You don't train them, They train You.
Wow, so far this year has been exciting! Why? Well, I am a 40 year old mother with a 3 month old son named Gabriel, a 4 year old daughter Abigail (we call her Abi for short) and my miracle child Noah who is 8 years old and severally autistic (among other health issues).
Noah has had it rough when it comes to his health since before his birth and I will get into that a little bit later. Right now, I would like to focus on a HUGE milestone that we have been working on since he was about 2 1/2 years old.
"Potty Training"
This is a challenge for any parent.
I have to say for a parent with a child with autism there are times when you just really want to give up. Bang your head up against the wall. Cry (sob). Scream. Lay down on the floor and kick your feet like a child- kind of feeling because after years and years of trying to potty train your child. You are still changing diapers at 8 years old. As a mother, you feel like a complete failure just because this one all important milestone is not obtainable for your child, for what reason? No one knows (you get that a lot with autism).
For me, I would like to break out the bottle of bubbly grape juice and put on a party hat because after all these years trying to coax him into sitting on the toilet, hiding the diapers, pleading, and then giving in because he made himself sick from actually trying to hold it in has finally trained himself. He just one day decided to be a big boy and just do it.
Hence the first lesson of autism. "You don't train them, they train you".
OMGOsh I so understand what you mean. My son is 22 almost 23. He has now been diagnosed with Aspbergers, but it was autism since he was 10. He didn't talk until he was 4...with extensive speech therapy. He was potty trained at almost 5. But it was a long road and I understand your party hat. Korey is now in his teenage years...they are LONG!!!! I can't wait until they finish...LOL.
ReplyDeleteCongrats!!!