Health and Safety

When your child is diagnosed with autism, one of two things seems to happen. Either a) you find the appropriate treatments and resources and they get better, or b) you discover an underlying health issue that triggers the onset of increased anxiety outbursts, meltdowns, and overall autistic tendencies.

Lately, we've been experiencing a great deal of the latter. This redirects much of what I do with them to more sensory experiences, and anxiety management. I've been learning how to encourage a back and forth conversation in regards to feelings and anxieties they are experiencing at the time. This has had a huge impact on our day-to-day lives.

However, I cannot ignore the fact that we are experiencing two separate flare-ups at once, and I find most of my energy is spent in either assisting them through it, or coping with it myself. Fortunately for me, little 'A' is demonstrating to me his interest in peaceful discipline. I'm not sure how or why this came forward, but that is something I do understand and am working towards as well. Maybe if we grow in this together, we'll both benefit from it. 'D' on the other hand found a way to express his insecurities about his bedroom.. we have heard accounts of monsters, and bad guys. Not only this, but he started off by saying how it made him feel, and then what he believes it was caused by. Prior to this we'd only manage to get one or the other, if anything at all.

Toilet-Readiness:

Potty Time

Bear in the Big Blue House

I started the conversation about toilets, pullups, potties, and growing up when 'A' was around 2 years old. At that time what first transpired was a very messy, unpleasant, sensory discovery experience. It was everywhere. I'm glad he did not eat it. Another thing to note, is that he had further food allergies which were contributing to unhealthy and frequent diaper changes. This little guy decided he would investigate for himself.

We've come a long long way since then. Today it seems we are comfortable with peeing, it is a normal thing.. everybody does it. They learned the triggers, and why it happens. The act in itself has no anxiety attached to it anymore. Now we are onto number 2. A far more self-conscious bodily function. We always go back to Bear in the big blue house. Sesame street was not our thing. But every few months when tensions rise due to pullups, bathroom trips, or the need  to discuss.. I put this on again. It serves as a reminder that this process is okay, and that they themselves will accomplish it.