Lil’B made leaps and bounds today. O.K., that might be overstating it a bit, but when you’re talking about a kid that really either does not see the need to speak or can’t seem to fathom the need, and for whom “Playing with others” is a concept as alien to him as using a jar of southern gravy rather than just making y own would be to me, we’re talking about one very proud Father. Today during my son’s therapy with “Miss Sandra” (also known as the Wise Lady of the Plains) he did several things that he has never done before.
As any parent of an autistic child will attest, new things are remarkable things. Autistic children are resistant to change of any kind and Lil’ B. is no different, but today he took a leap. Several leaps. This is an immense move for him, both in trust for Miss Sandra, whom he actually allows to touch him (not at all a normal state of affairs with my son) and in confidence levels for himself, which he has shown since the session this afternoon in the form of better eye contact and a fairly mild demeanor.
For the first time in his life, he put something underneath something else. This is a big deal in the case of our son, who regards anything stacked on top of something else as the utmost in troubling sights. Today he “hid” a tiny toy bear under a stackable cup, and did so repeatedly, laughing in absolute elation every time he pulled the cup back up and Miss Sandra said “Boo!” He was so enthralled that he never noticed that I’d placed my ball cap on his head. (another something he cannot usually tolerate.)
This would have been more than enough for me. Just that much of a switch to “normal kid” from the normally withdrawn child that my son is. But he went ahead and exceeded anyones expectations anyway.
He said “more.” Or to be precise, he aid “owwe”, but you get the picture. He said it when he meant “more”! (we’re talking about a two year old with delayed speech. Imagine that a “normal” kiddo his age would probably say “mowwe” and you kind of see the point. He also leaves the first sound off of “straw” and simply says “waaww”. All kids are different, and that’s his way.)
A new word in this house is cause for celebration. It’s a very quiet celebration, because giving Lil’B. Accolades on something new is a sure fire way to make sure that it does not happen again. I’m not sure if it embarrases him or if he just assumes since he got it right that he doesn’t need to go any further. We’ll have to wait for full on speech for him to be able to tell us, and at that point it will be… Well… A mute point. Circular, I know, but that’s the way it is.
The routine from therapy remained constant. Within 20 minutes of Miss Sandra leaving (and the prerequisite meltdown that comes along with that), Lil’ B. was asleep. That time was used by Dad to inform mom of the progress made, then to find my own place to curl up for a while, since a very stubborn cold had kept me up almost all night. I woke feeling better, he woke in a terrible state. The reasons for that are stil unknown. The rest of the evening went well and I am currently awaiting his departure to dreamland so that I can do the same.
For now I have a few things to do befoe the house is safe once again from ravaging hordes of puppies that we invited in for whatever reason, then off to watch something terrible on television until the little master finally succumbs to sleep.
Until then I will celebrate the little strides he made today. They are the first steps on his way to finally being able to choose his own journey, rather than having life dictate it to him. In the end, that journey is all that matters, at least to him. Though I doubt he knows that yet.
Peace all, I’m out.
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What can seem such a small thing for most can bring tears of joy to us, the parents of children in the spectrum. They are moments to treasure.