Post by laurasnowbird on Aug 22, 2009 20:53:33 GMT -5
BUT, I'm starting to be pretty trusting of Ethan in our yard. I've been able to let him go outside with his sister and her friends for quite awhile now. He stays right with them, and behaves himself well most of the time. Lately she's been taking him with her to her girlfriend's house halfway down the block to play. Her friend has a brother who is Ethan's friend from school.
I'll be honest, I've been VERY strict with him about outdoor activities since he was little. When he was littler, if he was outside with the bigger kids or me, and wandered away from them into the front yard, he was required to come in the house and spent the rest of the afternoon watching them through the window. It really didn't take long for him to decide that it was worth his while to cooperate, LOL! Gotta say though, it killed me to watch him at the window on those days that he'd abused his outdoor privileges. Now I'm feeling like it was all worth it.
Today I tried something altogether new. He plays outside with Victoria and his almost four year old brother Aidan all the time. They stick together nicely, but Victoria's there, so I don't worry. Today she was gone and the two boys wanted to go out and play. I told them they had to stay in the backyard, they promised they would, and I let them go out, and settled down with the laundry to watch them out my bedroom windows. It only lasted about ten minutes, and they'd left the backyard and were in the garage. I immediately made them come in and put their things away. Much crying and carrying on.....!
A couple of hours later they wanted to go out again. I again reiterated they had to stay in the backyard, and reminded them if they left the backyard they'd have to come in. They played in the back for an hour and a half! (I ran out of laundry to do, imagine that!) I was laughing to myself watching them throw the Frisbee back and forth to each other, so cute!
Then at dinner time, I set them down at the table and prepared for Ethan's arguments about dinner. Those who've been on here a long time know that we've come a looooong way with food - Ethan had extreme sensory issues that have taken a long time to overcome. He now eats a great variety of foods, but each new thing is still a struggle.
That little stinker sat down tonight and ate shepherd's pie without a single argument, and cleaned his plate! He ate all the carrots, corn, green beans and peas in it without batting an eyelash. You could have knocked me over with a feather. Honestly, I would NEVER have believed I'd see the day. For those of you struggling with food issues, there is definitely hope. It's taken a lot of sensory and oral motor therapy, but watching him today made it worth every bit of the time spent.
I've been so stressed about the whole food thing this year, because he'll be in first grade, and they eat lunch AT SCHOOL!!! With limited choices! Eeeek!! We've been working so hard to get him to a point where he could eat with everyone else without issues, and I'm actually hopeful now that it might go well.
For everyone struggling with the food issues, there is hope!
I'll be honest, I've been VERY strict with him about outdoor activities since he was little. When he was littler, if he was outside with the bigger kids or me, and wandered away from them into the front yard, he was required to come in the house and spent the rest of the afternoon watching them through the window. It really didn't take long for him to decide that it was worth his while to cooperate, LOL! Gotta say though, it killed me to watch him at the window on those days that he'd abused his outdoor privileges. Now I'm feeling like it was all worth it.
Today I tried something altogether new. He plays outside with Victoria and his almost four year old brother Aidan all the time. They stick together nicely, but Victoria's there, so I don't worry. Today she was gone and the two boys wanted to go out and play. I told them they had to stay in the backyard, they promised they would, and I let them go out, and settled down with the laundry to watch them out my bedroom windows. It only lasted about ten minutes, and they'd left the backyard and were in the garage. I immediately made them come in and put their things away. Much crying and carrying on.....!
A couple of hours later they wanted to go out again. I again reiterated they had to stay in the backyard, and reminded them if they left the backyard they'd have to come in. They played in the back for an hour and a half! (I ran out of laundry to do, imagine that!) I was laughing to myself watching them throw the Frisbee back and forth to each other, so cute!
Then at dinner time, I set them down at the table and prepared for Ethan's arguments about dinner. Those who've been on here a long time know that we've come a looooong way with food - Ethan had extreme sensory issues that have taken a long time to overcome. He now eats a great variety of foods, but each new thing is still a struggle.
That little stinker sat down tonight and ate shepherd's pie without a single argument, and cleaned his plate! He ate all the carrots, corn, green beans and peas in it without batting an eyelash. You could have knocked me over with a feather. Honestly, I would NEVER have believed I'd see the day. For those of you struggling with food issues, there is definitely hope. It's taken a lot of sensory and oral motor therapy, but watching him today made it worth every bit of the time spent.
I've been so stressed about the whole food thing this year, because he'll be in first grade, and they eat lunch AT SCHOOL!!! With limited choices! Eeeek!! We've been working so hard to get him to a point where he could eat with everyone else without issues, and I'm actually hopeful now that it might go well.
For everyone struggling with the food issues, there is hope!