When Something is Wrong With Your Child

A parent knows his or her children.  As a Mom of triplets, I often say “I have age-matched controls”.  In other words, I have two others who are EXACTLY the same age (OK, there is a 4 minute difference, but, for purposes of comparison, we can call it exactly).  If they are not doing things at about the same age, I know there is a problem.  

I do try not to over-react.  I also remember that they are individuals.  The boys are fraternal, so I expect some variability.  They started getting teeth at different times.  Mr. Impatient was last, then he got five in one week.  Poor guy.  Walking was within a month or so, but Mr. Impatient didn’t walk for six months after the other two.  It turns out he had a foot problem that should have been addressed at that time. 

My pediatrician told me that Mr. Impatient was “just a little slow”.  Just like the teachers at school told me that Three Speed was “just being a normal boy”.  I listened at first, but things just didn’t seem to be right, so I got other opinions.  Mr. Impatient is autistic.  Three Speed has ADD.  Dealing with their problems has made a major difference in our lives.  Then we had Tall Guy tested.  He's in the accelerated program.  His IQ is way up there.  Three Speed might have been there, too, but he couldn't pay attention.  

Mr. Impatient got early intervention, special classes, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social services, a special diet, and appropriate medical interventions for other problems as they came up.  He has had a pediatric metabolic geneticist, a pulmonologist, an ophthalmologist, ……   He finally started talking when he was six.  We still work with him all the time.  He continues to make amazing progress. 

Three Speed’s teachers weren’t convinced about the ADD.  That is, until his pediatrician started him on medication.  I had several of them stop me in the hall and tell me that he was a different child.  He wasn’t a bad kid, just wasn’t reaching his full potential because he couldn’t focus.  These are the same teachers who didn’t believe me.  A parent knows. 

If you are concerned about your child, get a professional opinion.  Sometimes getting a second or even a third opinion from someone who doesn’t know the child well and can look at him or her with fresh eyes may help.  It worked for me. 

What to do While You Wait

An Explanation for the Baby Blanket

I spend a lot of time waiting.  It seems like I’m always sitting somewhere waiting for the kids, or waiting to be seen at the dentist or the doctor’s or something.  I am not a terribly patient person by nature.  Perhaps I have a little of Three Speed’s ADD. 

Years ago, I learned that I needed to have something to do when I wait someplace.  Sometimes I can read a book.  Occasionally I can sit and write something, like a piece for this blog. 

There are times when I have my kids along.  When they were little, I always brought toys and books to keep them occupied.  I’m sure there are plenty of folks who got tired of listening to the same book being read over and over in the waiting room.  Moms of the world can relate to that one.   Books were always quick to pick up and didn’t leave a mess.

As my children got bigger, I went back to crocheting.  I have made multiple scarves in the last few years at football games, band spectaculars etc.  Now, it seems that there are bunches of folks having babies.  My nieces are in that age group for example.  A baby blanket is just portable enough to be a take along project for me when I know I have to sit someplace and wait (and wait, and wait).

It’s nice to have a handmade gift ready when someone announces “Mom, my trumpet tutor and his wife just had a baby!”  My response is “Pink or blue or green or white?”  No shopping involved.  Everyone’s happy.   No, I’m not going to be a Grandmother.

Does anyone need a really nice, hand crocheted scarf?  I still have quite a few from before the blankets!

 

 

Autism, ADD, and a Football Game

What Were They Thinking?

My band kids played for their first football game last night.  They are still in high school.  They played an away game on a Thursday night.  I’m not sure exactly what time they got home, because I fell asleep in my chair.  It was sometime after 11 PM.

This morning, I couldn’t get Three Speed moving.  He was in his STOP mode.  Mr. Impatient got up at 5:06, did his breathing treatment, made his lunch, and was ready to go by 5:30.  School starts at 7:45.

I woke up in the chair about 4:30 in the morning, and was taking my night time pills when Mr. Impatient came downstairs.  I still had to take my shower and get dressed.  So I fell asleep waiting for it to be time to wake up Three Speed and Tall Guy. 

I still had the PB&J sandwich to make for Mr. Impatient.  He’s on strike about making them for himself.  Gotta love autism.  And there was no caffeine containing soda in the refrigerator except the energy drink that Three Speed needs to get him motivated in the morning before his ADD medicine kicks in.

Then we were late.

We ran into the next door neighbor (figuratively) on the way out the door.  One of her dogs died of cancer the day before yesterday.  She was walking two others.  We had to stop for a quick hug. 

Mr. Impatient was perseverating all the way to school about being late.  Breathe, Mom. 

Now, what was the school system thinking scheduling that danged football game so late?????