Think Pink!
Hello, friends. As we march into the dog days of summer, the news is full of angst and many of us face a summer of kids who have aged out or an ESY mishegoss. Depressing yes? Fear not - sometimes I just want to share something fun and lovely and kind. Yesterday my oldest daughter provided just the right moment. Since she began her adult day program 2 years ago, Mia has really grown and made forward progress. This without an IEP loaded with goals that were more often then not, superfluous to her life. Mia's speech has grown by leaps and bounds. Without 90 minutes of pull out speech by a school therapist. Imagine that! I hope this news give you some peace of mind as your kids approach adulthood. There is progress. Mia is using new words. And using speech to express herself for the first time beyond, "Ouch, that hurt," when her little sister has a moment of pinching.
Mia's favorite color is pink! Just like Mom. Isn't that fun? She wears a pink shirt every day. EVERY DAY. I thought it was habit. Autism. Nope. Pink is her favorite color. And don't tell her sisters, but for yesterday? Mia was my favorite child.
Share some happy news in the comments.
Kim
Yes, there is progress. Still seeing it with my 24yo. Just this week she started talking to less familiar staff, peers, and kissed a boy (really a man but boy sounds better 😘)
Posted by: Lori Stella | June 30, 2018 at 03:12 PM
My son at 17 has started waving, using eye contact, sharing grins. Since he started martial arts ... go figure!
Posted by: Carolyn Kylesmom | June 29, 2018 at 08:54 PM
So happy to hear of Mia's language progress! I keep wishing after all the years and years of speech therapy that my son will one day decide to put all those words into use spontaneously! This gives me hope. Hurrah for Mia! Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: MelissaD | June 29, 2018 at 08:53 PM
That's a lovely story, Kim - I do remember you writing that Mia always liked to wear a pink T-shirt. This makes me think of my own belief, as a home educator, in child-centred education. It really does enable the child to learn from real-life situations, and find their own strengths and interests. So, to Autism Mom I would say, your son was absolutely right to tell an ABA teacher to back off and shut up! Children, especially autistic children, have way more wisdom than we give them credit for. And to Michelle, now at 65 I couldn't bear to be under a hair dryer; as a child, I used to scream when my toe nails were cut and I still have to brace myself to do it. Please, never mind the fancy hair dos. It's really not that important.
Posted by: Grace Green | June 29, 2018 at 04:22 PM
Thanks for the story Kim.
If you don't have hope, you have nothing.
Posted by: Vicki | June 29, 2018 at 02:40 PM
Lovely!
Posted by: Reader | June 29, 2018 at 11:52 AM
Yesterday my son (17 years old) said "back off" and "shut up" to his ABA therapist at home. The therapist told him that that wasn't nice language, but I was grinning in the background, because his teacher at school says he doesn't talk. I will share your hopeful story with my niece who thinks her daughter will never talk.
Posted by: Beleaguered Autism Mom | June 29, 2018 at 10:03 AM
Me too, Mia. Pink gladioli especially. And phlox. You have good taste.
Posted by: Gary Ogden | June 29, 2018 at 09:57 AM
Wonderful. So happy for you, Kim.
Posted by: Linda1 | June 29, 2018 at 09:56 AM
This was my caption on my FB page on Tuesday. I wish I could put the photo here. " Noah getting highlights and a hair cut. Noah has autism which comes with huge sensory issues, so for him to hold still and endure this sensory onslaught (he had to be under a noisy hair dryer with a tight cap on his head too) for over two hours is nothing short of amazing. " When Noah was first diganosed, he was not able to go out anywhere he had such heightened sensory issues. It has been a long, hard road for him and I couldn't be more proud of him. Proud of Mia too. You go Mia! Our kids are such fighters.
Posted by: Michelle A Wandrack | June 29, 2018 at 09:34 AM
The little moments, the little things that gives us hope are very important to keep you going.
Posted by: Benedetta | June 29, 2018 at 08:43 AM