Our Personal Story...
Landen, now 2.5 yrs old (he will be 3 in April)
I'm going to skip the beginning b/c he had lots of other issues to deal with including surgeries, Dr's appts, staying on his belly for about 7-8 weeks after birth, etc etc.
NOW...
- He has anxiety of what "might" happen in certain situations. ex: noises, touch, bark of a dog, a light may flicker, any loud or different voice)
- He will decide if he will interact with you by the sound of your voice. If it's a comfortable voice, he's ok with you. If he doesn't like the voice of a cartoon character on tv or if they are dressed a little different, he will cry for you to turn it off, cover his ears, or turn away from the tv)...or tantrum will begin!
- He fears outings (especially if it's dark outside) for the fear of the unpredictable noises, laughter, voices, the way someone dresses..i mean like crazy hair and stuff...
- He only eats limited food items...which is very frustrating. He is allergic to tons of stuff but he gags/ chokes/ throws up on everything else. He refuses to eat foods based on texture, color, the way it looks etc. His limited food items are mostly breads, chicken (pulled or cut in tiny tiny pieces) rice, fries, pizza) yep that's about it.
- He is scared of going out in the dark. He is scared of anything that moves towards him ex: ant, spider, birds flying near him, trees swaying over his head. He will not even go in his playroom if it's dark outside and the blinds are not closed. THE BLINDS HAVE TO BE CLOSED and even then, he prefers you come with him. If you don't go with him, tantrum begins!
- He doesn't like tight clothing or tags on shirts, shorts, pants. He prefers to be naked but hey...I can't let him do that! He hates socks on his feet unless he has his braces and shoes on.
- Brushing his teeth..it's torture on both of us to brush his teeth. He gags and sometimes vomits..JOY! It literally takes me about 5 minutes to just do a couple of sweeps on top and bottom of his teeth. By then, I'm tired and ready for a nap!
- He hates Fireworks (loud)
- Hates Halloween (costumes and crazy people)
- Hates Santa (costume and he simply freaks Landen out)
- FOR FALLING ASLEEP TO BE ACCOMPLISHED...
Even at that point, any movement may wake him. He still wakes up
in the middle of the night and wants me in bed with him. He will toss
and turn the rest of the evening, waking just to make sure I am still there,
he will tap me and say "hey mommy" and go right back to bed. HE WILL
awaken again and say the same thing over and over just to make sure I don't
leave.
I am determined to help my son over come these issues that basically debilitate him from being in certain situations and learning and growing just like every other child his age... That's why we go to OT!
I have heard some whisperings out in public like "she should just whip that kid" "discipline goes a long way""my kid will NEVER act like that" "spoiled brat" "I'm never having kids when I get older" etc etc etc. These are NOT things I have heard them say about Landen or I would go "momma bear" on them and that "aint" pretty! It makes me sad to see other people talk and judge someone else's parenting styles b/c they may have no idea that that child has some sort of disability that makes them act like that. The child simply cannot help it. Now, don't get me wrong, some kids ARE just spoiled brats! =)
Some people may think that I am just "accommodating" to him which makes him look "spoiled" but the fact is...He has Sensory Processing Disorder!
Landen and I have become "home bodies" and we like it that way. I know what he can and cannot tolerate while out, I know the places we can and cannot go.
As long as Landen is happy and comfortable I AM HAPPY AND COMFORTABLE!
MY CHILD HAS SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER and he is the LOVE of my life! =) ( As well as my 2 other children...Lexi and Zach) Oh, and my husband too! =)
