We almost forgot this one!
Until last year, Aditya would never agree to take a shower. Probably a sensory overload for him. We had to give him a bath using a bucket and a mug... like we used to do as kids in India. Just a couple of weeks ago, however, Aditya agreed to shower by himself, except for taking our help when using the Body Wash (he hates the soap so we use the Aveeno Body Wash for him).
Thus, for the last 2 weeks or so, he has been using the shower, and doing so mostly by himself. We are so happy for you Aditya! Enjoy!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Two "FIRST"s for our family!
Two successive weekends mostly filled with things related to our Son Rise program- volunteers coming to our home, we giving them feedback, new team members being trained in parallel, and even a new member interview!
But there is something special about both weekends, and we really want to take time today to celebrate that!
Last week, Aditya ASKED TO GO to a local book store where renowned author Rosemary Wells was to come and tell stories of "Max and Ruby". We went there on time and Aditya sat through the story telling session, two feet away from his sister (and another child between them). He once looked back at us, as if wanting to know something, but other than that moment he looked at the author of his favorite stories and... listened to the story! We celebrated this by offering to buy a book of his choice. "This book" pat came the reply... pointing to the same book that was just read to the children.
Here is a picture of Aditya (at the center) listening to Rosemary Wells. By the way, if you have not already guessed, this was a FIRST for our family... to be going to a book store with both our children and with both children enjoying the place for the same reason!
Then there was this weekend... when we had a full 35 minutes of family game time.... playing Monopoly. We actually began with Aditya bringing to us another game (Funglish) that we had got from the store, and asking that we play that game! We began enthusiastically... but.... there was a problem: the box had some missing cards and some cards in duplicate. When Mom explained this, Aditya seemed disturbed for a few seconds, but when we offered to play another new game.... Monopoly... he quickly and enthusiastically moved on.
And before we knew... we were telling both our children the rules of Monopoly... at the same time and without making too many adjustments for our special son. We then played the game for about 35 minutes, when Aditya, who was clearly getting fidgety, asked how long we would play, so he could go set the kitchen timer. We were planning to wrap up anyways, which we did rightaway, while celebrating how much we had loved this precious half hour with both of them, and specially how much we appreciated his understanding the rules, waiting for his turns, playing by the rules (including paying rent to his sister and accepting his dad and sister go to jail), and most of all.... asking for permission before quitting.
Wow... we already feel like a "normal" family... hurray. Thank you both our children, and thank you SON RISE!!!
But there is something special about both weekends, and we really want to take time today to celebrate that!
Last week, Aditya ASKED TO GO to a local book store where renowned author Rosemary Wells was to come and tell stories of "Max and Ruby". We went there on time and Aditya sat through the story telling session, two feet away from his sister (and another child between them). He once looked back at us, as if wanting to know something, but other than that moment he looked at the author of his favorite stories and... listened to the story! We celebrated this by offering to buy a book of his choice. "This book" pat came the reply... pointing to the same book that was just read to the children.
Here is a picture of Aditya (at the center) listening to Rosemary Wells. By the way, if you have not already guessed, this was a FIRST for our family... to be going to a book store with both our children and with both children enjoying the place for the same reason!
Then there was this weekend... when we had a full 35 minutes of family game time.... playing Monopoly. We actually began with Aditya bringing to us another game (Funglish) that we had got from the store, and asking that we play that game! We began enthusiastically... but.... there was a problem: the box had some missing cards and some cards in duplicate. When Mom explained this, Aditya seemed disturbed for a few seconds, but when we offered to play another new game.... Monopoly... he quickly and enthusiastically moved on.
And before we knew... we were telling both our children the rules of Monopoly... at the same time and without making too many adjustments for our special son. We then played the game for about 35 minutes, when Aditya, who was clearly getting fidgety, asked how long we would play, so he could go set the kitchen timer. We were planning to wrap up anyways, which we did rightaway, while celebrating how much we had loved this precious half hour with both of them, and specially how much we appreciated his understanding the rules, waiting for his turns, playing by the rules (including paying rent to his sister and accepting his dad and sister go to jail), and most of all.... asking for permission before quitting.
Wow... we already feel like a "normal" family... hurray. Thank you both our children, and thank you SON RISE!!!
