Tuesday, June 03, 2008

• How Sensory Integration Disorder changed our lives....

  He runs towards me and I drop to my knees to embrace him. Its happened a hundred times before, this little dance from one household to another. I did it myself as a child and thought little of it. This was the first time I would see him after his diagnoses and talk openly about my sons sensory integration disorder.
  I spoke in hushed tones, listening intently to his fathers description of what the doctor has said, all of the exercises he had to do. I followed him closely as he showed me what he meant by demonstrating.
  
  I kissed Jakobs forhead and gave him a hard wink. He winks back, his hair messy and juice smeared on his face. He smiles ear to ear, nothing has changed.
  
  "Been doing those exercises daddy taught you?" I asked him.
  "Yep, everyday." He says matter-of-factly
  "You know those are special, magical exercises dont you?" I tell him, the wheels turning slowly in my head. "Those are superhero exercises."
  He starts banging his cars on the table and ignoring my adoring looks.
  
  "No mom, they arent." He tells me. "They will make me strong, and thats not magic" He emphasises magic by grinding his lower jaw and growling at me.
  "Watch" I tell him," just you watch."
   While we walk out into the parking lot and strap into the van we giggle stepping over every crack in the sidewalk. "lets wait and watch, Im sure you are doing so many of your exercises that your superpower will show up in no time."
  
  

  
  

  
  Sure enough, his superpower reared its head and it was obvious. My son, the Four year almost five year old can change a red light instantly to GREEN. I know, I couldnt believe it either, but he can! There was hollering, and squealing and jumping up and down in our car seats. He found his superpower! He gets close to the intersection, blinks his eyes and twirls his fingers in the air until the magic gets all the way to the light and changes it to green.
  
  Not only is it adorable, its handy as well.
  
  "Its green mommy, go." My oldest would say
  "Cause I made it green." The middle one snickers and looks at me in the rearview mirror, I wink and point to the moon.
  

  
  

  
  
  Exercises makes our bodies stronger, and our families stronger.
  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  So when you ask our family how sensory integration disorder has changed us, Jakob will tell you he has exercised-induced super-powers. That mommy can (and will) love you unto the actual moon. And that big brother knows when a game is a game, and when to call a foul a foul. And that glutein-free pancakes are the bombdiggity.
  
  
  
  Thank you to Porcupinesol for the brief glimpse into the story of her sister, and for the important information in her latest blog. And the creative inspiration to tell my own story.
  

    

  • 6:23 PM
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