Friday, June 03, 2011

Friday

Plodding on. It's just a few weeks until Anthony starts his summer camp. I saw this nice piece about Easter Seals Crossroads, who run the camp that he'll be going to, so that was nice. He had a pretty good week, overall. He has been upset every day for some amount of time, but really, it's like the new normal. I mean, it's been well over a year, I guess we should probably just accept that this is the way that it is. I'm too tired to do anything else or try anything else on my own.

We are going to start working on toilet training, at least at school, next month. I think that there are definite signs that he is ready. I want to talk to a friend of mine's sister in law. Her son has autism and she toilet trained him so I am looking for information if anyone has any! I do feel like Anthony is ready, but I just don't know how ready. I mean, it has to mean something that he is always taking off his diaper, right? Taking it off and peeing? I hope so. I feel more confident now that Maria is trained, I think maybe it's not me. Also, I really don't want Anthony to be an adult in diapers. I really don't. I feel like I have to do this for him. I mean - they would all be peeing freely like dogs or something if I let them, but I am here to teach them how to live in the world and that includes Anthony. Sometimes I get the sense that people think, well, we'll try it, but I want to do more than that. I want to try one thing with Anthony and if it doesn't work, I want to try something else. I know how smart he is and I know he is all in there somewhere. I just have to keep prying away to find out how to get at him.

In gorgeous news, look! Isn't he so cute and grown up looking! Sheesh! Six years old next Friday! I feel every single day of those six years that's gone by, so you won't find any b.s. about boo hoo hoo, it seems like yesterday, and where has my baby gone? type stuff here. But I am ... I feel so happy that we've made it six years! Here's to six more! And repeat, repeat, repeat, ad nauseum.


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4 comments:

Casdok said...

Happy birthday for next friday :)

Doing My Best said...

My friend has a, now 7 year old, son with autism. When she was trying to potty train him, she discovered that, for some reason, he wouldn't have accidents in the plain white underwear, but he would in the character underwear. Also, to keep him on the potty long enough, she would sing and sign the ABC song with him. Hope that helps!

Joanne said...

That does help, thanks! Anthony loves to sign the alphabet.

Anonymous said...

My friend, Martha gave me a book for you last night. It is THE POTTY JOURNEY Guide to Toilet Training Children with Special Needs, Including Autism and Related Disorders by Judith A. Coucouvanis. Martha's grandson is Anthony's age and also on the spectrum. The book's information worked for him. I'll put into the mail for you tomorrow.