Can't put my finger on it, but something is up with my girl.
Angry outbursts.
Tears for no reason.
Upset tummy.
Difficulty sleeping.
Usual signs that a full fledged melt down is coming, kind of like the storm brewing in the southeast.
Watch out friends and family, classmates, and others.
Unless I can figure it out and quick, we are going get blasted!
Sensational Siblings
My Ruth has sensational siblings. The boys don't always 'get it', but they have learned through the years what makes Ruth tick. They don't always agree with how Darrell and discipline her, and think we are too soft, but then, they grew up with a mother that didn't get it until it was too late, and tried to make them fit the mold of the world.
Thank God, I learned better!
My thoughts on Ruth sensational sibs have me thinking about these instances:
Nate laying on the floor with 8 year old Ruth laying across his back. He was helping her while visiting Nana, and she was a little out of sorts. She lay along his back, watching him play a video game peering over his shoulder.
DJ hand over hand showing 7 year old Ruth how to feel the imprint of a deer track, and then a bit later showing her how to poke through scat to identify what kind of animal it came from. He spent an hour or two that day helping her to use her senses to explore the great outdoors.
Brian struggles with his own sensory issues, but to watch him sit beside 9 year Ruth during a dinner meltdown will be forever imprinted in my mind. He spoke with a calming voice, gathering her in her weighted blanket and just helped her through it. This from a young man that only a year or two before would have been the one breaking down.
I cannot imagine being a sibling of a child with such needs. The roller coaster of modulating is hard for me as a mother, but to be a child, it must be horrendous. I can only say, I am proud of my boys, and glad that Ruth has them in her life.
Thank God, I learned better!
My thoughts on Ruth sensational sibs have me thinking about these instances:
Nate laying on the floor with 8 year old Ruth laying across his back. He was helping her while visiting Nana, and she was a little out of sorts. She lay along his back, watching him play a video game peering over his shoulder.
DJ hand over hand showing 7 year old Ruth how to feel the imprint of a deer track, and then a bit later showing her how to poke through scat to identify what kind of animal it came from. He spent an hour or two that day helping her to use her senses to explore the great outdoors.
Brian struggles with his own sensory issues, but to watch him sit beside 9 year Ruth during a dinner meltdown will be forever imprinted in my mind. He spoke with a calming voice, gathering her in her weighted blanket and just helped her through it. This from a young man that only a year or two before would have been the one breaking down.
I cannot imagine being a sibling of a child with such needs. The roller coaster of modulating is hard for me as a mother, but to be a child, it must be horrendous. I can only say, I am proud of my boys, and glad that Ruth has them in her life.
Vacation
I was nervous about taking Ruth into DC via the Metro.
She doesn't tend to do well with lots of people. I forgot about the rhythm that tracks entice. The biggest problem was that she did not wish to sit, preferring instead to stand. I imagine this increased the input, and met her needs well. I will not be so nervous in the future.
On the side, I have learned that Ruth may be old enough to be expected to stay in the area of our beach blanket, but it does not mean she will. As with a young toddler who is focused on trying to touch a fluttering butterfly, Ruth was so focused on collecting shells at the beach, she got out of my range of voice.
About a half mile of my trying to catch up to her, and she finally stopped and took in her surroundings. Ooops. She looked so afraid when she saw me huffing and puffing my way to her. "I am sorry, Mommy," she said with tears welling in her eyes. I gave her the biggest smile I could muster. I am not mad, but I didn't want to lose track of you", I explained. I realized that she was not being naughty, but instead was just following an instinct. The smile was enough to relax her mood, and our walk back was filled with giggles and chatter as she realized how far she had wandered.
She doesn't tend to do well with lots of people. I forgot about the rhythm that tracks entice. The biggest problem was that she did not wish to sit, preferring instead to stand. I imagine this increased the input, and met her needs well. I will not be so nervous in the future.
On the side, I have learned that Ruth may be old enough to be expected to stay in the area of our beach blanket, but it does not mean she will. As with a young toddler who is focused on trying to touch a fluttering butterfly, Ruth was so focused on collecting shells at the beach, she got out of my range of voice.
About a half mile of my trying to catch up to her, and she finally stopped and took in her surroundings. Ooops. She looked so afraid when she saw me huffing and puffing my way to her. "I am sorry, Mommy," she said with tears welling in her eyes. I gave her the biggest smile I could muster. I am not mad, but I didn't want to lose track of you", I explained. I realized that she was not being naughty, but instead was just following an instinct. The smile was enough to relax her mood, and our walk back was filled with giggles and chatter as she realized how far she had wandered.
Loving
If I had one word for my girl, this is the one:
loving
Ruth lives life to the fullest, and she loves with all her heart.
The girls are part of that love, and I watch each day as she expresses her thoughts and feelings to them. I see how much growth she has made as I hear her explain how to add numbers or make a choice about lunch. She gives her all, and then some. :)
Loving...
Ruth loves to read, to paint, color, and take care of her cat, BamBam. I have evidence of the reading coloring and painting in every room of the house. Sometimes in places I wish I didn't, like the light bulbs....
BamBam has been worried over all of his life. We fostered for his mother, and he was part of the package at 2 weeks old. We could let them go when it was time, so we adopted them. This cat has patience. Currently, he is sporting a bright orange collar, complete with rhinestones and a jingle bell. He has been given his special canned dinner, with a bit of milk mixed in. And played with his new cat crate. Tonight he will be allowed to use the new remote controlled mouse. :) All purchased with Ruth's Christmas money. Gifts for her kitty bought with gifts for her.
Loving...
Those moments when Ruth wraps her body around mine in an effort to be as close as she can. Maybe it is meeting her need for input, but for me, it is showing her need for sharing the love she feels. I cannot describe the joy in my heart as I consider this little girl's loving heart.
Forget the rest of the battles of clothes, and toys and sounds and food.... remember the
loving......
and then there were three
Our stepson and his family moved in several months ago. Ruth has always had a room to herself, and now must share with 2 others, girls her age, who are close as sisters ought to be, and do not understand her needs. We still struggle daily with this, and Ruth just doesn't get how if she shares, and they don't, how they can be angry with her when she does something like stretch her legs across theirs. I mean after all she is sharing her space with them, isn't she?
This morning I woke to her tears. She was in trouble for writing "I hate you" to C, after feeling left out and neglected once again. Strong emotions, come from my strong girl. I see so much growth every day, a giving nature shines through often. Gifts of simple nature, things like the thought of how the girls miss their kitty, and asking if they could adopt one of ours.
I hope that someday, her love will be able to overcome the walls that others build...
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