Keep experiencing and don't avoid.

I know that you are getting a million comments on this entry, I am #76, I did not read all of you comments so if this is already a technique given, sorry. My Daughter Emilie has Sensory Integration, (A relitave of Autism) and one of the techniques that I do for her during her meltdowns is squeezing her muscles, (not hard but just enough for sensory input) and then compress her joints. Her Therapist says that she needs this input to Organize her thought process. Emilie does not like a lot of comotion, I had a Birthday Party at Build-a-bear, for my other daughter, Cassidie, and Emilie asked several times for me to squeeze her. She is getting old enough now that she knows what works. Just like your son from reading your blog & books (ok huge fan of your work) Kids with "these types" of issues, (I hate calling it a disability) are just so brilliant, and their thought process is so different that if you do sit back and experience, you can sometimes "get it" and enjoy their world. Ok, I am stopping the long post.

Hi Ali,
My name is Jessica, and I am a behavior analyst, working with children with autism. I happened upon your blog, and wanted to suggest reinforcing eating meat with a favorite food (like potatoes). For example, you would start with a tiny piece of meat. Once he eats the meat, you would then praise him for eating the meat, followed by presenting a bite of the potatoe (the reinforcer). Eventually, you will be able to increase the size and amount of meat that Simon eats, and hopefully he will come to enjoy the taste of it as well.

Hey Ali,
Loved your comments today. Here's something I did with an Autistic child I taught (also had gorgeous dark eyelashes like Simon). We played Wiggles songs - which he loved while he was doing something he didn't like - a good with the bad thing. I used to put Wiggles on his Walkman so that he could handle going to assembly. Eventually we started to lower the volume until there was no sound then we took the earphones off altogether. Maybe you could modify this in some way with Simon?
Again - have a great time! ; )
Jude

Such wise words Ali! Big hugs. Have a fantastic trip!

Wow, this sounds liek my life about 3-4 years ago. Both my twins were special needs in different ways. Seeing Simon's journal totally reminds me of Elijah and what we had to do with him in special ed pre-k for 2 years before he could move on to regular prek. He wasn't fully potty trained until well past 4, he lucked out because he looks so much younger than his age, so no one ever said much to me. For Hannah it was the changes, she did not take well to any variance of her schedule. She went completely backward for a while, wouldn't talk, potty, hurt peopl and was destructive. It would've been so easy to avoid dealing with both of these issues, but it wouldn't have helped anyone. Praise God, now at 6 1/2 they are getting ready to enter 1st grade this year and are on track for a good year. Keep your head up and remember that God doesn't give you more than you can handle. He chose you to be Simon's mom because He knew you would love him and care for him the way he needed!

Talk about a place to come for an uplifting, encouraging message....YOU ROCK ALI!!
And to anyone wanting a little motivation to do the challenges in Ali's new book, please follow link to my blog, we've got a whole online community doing the challenges together!!!

Thanks for the inspiration Ali. We are going to take the step to take dairy out of our daughter's diet and maybe gluten. I have not done it yet because....it will be hard. Thanks for the push.
You have a wonderful outlook on life.
I have said it before but will say it again. Simon is lucky to have you as his mama.
Have a safe trip.
Sara M

Ali,
You make me think that children are truly the same all other the world, & it seems we were the same at their age (yes yes really I hated meat when I was a girl :-D).
So, I just have to wait to have my own children, who'll get on my own nerves, because they'll hate some meat or fish too, one day...
...Ali, how was you, when you was a girl, with your parents???
Have a good day!
Simon is so cute & natural.

Ali --
Your words are so true, and often so hard to implement. My 23 month old has CP, and we have PT, OT, and Speech for a total of 7 appointments a week. Thus, we have a lot of "homework." Sometimes it's so tempting to blow things off and look the other way. What comes to naturally to most kiddos after trying a few times, my guy has to practice hundreds of times. But then he "gets it," and the difficult work is so worth it. Still, there's no denying it's hard and there are days when I'd much prefer the easier route and avoid doing those things I know I must. I try to keep in mind the truism "What you resist persists." In other words: just do it, because if you don't it just looms larger.
Thanks for being so honest and so real. You have so many people rooting for you and precious Simon.
Carole

i so needed to hear this
e v e y d a y

thanks for sharing ali!!!
-p

Thanks as always for sharing. I am an avoidance person by nature, something I know is a bad trait and one I am working to stop. It helps to know I'm not the only one

simons inspires me.

really needed to hear this today :)
thanks ali.

Hi Ali,
This is the first time I've ever read your blog and I can't believe how much this sounds like my life. I have a very strong-willed daughter who is 4 (at least that's what the doctor tells me!) and even though she is not technically "special needs", she is about all I can handle. I never know how she is going to react to social situations, so much of the time I do avoid, rather than try it to see what happens. Thanks for reminding me that experiences are so important!

I always read your blog with much anticipation and interest. You have so much going on in life, yet seemingly have it all together. I look at what I do in the course of a day and it seems like I stand still in comparison.
Your post last night made me tear up for the small joys that you get to celebrate with Simon.
Keep living ... keep inspiring. You do it so well!

thank you , thank you, thank you for once again giving us that little push....
lately its become too easy to just live in my safe little bubble.... so I'm off to do something "out" with Ryan.
Kim Faucher

When I was little, my dad complained to my pediatrician that I wouldn't eat meat. Unfortunately for him, my pediatrician was a Seventh Day Adventist and saw no problem with this. We moved to a different town and my dad complained to my new pediatrician that I wouldn't eat meat. This one was Hindu, and didn't see a problem with that. My dad gave up. To this day, I do eat meat, but not much. Poor dad.

Amen sister....do not avoid. I am a mother of a child with special needs. He was diagnosed with a language based learning disability. Which makes some things difficult. Like loud noises, causes him to cover his ears...like fire drills which happen once a month at school. And the buzzer at basketball games. We are learning different coping strategies, so he can participate in basketball, and not freak out at school. You are so inspiring.

Simon is one cool little dude. And he is SO BLESSED to have such wonderful and caring parents who understand what life is all about. You inspire me everyday.

Where did you get the communication notebook?

Completely unrelated to my son's special needs, but I so needed to hear that risks are important. Facing a real jumping off point in my life and not sure if I can step up into the experience or if I will pull back and shy away (AGAIN!).
Very scary, very hard. Thanks for the nudge.

Thank you, I so needed to read this one NOW!!!

Ali- You continue to inspire me!!It is great to hear about Simon's struggles and successes. I can relate due to my special ed. background and my son's apraxia.
I have been stressed about potty training and afraid that he couldn't do. I finally have stopped avoided it and he is wearing underwear. The best part is that my son is so excited and proud. We are on our way...
Thanks for the message about importance of experience. Sometimes we get scared of failure and freeze, but doing is often the best approach.
Jess

Thank you so much for your message. It's hard, sometimes, even when there are no "obvious" limitations, and your words/reminder is so encouraging. Thank you for sharing.