My name is Lynda and my son Ryan is 34 months old (2 1/2 or 2 3/4). He has had many obstacles in the past year alone and now he will be starting preschool at a private early childhood center since he didn’t qualify for assistance from my districts board of ed because of his birthday (he misses the cut off date by 3 days… don’t get me started).  Well since last year he has been attending Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy with Early Intervention which actually ends in a few weeks since he’s reaching his 3rd birthday.  He also has Physical and Occupational Therapy at a local hospital that has a superb child development center. Unfortunately I can’t get him into Speech therapy there because there is a huge waiting list and priority goes to Autism and Down Syndrome patients.

Moving on… I’ve always noticed things about Ryan like not wanting his hands dirty especially during OT where he refuses to play with finger paint or playdoh etc.  It took 4 months or approximately 12 sessions to get him to comfortably play with dry rice. His OT from Early intervention stated that she has always noticed he has issues with self regulation.  I have also seen many checklists online but I’m seriously confused.  Examining all the check lists I have seen many things that he does but there is also alot of things that he doesn’t do.  For example, getting a haircut impossible unless I literally hold him down with my arms and legs (because he becomes incredibly strong) and screams with every snip of the scissors and don’t even ask about clippers, refuses to get hands dirty but when he eats he does so with his hands because he has trouble with utensils but immediately starts yelling for someone to clean his hands.  But he loves to take baths so water is not an issue. He throws tantrums when I change his diaper but not because he doesn’t want me to but because he thinks he’s still dirty regardless how many times I wipe and show him he’s not dirty. He is not potty trained and that has been a mission in itself and although I have tried what was recommended (put underwear on him let him get wet or dirty and he won’t like it) that didn’t work either. He urinated on the floor 5 times and just says ohh mommy peepee… As far as cuddling or hugging goes, he was breastfed for 20 months so he loves to hug me and when he’s super upset tries to “feel me up” as my husband would say but its not easy for someone else to console him. He wants daddy when he’s upset with me for not understanding or if I’m not responding to him quick enough. …continue reading