HomeMom on the Run
Member Since: September 10, 2007 Last Signed In: July 21, 2008 Blog Views: 2446 Send To A Friend Sign Guestbook Add as a Friend
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Conversation Time
One of Bee's deficits (sounds so harsh, I know) is his lack of conversation skills. Last summer, he didn't know how to say "yes" or "no". Getting him to answer questions required a lot of patience. Typically functioning kids just talk and talk and talk (see Lee)... with Bee, it's not that easy.
Well, it's getting easier. Flashback: last year, when I was going through a manic "sign Bee up for any and all therapies available you must or you're a bad mom" phase, I signed him up for music therapy. "He loves to sing!", I rationalized. "He loves music!", I spouted. "He's gonna LOVE music therapy!", I said to anyone and everyone who would listen. He hated it. He hated his teacher. He hated the room. He hated the chair. He hated the music. He hated the instruments. But most of all, he hated "conversation time". That's when his teacher would put on this annoying CD featuring a woman first singing about how WONDERFUL it was to talk with your friends. And then she would ask questions, like "What's your favorite animal?" and then there would be a LOOOOOONG pause while she waited for Bee to answer. Bee's response was starting at the CD player, then his teacher, and then me. No words. (We now know it's because he has/had an issue with the auditory processing area of his brain.) We'd try to prompt him; no luck. Then he'd start screaming. Screaming spread to all parts of the therapy session. When he started screaming as soon as he realized we were driving to music therapy, I canceled the lessons altogether. And I stopped pushing. Never stopped caring. But I stopped making it such a big deal. In ABA, they've been working with him to answer questions. They start small. First: modeling asking a question, and then an appropriate answer. Sometimes visually. Always rewarding. And ohmygod it works. After ABA, Bee and I got in the car to pick up Lee. It's about a 15 minute drive. Usually, we listen to music, or watch Dora (I know, I know). Bee wanted neither today. We sat, enjoying a quiet drive, and I felt compelled to ask him how his day was. Me: Hey Bee, did you have fun at school today? Bee: Yeah. (Note: Not yes. He actually said yeah.) Me: What did you do at school today? Bee: Sang a song. Read books at circle time. And I had lunch. Me: (thinking "What the &!@$") What book did you read at school? Bee: Slippery fish. (Note: Slippery fish is a song, not a book. But dammit - he answered my question!) Me: Cool! And what did you eat for lunch? Bee: Raisins. And grapes. Carrots... and I had a sandwich. (Note: All of these items were in his lunch today!) So yeah, I called Big Man, naturally, to share the good news. And then I called my mom. They both joined in my giddiness. And I wanted to be sure to share it with all of you. :) 3 comments from 3 users
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posted by
jnkmommy
on Jun 27, 2008 at 06:50 AM
posted by
hmoeckli
on Jun 27, 2008 at 01:47 PM
Congratulations on the good news. It's so great when hard work pays off. Yay Bee!
posted by
creatress
on Jun 28, 2008 at 11:15 AM
I think ALL moms of special needs kids can SOOO relate to what you're saying. Like you, I would also go from "therapy mom" to just "leave him alone and let him be a regular kid" mom. Heck... I STILL do! I think you were really smart to yank him from the music therapy. It sounds like it was really torturing him. My son's current thing is that he can get over-sentimental. Certain songs and music will actually cause him to cry. Unfortunately my mother-in-law has also discovered the joy of power point slide shows. She loves to make these as gifts and combine them with slow music. They make him cry 100% of the time. He figured out (on his own) that if he listens to his iPod and cranks up the music on a fast song... he's ok. YAY! I don't think he will need me to problem solve for him his whole life! That picture is so great BTW!
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I am so happy for your family, ABA sounds like it has really been an amazing experience. Don't forget to give credit to yourselves also, it takes wonderful parents like you two to seek out what your child needs and get it for him. Way to go Bee!