Comments on: Trying to Get Perspective

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:09:37 +0000

@everyone – Thanks again to everyone for the positive thoughts. Slowly trying to catch up and get things back closer to normal, though that may take a while. Doing better lately after trying to take some time to regroup and get some perspective on things. Fingers crossed that keeps up. Your support through this rough patch has meant so much to us.

@Jordan – Thanks for the compliments! Added your blogs to my RSS reader, which I’m – not surprisingly – way behind on reading. Look forward to reading your insights!

@Maddy – I think it’s that we have to live so much in the moment that our memory of past experiences gets fuzzy and maybe we forget both how rough things have been and how comparatively good things may be at a given moment. At least that’s how I seem to do it. I’m trying to broaden that horizon some so instead of just reacting to everything I try to respond from some more experienced part of myself. Not saying I’m remotely succeeding at it. It’s more that I’m trying.

@Amanda – Very belated welcome! I know very few ASD kids who don’t have several sensory issues, so you all have a lot of company! Seems like most of our conversations among parents are more about which senses are more challenging than others for our kids rather than whether they have sensory issues or not. It’s a never-ending challenge. Sounds like our sons are about the same age, and both sweet too!

I think there actually is a technical term for these ‘quantum leap’ advances our kids sometimes have, so apparently they are reasonably common. Regardless, they definitely keep things lively! (e.g., J-Man went from cruising the walls to running laps in two days; he went from wherever he was to trying – with word approximations – to identify every word in the house in what seemed like the span of a morning) Those days are like fuel.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:37:23 +0000

I just found your blog. My youngest was diagnosed with ASD, with a special leaning towards sensory integration dysfunction. He’s a wonderful, sweet boy, who is almost four. His big brother, at 5, is an incredibly smart (sometimes surprisingly and suspiciously so).

With Aj, he switches between using words, signs, and pictures so rapidly that communication is…interesting. To say the least. Sometimes we’ll be progressing then he’ll jump tracks to the next and we’re learning all over again. All worth it, of course. Keeps us on our toes.

I’ve read your manifesto and it’s awesome! Exactly our philosophy!
Just wanted to say hi!

By: Maddy

Maddy — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:32:47 +0000

It’s always after we’ve had a period of comparative calm [*] that everything starts to crumble and rearrange themselves that I realize just how ‘good’ it was. Fortunately, we usually are rewarded with another period of complacency later, although of course we never actually notice it until we’re in the next downward spiral. [* repeat]
Wishing you another bout of ‘boring’ some time soonishly.

By: Dominique

Dominique — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:07:59 +0000

I just wanted to send your family tons of compassion and support over the ‘webwaves’. Just reminding you all that you are not alone in these difficult times. Your family is very much in my heart and I hope more and more room opens up in your lives and things become easier in the near future. So glad to hear about touching moments between Dale Jr. and the J-Man. Hugs to all of you.

By: Jordan Sadler

Jordan Sadler — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:26:12 +0000

Wow. What a gorgeous post and blog. Someone posted a link to this on Twitter this morning and it’s fabulous. Well-written, and a great resource for families and professionals. I have added it to Reader and look forward to reading more!

I’m an SLP in Chicago and have a professional blog at: http://communicationtherapy.wordpress.com and then also a personal blog where I write primarily about raising my own kids through the lens of a therapist: http://mywonderwheel.wordpress.com. I’d welcome your input and comments anytime!

By: Niksmom

Niksmom — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:00:29 +0000

Tim, this is a great post. It really sums up what I think many of us wrestle with at varying points. I know my husband and I are certainly going through this very thing right now. It is very difficult to explain to someone who doesn’t have the same frame of reference of the constant changes and re-setting of benchmarks/boundaries/etc. It’s also very stressful.

Sending you good wishes and compassionate understanding.