I will humbly admit I can't tell you how old Jude was the first time he said "I love you". Many of his firsts and milestones were taken for granted as they were just expected. This is something Alden has taught our family; never take any of those things for granted. There are some parents who will never hear their child's sweet voice, never see a first step, never feel their child's little arms wrapped around their neck in a tight loving embrace. EVERY new thing is celebrated no matter how seemingly small.
Because of this appreciation for every new thing, we have found ourselves celebrating things our child does that other parents would punish their child for. For example, the first time Alden through a full on toddler temper tantrum we were ECSTATIC! This was the first time we saw a 'typical' display of frustration rather than an expression of discomfort/pain caused by his sensory processing disorder. It was the first peak at a developing personality. We were tickled pink watching him flop on the floor arching his back kicking and screaming.
Recently he was at school and another child took a toy away from him. While many parents work on sharing with their children, we have never had that problem. Alden has never cared enough about something or been present enough to care if something was taken from him. Not this day! On this particular day he was playing and a child walked up and took the toy right out of his hands. Alden went up to the child and yanked it right back out of his hands and walked away. Someone hand me some pom-poms.....GOOOOO ALDEN. Number one, he was appropriately playing with something and was present enough to be upset when it was taken for him. Number two, he stood up for himself which is a skill he will need as he grows.
Our newest development is shushing. The first time he displayed this new skill was when he and I were at an appointment. We were in an office with a therapist sitting at his desk. After about 10 minutes of us talking Alden decided he was done. I noticed him struggling to put his coat on, cuing me he has decided it's time to leave. I told him, "Alden not yet, we have to finish" he continued trying to get his coat on, I assume believing I was bluffing. The therapist and I continued our conversation as he paced back and forth occasionally swinging around like a dog trying to catch his own tail, in attempt to get his second sleeve on. Success! He managed to get his coat on so naturally NOW it's go time. He heads to the door where I quickly have to jump in front of him or he would happily leave without me. I explained we needed a few more minutes to finish up. He was clearly unimpressed but chose to sit in the chair next to the therapists desk. We resumed our conversation wrapping up the plan for our following appointment. Alden suddenly stands up from his chair, positions himself directly between the man and myself, peering into my eyes loudly and adamantly "shhhhh!" I knew this was him saying "Could you shut it already, I said I want to go!" I burst into laughter. Now to an outsider, my almost 7 year old standing between two adults having a conversation and shushing us is incredibly rude. I would have to agree. But for a child who had no form of communication 6 months ago and still has limited communication skills, this was an amusing resolution of problem solving.
Since then he has shushed his father when he was singing (sorry hunny but if we are all being honest, that was totally fair) shushed a crying baby and his big brother for talking to me when he had decided he needed my undivided attention. I still chuckle after each shush. I realize pretty soon we will have to nip this is the butt and work on an appropriate way for him to request my attention. While we do have to make acceptions in some situations due to his unique abilities, that isn't an excuse to be a jerk. Still, you have to admit, it's pretty funny.
Because of this appreciation for every new thing, we have found ourselves celebrating things our child does that other parents would punish their child for. For example, the first time Alden through a full on toddler temper tantrum we were ECSTATIC! This was the first time we saw a 'typical' display of frustration rather than an expression of discomfort/pain caused by his sensory processing disorder. It was the first peak at a developing personality. We were tickled pink watching him flop on the floor arching his back kicking and screaming.
Recently he was at school and another child took a toy away from him. While many parents work on sharing with their children, we have never had that problem. Alden has never cared enough about something or been present enough to care if something was taken from him. Not this day! On this particular day he was playing and a child walked up and took the toy right out of his hands. Alden went up to the child and yanked it right back out of his hands and walked away. Someone hand me some pom-poms.....GOOOOO ALDEN. Number one, he was appropriately playing with something and was present enough to be upset when it was taken for him. Number two, he stood up for himself which is a skill he will need as he grows.
Our newest development is shushing. The first time he displayed this new skill was when he and I were at an appointment. We were in an office with a therapist sitting at his desk. After about 10 minutes of us talking Alden decided he was done. I noticed him struggling to put his coat on, cuing me he has decided it's time to leave. I told him, "Alden not yet, we have to finish" he continued trying to get his coat on, I assume believing I was bluffing. The therapist and I continued our conversation as he paced back and forth occasionally swinging around like a dog trying to catch his own tail, in attempt to get his second sleeve on. Success! He managed to get his coat on so naturally NOW it's go time. He heads to the door where I quickly have to jump in front of him or he would happily leave without me. I explained we needed a few more minutes to finish up. He was clearly unimpressed but chose to sit in the chair next to the therapists desk. We resumed our conversation wrapping up the plan for our following appointment. Alden suddenly stands up from his chair, positions himself directly between the man and myself, peering into my eyes loudly and adamantly "shhhhh!" I knew this was him saying "Could you shut it already, I said I want to go!" I burst into laughter. Now to an outsider, my almost 7 year old standing between two adults having a conversation and shushing us is incredibly rude. I would have to agree. But for a child who had no form of communication 6 months ago and still has limited communication skills, this was an amusing resolution of problem solving.
Since then he has shushed his father when he was singing (sorry hunny but if we are all being honest, that was totally fair) shushed a crying baby and his big brother for talking to me when he had decided he needed my undivided attention. I still chuckle after each shush. I realize pretty soon we will have to nip this is the butt and work on an appropriate way for him to request my attention. While we do have to make acceptions in some situations due to his unique abilities, that isn't an excuse to be a jerk. Still, you have to admit, it's pretty funny.
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