He sat with me for a while, showing me his tablet, and wanting me to play his games. He tells me the wrong answers so that he can joke with me and then tell me a different answer. I explain that he needs to tell me what is happening but I’m also torn because he thinks it is funny so I don’t want him to not think he can’t joke around with me.
Lights, camera, action have a whole different meaning for Owen. He only wants the lights on when he wants the lights on and this morning was not a day he wanted the lights on. I turned it on because I had several things I needed to do and he immediately came to turn them off, screaming about turning the lights off. It can be so hard on him. The screaming gets me. I wish I could explain to him that some of us need lights to see when we are getting ready or doing other activities but his sensory needs are all he can handle. I get it but it still makes it hard. The light was in my room and the door could be closed but he still didn’t want it on even though he always keeps his table light on in his room.
Owen was so excited to be going back to school. We got outside to wait for the bus and he got on it like a champ. I was praying it would be a great day for him. When I picked him up he was concerned that some people were not wearing blue pants and then my phone rang and this sent him into overdrive. The whole way from his school to therapy he was yelling about the clothing of everyone. I try to explain to him that we have to let others choose what they want to wear but this still has not connected with him. Thankfully his music therapist said he did fine as long as they kept it going. Silence is hard for him.
We came home to get a snack before his vision therapy. The trip home was a little quieter but he still had lots of opinions about people’s clothing and it wasn’t just about today. He was focused on what others would be wearing in the weeks ahead.
We got ready to leave and I put his jacket on him. He was afraid it was going to shock him. When we got to his vision therapy appointment he went to open the door and it shocked him so he didn’t want to open the door then. I wish I had a better way to explain it to him but I always tell him I’m sorry it shocked him. He expects everything to shock him. His appointment went better this time than last week but he still can’t focus on the exercises as much as what everyone is wearing. I pray he can find a way to change his focus and move forward.
We came home and he was much calmer but wanted to know if his grandma would have white hair on Saturday. I know that he wants to make sure everyone will look exactly as he needs them to and it has been hard on him since I lost my hair. I assured him she would and that made him happy.
Bedtime was met with a no but it didn’t take long for him to head off to bed. He wanted me to confirm that I knew the answer but I told him I did not know the answer because I didn’t know the question, my standard answer. He is starting to make that connection. Each step forward is a gift. Focus on the good stuff because some days it’s easy to let the frazzled side win. I love hearing Owen sing and that makes my heart happy. Sing loud and sing proud. Let the whole world hear you sing. Smiles to all and donut daze!