I didn't really realize how long its been since I caught up in here.. J. and I had a fabulous couple of days away. My favourite was a Sunday afternoon, lying on the bed dozing on and off, reading my book.. it was bliss :) We both said that we HAVE to do this again, and remembered how important it is for us to be just together.
Summer is coming to a beginning, already in the middle of June. My gardens are gorgous this year and we are planning on re-siding the house. Jason is going to take Nathan camping this weekend and is really looking forward to that.
ok.. that all caught up.. lets get caught up with Nathan. He's tired. We have him in soccer 2 nights a week, daycare 3 mornings a week, with his worker 4 afternoons, and a playgroup Friday afternoons. His clinical supervisor would like to put him in a pre-school programs designed for the kids going to school in the fall. She says, Nathan has advanced skills that he would fit in perfectly and could really benefit from the socialism of it. That would be 2 afternoons a week. I am waiting to hear back from his supervisor to get her intake.. but more then likely, I will be taking him out of daycare for the summer. That would leave him with just the autism center in the afternoons and 2 nights of soccer.
I love that he is going to playgroup at the center. He's only gone to 2, so far. The first week he was gold. Did everything he was supposed to, and was a model student / boy. Last week, he was foolish. And in away, I was glad they got to see this part of him. As I don't know how to put in words these behaviors he gets. Its like he doesn't know how to act.. so he's foolish, a joker. You may think, yea.. that's normal.. and it probably is, but add some atypical behavior in there and you got a child that is trying so hard without knowing how.. and its all coming out wrong.
He loves his soccer, but it is frusterating at times. Jason and I went last night together and we decided to keep him in it, but it did make us sad inside. It brings out his 'autism' in the group team work. There are alot of kids that play, and 2 coaches. Last night they had a 3rd which really helped the kids who have fallen behind, or didn't hear. . And I don't know how many times either Jason or myself ran onto the field to direct Nathan back to where he should be. There were a couple of games that Nathan really enjoyed, and played well in. It was really only when he had to wait, or didn't hear the direction. But, if J. went to Nathan and explained what he had to do.. he was fine.
I think you made a positive choice keeping him in soccer. It is difficult to watch your child struggle with things that come naturally to others, but the rewards when they try their best and meet those challenges are ten times as special.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter's autism and sensory challenges become very apparent in settings like soccer, which we started her in last summer. All of the movement, noise, and multiple things to focus on can be very disorienting. In spite of that, she loved it, and I think it is great for the kids to participate. It will get easier in time, and his confidence will bloom as a result.