Autism doesn't leave you many choices
The lack of blogging is directly related to the lack of sleep. We were doing so great! Getting to bed on time, getting eight hours of sleep...
but then the combination of the full moon (of course, a Supermoon), a little cold, and the week following IVIG has rocked this ship a little this week.
In-home ABA therapy has been really rough. I talked with his therapist and director, because I realized the other day that Hunter never has downtime. And he doesn't ever get to "choose" what he wants to do.
His whole life, since starting this Autism journey, has been about someone else dictating the decisions and choices for him.
We have been expecting him to hold it together for eight hours at school. He has done a fabulous job, and has had more good days than bad over the last few months. In his ARD last week, his classroom teacher told us she hadn't had to call for help in the classroom since October (when things got out of hand).
He only has one day out of the week where he doesn't have occupational therapy or ABA therapy- and it is on Friday.
So we, as parents, are expecting a six year old boy to work around the clock 4 out of 5 of the days of the school week. Plus, we have been having Saturday ABA sessions to encompass more parent involvement.
I'm tired from driving him around to his scheduled appointments- and he has to participate in them.
I think after we started IVIG, we saw such miraculous improvements that we essentially forgot that our child has Autism.
He has needs.
He has difficulties.
But more importantly, he has a voice.
His teachers told us in the ARD that anytime an adult comes in the classroom, he assumes that person is there for him.
Watching.
Observing.
Taking notes.
After all, he has had someone following him around the clock since he was three years old.
I love the principles of ABA, but I feel like we are losing the heart of what it means to be a kid.
I remember one teacher told me a story about a therapist who took something away from Hunter because he had thrown a tantrum. It was an automatic response, and the teacher stood up and questioned the therapist:
"Did you even ask Hunter what was wrong?"
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I'm not sure where my head is right now on our path to recovery, but my heart is in bringing the fun back to being a kid.
By the way....remember when I was looking for that rainbow last week? My cousin posted this picture that afternoon. An upside down rainbow....couldn't ask for a better sign. It smiled at us!
Here's a few pictures from our recent adventures:
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Paige made her First Reconciliation
counting out their 100 day snacks
100th day activities in the classrooms!
Preschool Antics
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but then the combination of the full moon (of course, a Supermoon), a little cold, and the week following IVIG has rocked this ship a little this week.
In-home ABA therapy has been really rough. I talked with his therapist and director, because I realized the other day that Hunter never has downtime. And he doesn't ever get to "choose" what he wants to do.
His whole life, since starting this Autism journey, has been about someone else dictating the decisions and choices for him.
We have been expecting him to hold it together for eight hours at school. He has done a fabulous job, and has had more good days than bad over the last few months. In his ARD last week, his classroom teacher told us she hadn't had to call for help in the classroom since October (when things got out of hand).
He only has one day out of the week where he doesn't have occupational therapy or ABA therapy- and it is on Friday.
So we, as parents, are expecting a six year old boy to work around the clock 4 out of 5 of the days of the school week. Plus, we have been having Saturday ABA sessions to encompass more parent involvement.
I'm tired from driving him around to his scheduled appointments- and he has to participate in them.
I think after we started IVIG, we saw such miraculous improvements that we essentially forgot that our child has Autism.
He has needs.
He has difficulties.
But more importantly, he has a voice.
His teachers told us in the ARD that anytime an adult comes in the classroom, he assumes that person is there for him.
Watching.
Observing.
Taking notes.
After all, he has had someone following him around the clock since he was three years old.
I love the principles of ABA, but I feel like we are losing the heart of what it means to be a kid.
I remember one teacher told me a story about a therapist who took something away from Hunter because he had thrown a tantrum. It was an automatic response, and the teacher stood up and questioned the therapist:
"Did you even ask Hunter what was wrong?"
I'm not sure where my head is right now on our path to recovery, but my heart is in bringing the fun back to being a kid. By the way....remember when I was looking for that rainbow last week? My cousin posted this picture that afternoon. An upside down rainbow....couldn't ask for a better sign. It smiled at us!
Here's a few pictures from our recent adventures:
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| Had lunch with Paige at school |
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| Park fun with warm days |
Paige got her ears pierced!
Swim Lessons
Mommy and Peyton dates at the park!
School Carnival!
Master Lego Builder!
 |
| the kids put their sins on paper that disintegrated in water |
100 days of School!
 |
| the joys of having a child with food allergies |
counting out their 100 day snacks
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100th day activities in the classrooms!
Hunter was Yoga Master for the day!
Preschool Playdates
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Preschool Antics
The 101st day of school with the 101 Dalmations!
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| He made it 3/4 of the way around...but stopped when he saw us. |
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