Bright Eyes is getting to a point where he can be bluffed. For many months we have had a big problem handling transitions - screams, cries, refusals, hiding, tantrums, the works.
Our consultant saw a video I managed to shoot while we were on holidays. We were heading to the beach and he was refusing loudly to go. I was overtalking it and trying to convince him that it would be fun. His sister was also chipping in.
Honestly - I'm so dumb. Words have never convinced him up to this point. Why do I think it should work now?
Once he saw that we really were going, though, and he might get left behind, his yell changed: "I don't want to go" (next breath) "I want to go!"
Our consultant's advice was to not get involved in negotiations. For example, if he doesn't want to go to the beach, let him stay (with one of us, but not being entertained) but let everyone else go and have fun. He will almost certainly change his tune.
We have managed to bluff him in nearly every transition in the last week, and we are seeing the improvements already. Getting him out the door is generally a lot easier and he is reacting in less extreme ways. Yay!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Healing
I have a cut on my finger. It's in a very awkward place - right between the little finger and the ring finger. It has been there a while now, but it hasn't healed well because every time I move my hand it cracks open again.
I finally decided that I would have to help it along, so I taped my two fingers together to reduce the movement. Within a day, my cut has gotten so much better! It will take a little while longer to really get there, so I'll leave the tape on even though it's really awkward trying to touch type without a left hand pinky!
What's my point? It occurred to me that our bodies are designed to heal. If it's at all possible, tissues will knit together and do what they are supposed to.
However, sometimes we need to give our bodies the right conditions in which to be able to heal. It might be as simple as taping a finger, or putting a leg in a cast or eating the right types of food.
The evidence is in that the brain can heal after trauma and injury. There's no reason, given the right conditions, that it cannot heal from autism, anxiety and ADHD.
I think RDI and the other interventions we are doing are providing the right conditions for Bright Eyes' brain to heal itself. It might take some time and be awkward for a while, but I believe it will happen.
I finally decided that I would have to help it along, so I taped my two fingers together to reduce the movement. Within a day, my cut has gotten so much better! It will take a little while longer to really get there, so I'll leave the tape on even though it's really awkward trying to touch type without a left hand pinky!
What's my point? It occurred to me that our bodies are designed to heal. If it's at all possible, tissues will knit together and do what they are supposed to.
However, sometimes we need to give our bodies the right conditions in which to be able to heal. It might be as simple as taping a finger, or putting a leg in a cast or eating the right types of food.
The evidence is in that the brain can heal after trauma and injury. There's no reason, given the right conditions, that it cannot heal from autism, anxiety and ADHD.
I think RDI and the other interventions we are doing are providing the right conditions for Bright Eyes' brain to heal itself. It might take some time and be awkward for a while, but I believe it will happen.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
new clothes
This morning, Bright Eyes is sitting up eating his breakfast, wearing a new red racing car shirt (!!) and reading 'Peter and Jane' with his sister. Cute.
Today was such a better day!
I am following our consultant's advice and hanging back. Today my dear sweet Bright Eyes solved his own problems, including mending his paintbrush that fell apart. The more I support him in doing his own things, the more competent - and confident in his competence - he will be become.
He is a lot happier since going back to his diet and the homeopath.
Today I left the paints out on the table and was delighted to see him paint a picture of a river (ie. the whole piece of paper was filled with watery blue paint from edge to edge). He wanted me to paint fishes in it, but I 'didn't have time sorry'. Who knows... he may paint them himself tomorrow.
We are painting our cubby house and he was pleased to come down and handle a brush for a bit. We painted together. I think he even did more than his nine year old sister!
I am following our consultant's advice and hanging back. Today my dear sweet Bright Eyes solved his own problems, including mending his paintbrush that fell apart. The more I support him in doing his own things, the more competent - and confident in his competence - he will be become.
He is a lot happier since going back to his diet and the homeopath.
Today I left the paints out on the table and was delighted to see him paint a picture of a river (ie. the whole piece of paper was filled with watery blue paint from edge to edge). He wanted me to paint fishes in it, but I 'didn't have time sorry'. Who knows... he may paint them himself tomorrow.
We are painting our cubby house and he was pleased to come down and handle a brush for a bit. We painted together. I think he even did more than his nine year old sister!
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