Normal DS Behavior

[tchamness]

I have noticed a behavior in Lexi and am wondering if it is just part of the Downs or maybe something else. She is turning 12 in a few months and we are riding the hormone train. She likes to be by herself. So she goes to her room alot to watch Tv for a while. Which I don't mind. We have a houseful of people and she can unwind from her school day and watch what she wants. But sometimes when she is watching tv she starts growling for a lack of a better word. Sometimes she is even rocking back and forth and she become oblivious to her surroundings. The school has even noticed that she is starting to do this. When you tell her to quit the growling she is not even aware of it. The second thing is that she gets a pretend thought in her head and wont let it go. Example, We were in Walmart one day and she started to straighten shelves. She has done this before to entertain herself when she feels we are taking too long. But when I told her it was time to move on. She insisted she worked in WalMart and she had to straighten up. We laughed and told her to come on. Everytime I turned around she was lagging behind straightening the shelves. I explained that she couldn't lagged behind because she might get lost. She became very upset and said she works at Walmart and if she doesnt do her job she will get fired. To her this was completely real. I have had the same problem about her watching Hanna Montana and then thinking she has a concert to go to/ and or perform at. And she gets very upset and angry when you explain it is make believe. She is scared of everythng. If a different number bus shows up in the morining (same people, just different bus) she gets very upset and has to be forced on the bus. I am kinda on my own here. We as parents try to treat ours kids like their peers. But lately I am rethinking this path. I just dont think punishing her for this behavior is the right way to go, but I am finding I am in the minorty . Ideas, suggestions? Sorry for such a long post.

[Jackie]

I suggest the following book...it is excellent

www.woodbinehouse.com/main.asp_Q_product_id_E_1-890627-65-8_A_.asp

and if you can make the conf this summer, I think both the authors will be there.

Jackie

[Jessie]

I was going to suggest reading that book too!! That topic is discussed in the first few chapters. In a nutshell, it can be 'typical' behavior for someone with Ds, but not something that you necessarily want to encourage if it is distracting to her doing other things.



Jessie

[tchamness]

So no one has had this same experinces? She has a good imagination I just worry that she sometimes gets lost in it. LOL

[Chris too]

She sounds like someone I would love to spend time with - never a dull moment

[PaigesMom]

Jackie/Jesse:

Do you think this book is appropriate for parents of younger kids too? Or is it more geared towards adults?

Debbie

[Debbie]

This is very interesting behavior. I wonder if Lexi is thinking of her future and what she'd like to do. I mean, I used to see myself do things. It made me feel better about myself. I was very shy. Sorry I can't help you or give you any insight. Sometimes we do think and try things we see on TV. What I saw on TV I would try to write a story on it. Tchamness, I have Down syndrome. I have Mosaic Down syndrome. I am forty eight.

[Jessie]

It's hard for me to answer if Jason does this because we can't understand 90% of what he says. My best guess is yes. He's a growler, grunter and watches too many movies . . . how could he not do this?

I would highly recommend this book to every parent, regardless of the age of the child. I personally think it's kind of a bad title. becuase it makes someone think they don't need to read it until the person with Ds is an adult. The case studies they discuss are all with adults, but I could see the signs for things in Jason when he was a young teen. I remember thinking a few times, dang I wish I would have known that sooner!

Good book, highly recommend it.


Jessie