funny with his pajamas peeking out underneath his clothes, but that is what you do when your child needs you.  Now you may be thinking I have officially catered to my three year old's meltdown, but for all those parents facing SPD on a daily basis, my hat's off to you if your children are dressed today!