The clocks are ’springing forward’ tomorrow - brighter days ahead. It’s a strange time right now: I hear birds signing outside, but the early mornings are still cold and uncomfortable. All around the ground is a muddy quagmire topped with greenery. We’re expecting temperatures near 60 today, but since there’s still snow on the ground, many of us parents are still dressing the kids in snowsuits so they don’t get soaked and chilled. Even the geese have made a couple of cameos, but have decided against signing any contracts just yet; they’re gone again. It’s the messy ‘in-between’ stage.
It has seemed lately that in some ways Gus has been going backwards; regressing. In other ways, he has merely stagnated. He’s still having difficulty with doing independent work in school. And he’s been wandering the school halls or doing dangerous things like climbing on school furniture. Why?
Nearly eight years of observation provides a hopeful answer - I try not to worry about these setbacks any more. It seems that before he can jump forward, he’s got to take a few steps back. The progress always outweighs the regressions. I don’t know why exactly this happens. But when I look at nature, it seems that many transitions are less than pretty. If you’ve ever seen a baby bird hatch, at first they’re all twisted, discombobulated, upside down…and quite unattractive (in a cute, my-mom-just-sat-on-my-head kind of way).
Gus woke up this morning (at a reasonable hour), dressed himself (in matching clothes even), went downstairs and set his Pokemon game up until everyone else got out of bed. Clearly, he’s gaining independence. He’s already gone through a physical growth spurt, and now his mind is following along with a developmental surge. The regressive behaviors are already starting to fade along with the dark days. He’s almost squelched through all the transitional muck. I see sunnier skies in Gus’s near future.
Do you notice any regression in your child just before a developmental leap forward?
Happy Winter Solstice! In keeping with our family tradition, we got up early this morning and went outside to greet the sun. From now on the days will start to gradually lengthen - what’s not to celebrate? As we trekked through calf-deep snow (knee deep for poor MM) I realized what a sensory wonderland it was for Gus!
I’ve read that kids with ADHD and many on the autism spectrum do particularly well when they can spend some time out in nature. I’ve found this to be true for Gus (Asperger’s and borderline ADHD). I did some videotaping and tried to experience the moment from his perspective. I’m not expert at video-making yet, but here’s a brief glimpse of our trip to the lake this morning:
Trudging through the snow allowed Gus to use his large muscles providing proprioceptive sensory input and also strengthening the weaker core muscles.
Being bundled in several layers of warm clothing gave him some deep pressure (squeezing) which tends to be calming for him.
At one point, Gus lay down in the snow which also provided deep pressure with the added bonus of a snow angel thrown in with the deal.
Early morning, cold, snowy day - very quiet and heavenly for a child with noise sensitivity.
The rushing wind created a white noise that added to the soothing feel, especially when listening to it through a jacket hood.
On the way back, we decided to take the long scenic route, and I noticed that Gus was exuberant and loving the morning, but not in the manic way we typically see when he’s racing through the house. That was a gift in itself!
Speaking of gifts, the kids were allowed to open a couple of gifts last night and this morning. Celebrating both Solstice/Yule and Christmas helps to mitigate some of the craziness of Christmas day. They get less overwhelmed by too much ’stuff’ and can take the time to enjoy their presents a little at a time. He loved the mini Hot Wheels set and the new Leapster game; the MP3 player didn’t go over as well as I thought. Perhaps when he learns to use it, he’ll warm up a little to it.
So that was our morning. How does your special sensory needs child do with outdoor/nature time?
These videos came to my attention courtesy of my sister-in-law. They’re both quite beautiful in the sentiments they express. The interesting thing about the timing when I got these videos is that I also got a book - work related - about the gifts of ADHD, not exactly the same, but similar enough. If the universe is trying to tell me something, it’s certainly not being subtle!
The first video is entitled When God Created the Autistic Child, and the second is Autism: Not As Strange As It Seems. With the second, you have to be sure to watch the entire thing before drawing any conclusions.
Hope you enjoyed them and please let me know what you think!
image by John Haslam/foxypar4 on Creative Commons 
