I have no idea even where to begin. Do I start with how we are going with potty training or do I start with the transition time from daycare to the house during the afternoon? Umm....well these two particular events have been the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life. I actually thought that teaching middle school was much harder. Boy, was I totally wrong!!
Potty training with Beckett has been quite difficult. Getting him to tell us he needs to go is the hardest part. We have a digital voice box that has a button he pushes that his PPCD teacher has recorded the message, "I need to potty". When we first put it up I think he pushed the thing 200 times. Of course, this helps us know when he needs to go; if he'd use it the right way. We began to bring him every 30 minutes when we can. Beckett can control himself for the most part, but its getting him to try and complete all the steps that's hard. Due to his lack of motor coordination, he has a very hard time pulling his shorts and pull-ups up and down. He knows to do all the steps, which is the frustrating part for me also. Since summer has begun Beckett has gotten better about having fewer accidents and letting us know he needs to go. I finally got around to getting a second voice recorder to the daycare. Within one day he learned to let his teachers know he needed to go potty by pushing the button. Funny thing is all other 19 children in his class did the same thing. I warned his teachers of the "new novelty".
I know he still has trouble coordinating his motor skills to master all the steps to go potty. I never really thought about the process of something very simple to the average person as being a really difficult one when you think about it. So far, it's been a week and he has had only one accident. Hopefully by the end of summer he will be able to let everyone know when he needs to go.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Look Who's Watching
I am learning more and more each day how some people are either truly compassionate to a person's situation or they really don't care much about other people's lives at all. I find that it probably runs 50/50 with the people I meet or run into. I understand that people fear what they do not understand. My goal and purpose has changed to not only raise a son who is independent and happy, but to help people understand that special needs individuals are also special gifts from God.
I find myself getting defensive about negative comments people make and the classic looks I get when I go into public when Beckett begins to scream and squeal so loudly it could break glass. I find older people in their late 70's give me the worst looks, people in their 50 -60's make the rude comments, and people in their 30 - 40's for the most part say "Oh my, he's loud" and smile, and anyone younger seems to just ignore it. I really don't mean to stereotype people. I can only judge what I have experienced. I think for the most part it is a generational thing. I think the younger generations are more exposed to the language used to describe autism and other intellectual disabilities.
I have been told to "control my child" and "you really need to discipline him for that". It's almost comical that they don't even know he can't talk. Usually my response is to say, "sorry, but he doesn't have any language and can't talk this is how he communicates". Most of the time they turn bright red and walk away, while other times they look at me as if they don't care. Sometimes they have even left the store altogether. It's as I intruded on their world and how dare I even bring him into public. Usually, it's because of their own ignorance and selfishness. I have even been ask "how could I even bring a child like that into the world?" I have responded by telling them.."He is God's gift to me and I would have never even have thought of terminating him, giving him away, or even putting him away in a home somewhere". He is created in God's image and is fearfully and wonderfully made. I do have to admit, I usually don't respond to that nicely at all and respond in a defiant voice myself. I defend my child and would stand up for him to anyone. Yes, I do realize I can't change anyone unless they want to be changed. I do have to be careful about how I respond and think before I speak. I try to be an example of what God wants me to be and I will be the first to admit I am not perfect but will always try to remember that other's are watching.
I have been told to "control my child" and "you really need to discipline him for that". It's almost comical that they don't even know he can't talk. Usually my response is to say, "sorry, but he doesn't have any language and can't talk this is how he communicates". Most of the time they turn bright red and walk away, while other times they look at me as if they don't care. Sometimes they have even left the store altogether. It's as I intruded on their world and how dare I even bring him into public. Usually, it's because of their own ignorance and selfishness. I have even been ask "how could I even bring a child like that into the world?" I have responded by telling them.."He is God's gift to me and I would have never even have thought of terminating him, giving him away, or even putting him away in a home somewhere". He is created in God's image and is fearfully and wonderfully made. I do have to admit, I usually don't respond to that nicely at all and respond in a defiant voice myself. I defend my child and would stand up for him to anyone. Yes, I do realize I can't change anyone unless they want to be changed. I do have to be careful about how I respond and think before I speak. I try to be an example of what God wants me to be and I will be the first to admit I am not perfect but will always try to remember that other's are watching.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Faith of a Mustard Seed
We have taken some time to be able to process some if the news about Beckett. Our family has decided to go out on faith and trust God for the strength and funds to help take care of our little boy. I have been frustrated with the system put in place to help children and adults with special needs. I am disappointed in the lack of funding that our nation has for these very needy individuals. It is sad to see working people who want the best for their children struggle for every dime to get the needed care for their family members. It seems that the richest nation on Earth can't find the necessary money to help people with minimal care. We are not talking the best of care, but the absolute bare minimum.
The decade of waiting is outrageous. The delay in critical developmental time is caustic for the brain to be able to make the best progress. Without this time the chance for growth is slowed or lost. The burden is put on the public school system and it is already strained to its capacity. The average person who is working are punished for working. The ones who are well and able to work and don't, get the most from our financially stressed system.
My husband and I have gone out on a limb to try and get our son the care he needs. Having to put our pride aside and ask people we know and even people we don't to help us get care for Beckett has been a humbling experience. We have set up a donation website to help raise funds to provide for his needed therapies, which include Occupational and Speech Therapy (recommended two times a week but he goes once) and the recommended Physical Therapy that we haven't started yet because we can't afford all the co-pays. He also needs a special computer that will help him communicate and his SMO braces for his feet every 6 months. We know that God will provide his needs and Beckett will be used for Gods Glory no matter the turn out. I won't hide the fact that it is very hard for us to keep the faith, but we try to take it day by day. We stand on the promise God made that He can move mountains with the faith of a mustard seed. (Matthew 17:20) Some days I think that is all I have, but He still brings me through.
http://www.giveforward.com/beckettsstorymyswan
The decade of waiting is outrageous. The delay in critical developmental time is caustic for the brain to be able to make the best progress. Without this time the chance for growth is slowed or lost. The burden is put on the public school system and it is already strained to its capacity. The average person who is working are punished for working. The ones who are well and able to work and don't, get the most from our financially stressed system.
My husband and I have gone out on a limb to try and get our son the care he needs. Having to put our pride aside and ask people we know and even people we don't to help us get care for Beckett has been a humbling experience. We have set up a donation website to help raise funds to provide for his needed therapies, which include Occupational and Speech Therapy (recommended two times a week but he goes once) and the recommended Physical Therapy that we haven't started yet because we can't afford all the co-pays. He also needs a special computer that will help him communicate and his SMO braces for his feet every 6 months. We know that God will provide his needs and Beckett will be used for Gods Glory no matter the turn out. I won't hide the fact that it is very hard for us to keep the faith, but we try to take it day by day. We stand on the promise God made that He can move mountains with the faith of a mustard seed. (Matthew 17:20) Some days I think that is all I have, but He still brings me through.
http://www.giveforward.com/beckettsstorymyswan
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