Post by Jodi on Apr 27, 2009 22:49:41 GMT -5
Ry takes swim lessons 3x per week at the Y. I haven't been for a while - DH has been the swim taxi lately. The swimming pool is in an enclosed building. There is a viewing room inside with windows, as well as windows along one side of the building. Parents/caregivers are not allowed in the pool area during lessons.
I watched as Ry sat on the bench inside the pool area waiting for the lesson to begin. There were two girls sitting next to Ry... probably each were a couple of years younger than he. As the three of them sat there, Ry was trying to start up a conversation. No easy task for a kid that has a ton to say, but unless you know him you can't understand a word he is saying. He starts to try and tell the girls about Disney World, and that he only has 92 days until his next trip. They don't get it. He unfolds his towel, which is a Disney World towel, points to it and tries again. No luck. The girls look back at their moms as if to say "what do I do?". Ry sighs and gives up.
Soon, two other girls show up and it is time for the group lesson. 4 girls, Ry, and a female swim instructor. He is in heaven! They each take turns bobbing, floating on their backs, and swimming back and forth. Each time it is Ryan's turn, he tries to strike up a brief conversation with the instructor. First time around, he tells her he is going to Disney World. She says, "okay, time to swim". Next turn, Ry tells her that he is going to McDonalds after swimming, getting a cheeseburger, french fries, and a sprite. She says, "oh, okay, it's time to swim". Next turn, Ry tells her "McDonalds first, then baseball... dad, josh" (we were going to watch Josh and Larry play softball after we picked up McDonalds). She says, "oh, really, okay let's swim".
As I sat there feeling bad for Ryan because I understood every word this kid was saying... he was trying so hard to communicate and in every single case, people had no clue what he was saying. I wanted to scream "HEY - HE IS REALLY SAYING SOMETHING TO YOU!!"
That is when the flashback happened. I remember being in a similar situation years ago (I was about 11) when a young man tried to communicate with me and I didn't have the slightest idea what he was saying. I felt awkward, but the worst part now that I look back, I assumed he was just making sounds. Bummer. Okay, so a good learning lesson for me, right? After the lesson, I told the little girls that Ry was telling them he is going on a trip to Disney World. I told them he really likes to talk to them, but that the words don't come out right sometimes. They were nice about it, and one of them went out of her way to say goodbye to Ry as we were leaving.
I am hoping to catch the teacher next time. I have tried to have people say to Ry "sorry kiddo, I don't understand what you are saying" rather than say "oh, that's nice". Ry gets it when people don't understand him, an although it can be frustrating, he will actually do whatever he can to help US understand HIM! I would rather the swim instructor at least say to him that the can talk about stuff at the end of the lesson so I can help interpret.
As much as it frustrates me, it is nothing compared to what Ry goes through, and that is truly the hard part. My kid is awesome though... wish you could see how hard he works WITH people to help THEM understand HIM ;D that part is very cool
Those are my ramblings thoughts of the day
Jodi
I watched as Ry sat on the bench inside the pool area waiting for the lesson to begin. There were two girls sitting next to Ry... probably each were a couple of years younger than he. As the three of them sat there, Ry was trying to start up a conversation. No easy task for a kid that has a ton to say, but unless you know him you can't understand a word he is saying. He starts to try and tell the girls about Disney World, and that he only has 92 days until his next trip. They don't get it. He unfolds his towel, which is a Disney World towel, points to it and tries again. No luck. The girls look back at their moms as if to say "what do I do?". Ry sighs and gives up.
Soon, two other girls show up and it is time for the group lesson. 4 girls, Ry, and a female swim instructor. He is in heaven! They each take turns bobbing, floating on their backs, and swimming back and forth. Each time it is Ryan's turn, he tries to strike up a brief conversation with the instructor. First time around, he tells her he is going to Disney World. She says, "okay, time to swim". Next turn, Ry tells her that he is going to McDonalds after swimming, getting a cheeseburger, french fries, and a sprite. She says, "oh, okay, it's time to swim". Next turn, Ry tells her "McDonalds first, then baseball... dad, josh" (we were going to watch Josh and Larry play softball after we picked up McDonalds). She says, "oh, really, okay let's swim".
As I sat there feeling bad for Ryan because I understood every word this kid was saying... he was trying so hard to communicate and in every single case, people had no clue what he was saying. I wanted to scream "HEY - HE IS REALLY SAYING SOMETHING TO YOU!!"
That is when the flashback happened. I remember being in a similar situation years ago (I was about 11) when a young man tried to communicate with me and I didn't have the slightest idea what he was saying. I felt awkward, but the worst part now that I look back, I assumed he was just making sounds. Bummer. Okay, so a good learning lesson for me, right? After the lesson, I told the little girls that Ry was telling them he is going on a trip to Disney World. I told them he really likes to talk to them, but that the words don't come out right sometimes. They were nice about it, and one of them went out of her way to say goodbye to Ry as we were leaving.
I am hoping to catch the teacher next time. I have tried to have people say to Ry "sorry kiddo, I don't understand what you are saying" rather than say "oh, that's nice". Ry gets it when people don't understand him, an although it can be frustrating, he will actually do whatever he can to help US understand HIM! I would rather the swim instructor at least say to him that the can talk about stuff at the end of the lesson so I can help interpret.
As much as it frustrates me, it is nothing compared to what Ry goes through, and that is truly the hard part. My kid is awesome though... wish you could see how hard he works WITH people to help THEM understand HIM ;D that part is very cool
Those are my ramblings thoughts of the day
Jodi
She was trapped in a body that worked different from most, but her mind was totally sharp - it was such an awesome experience to have that conversation with her. 