A love for expressing himself!
Just a few minutes ago... before going to bed: "I love you Dad." Then with a smile: "And the best part is you have a deep and silly voice."
Thursday, October 21, 2010
So much more aware!
It has been really long since we were regular with the blog. With so much happening around us, we are too busy enjoying the changes!
Just an hour ago, as the first volunteer walked in, Aditya had been busy in the playroom with dad. So busy, that both forgot that it was time for him to change into street clothes. He had already changed his shirt when we walked in. Then he said, "Can I get into the closet for a minute?
"Hmm"
"And close the door too?"
"Okay!"
"Mom, can I have my underwear?", Aditya whispered.
"Sure!" I had forgotten that I was still holding on to it, while talking to the volunteer. He came out in a moment, put on his pants and said, "Let's play!"
This was a dream moment! He was aware of the presence of people around him and that he should be dressed when out in front of others. Until a few months ago, he would roam around forgetting to wear his pants after using the restroom, too excited to get back to the playroom.
Way to go, Aditya!
Just an hour ago, as the first volunteer walked in, Aditya had been busy in the playroom with dad. So busy, that both forgot that it was time for him to change into street clothes. He had already changed his shirt when we walked in. Then he said, "Can I get into the closet for a minute?
"Hmm"
"And close the door too?"
"Okay!"
"Mom, can I have my underwear?", Aditya whispered.
"Sure!" I had forgotten that I was still holding on to it, while talking to the volunteer. He came out in a moment, put on his pants and said, "Let's play!"
This was a dream moment! He was aware of the presence of people around him and that he should be dressed when out in front of others. Until a few months ago, he would roam around forgetting to wear his pants after using the restroom, too excited to get back to the playroom.
Way to go, Aditya!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Why are they "gone"?
Aditya, while eating his snack of Mary's Gone crackers, "Hey Mom why are they called Mary's Gone Crackers?"
Mom: "Well I don't know but I do think it is a strange name"
Aditya: "I think I know why. Because the company wanted the crackers gone to WHOLE FOODS."
Mom ROTFL.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Men at work!
On the weekend I went into the playroom with Aditya with a "game".
When anyone says "I've got a game for you" his face lights up. (Thanks to the wonderfully exciting games he played with his friends at the Son Rise house last month.)
"What's that game?" said he.
I announced the name of the game (still in the bag but some of the things could be seen from outside) ... the "Handy Man game".
"The Handy Man Game?" said Aditya with excitement, as he is fond of things the handymen get with them when they come to fix things around the house. (Handymen are people who fix all kinds of things in the house--- they are the combination of a "plumber", a "carpenter", and an "electrician"... no wonder... it is so cool to play the Handy-Man!)
I then drew out all those cool things from the bag one by one: a not-in-use remote control which would be our cell-phone, an empty box with pictures of light bulbs, batteries of 4 different kinds, a flashlight (torch), a digital organizer which would be our laptop/palmtop computer, some wires, tape, a screw driver, a clothespin doubled up as a plyer, a stud finder, a measuring tape, and 4 plastic bags (read more for why plastic bags).
The bottom-line is... the Handy Man game was not really a game. But we have seen this time and again... when you present almost anything as a game, it becomes a hit!!!
As handy-men we did a number of things together--- most of them with Aditya in the lead role:
1) Use a TV remote control as a mobile phone to take calls from people calling us with jobs
2) Answer phone calls from Jack who lives on 123 Washington Street and Joe who lives on 321 Main Street. Jack had a broken light bulb and wanted us to fix it. Joe, had a bigger issue. His bathroom had a problem and there was water all over in his house. Aditya agreed to go to help Joe first as he needed help more urgently.
3) Visit people's houses to fix things with Aditya riding his motor bike and me riding behind him
4) Wear plastic bags in our feet to make sure we did not bring the dirt from the streets into our clients' houses!
