Owen doesn’t understand the art of bribery; he does understand take away, however. I can’t ask him to do something, and if he completes it, he will get a reward days later, like a new toy, or to go to his favorite place. He understands instant gratification; like if he goes to the bathroom he gets bubbles, but he doesn’t understand that would be a reward if we did it a few days later. I’m trying to find ways to reward Owen for working on behaviors, or being able to complete tasks; bubbles only go so far. Even something like singing, or repeating an action, he won’t always do when asked to repeat it; sometimes he can’t process the request, and other times he’s moved on. Last night, he kept saying “why’d de chicken cross de road”, and then going on to include an ad for a Disney Junior television show. I wanted to record him saying it. It was absolutely the cutest, and I wanted that memory. Every time I held the camera to take the video he ran away. There was no convincing, or even saying you’ll get bubbles if you let mommy record you. I wanted that memory, but I will have to keep it close to my heart. This morning Owen woke anxious, but quickly settled. He wanted a lot of interaction from me. He wanted tickles, compressions, and hugs. His smile is contagious; it’s what I really needed this morning. “One more hug”, he said, as we were walking to the bus stop. I wanted him to look at the moon, but I didn’t want to get into that emotional moment, I wanted to savor the one more hug. We sing songs about the moon, and I show him pictures of the moon, but I can’t get Owen to understand he has to look up in the sky to see the moon, even if I point. That day will come. It will be a huge, huger than huge victory, when Owen looks at something I point to. You’ll hear me shouting it from the rooftops, and the tears of joy will wash away the tears of sadness I’ve shed waiting for that moment. The steps of your growth are important. Celebrate where you have come from, and rejoice at the victories ahead. Right now is your stepping stone, how are you going to grow today. Smiles to all and donut daze!
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