5) Aditya using a big vacuum to suck away water while I used a baseball bat turned into a broom to clean away the excess water
6) Aditya helping me move away the trampoline (pretending it to be a dining table) as there was water under it which had to be cleaned
7) Making a call to Jack as we were getting late going to his house to fix the light bulb
8) Going to Jack's house and fixing his light bulb after measuring the hight of his lamp post then deciding he needed to raise that a little more, then standing on a step stool which Aditya helped me with, to change the light bulb
Goals worked on:
1) Inspire Aditya to physically participate in activities chosen by him and by others... this one we did very well due to the nature of this game
2) Inspire him to be spontaneous in our interactions... such as "Joe" telling him on the phone about water everywhere, and wondering aloud how soon he would come. He responded by saying one minute. As another example, I would "wonder" how we could clean up so much water, and he would then come up with a response like "Let's get the vacuum cleaner".
3) Inspire Aditya to make his wants/not wants clear. Inspire him also to make himself clearly understood, e.g. I wondered if he was okay wearing plastic bags in his feet. He said "I am okay but it is wet over there" (perhaps with sweat). I laughed and readily offered to remove those bags.
All in all, we had a gala time. It was amazing to see Aditya's willingness to participate in such a physically interactive activity for about 20 minutes at a stretch. When he was done with the game, he clearly said "I want to stop playing this and..." thus making his want clear. Hurray!!!
When anyone says "I've got a game for you" his face lights up. (Thanks to the wonderfully exciting games he played with his friends at the Son Rise house last month.)
"What's that game?" said he.
I announced the name of the game (still in the bag but some of the things could be seen from outside) ... the "Handy Man game".
"The Handy Man Game?" said Aditya with excitement, as he is fond of things the handymen get with them when they come to fix things around the house. (Handymen are people who fix all kinds of things in the house--- they are the combination of a "plumber", a "carpenter", and an "electrician"... no wonder... it is so cool to play the Handy-Man!)
I then drew out all those cool things from the bag one by one: a not-in-use remote control which would be our cell-phone, an empty box with pictures of light bulbs, batteries of 4 different kinds, a flashlight (torch), a digital organizer which would be our laptop/palmtop computer, some wires, tape, a screw driver, a clothespin doubled up as a plyer, a stud finder, a measuring tape, and 4 plastic bags (read more for why plastic bags).
The bottom-line is... the Handy Man game was not really a game. But we have seen this time and again... when you present almost anything as a game, it becomes a hit!!!
As handy-men we did a number of things together--- most of them with Aditya in the lead role:
1) Use a TV remote control as a mobile phone to take calls from people calling us with jobs
2) Answer phone calls from Jack who lives on 123 Washington Street and Joe who lives on 321 Main Street. Jack had a broken light bulb and wanted us to fix it. Joe, had a bigger issue. His bathroom had a problem and there was water all over in his house. Aditya agreed to go to help Joe first as he needed help more urgently.
3) Visit people's houses to fix things with Aditya riding his motor bike and me riding behind him
4) Wear plastic bags in our feet to make sure we did not bring the dirt from the streets into our clients' houses!
5) Aditya using a big vacuum to suck away water while I used a baseball bat turned into a broom to clean away the excess water
6) Aditya helping me move away the trampoline (pretending it to be a dining table) as there was water under it which had to be cleaned
7) Making a call to Jack as we were getting late going to his house to fix the light bulb
8) Going to Jack's house and fixing his light bulb after measuring the hight of his lamp post then deciding he needed to raise that a little more, then standing on a step stool which Aditya helped me with, to change the light bulb
Goals worked on:
1) Inspire Aditya to physically participate in activities chosen by him and by others... this one we did very well due to the nature of this game
2) Inspire him to be spontaneous in our interactions... such as "Joe" telling him on the phone about water everywhere, and wondering aloud how soon he would come. He responded by saying one minute. As another example, I would "wonder" how we could clean up so much water, and he would then come up with a response like "Let's get the vacuum cleaner".
3) Inspire Aditya to make his wants/not wants clear. Inspire him also to make himself clearly understood, e.g. I wondered if he was okay wearing plastic bags in his feet. He said "I am okay but it is wet over there" (perhaps with sweat). I laughed and readily offered to remove those bags.
All in all, we had a gala time. It was amazing to see Aditya's willingness to participate in such a physically interactive activity for about 20 minutes at a stretch. When he was done with the game, he clearly said "I want to stop playing this and..." thus making his want clear. Hurray!!!
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