I opted for a less expensive security camera for the room and a nicer camera to use for the YouTube videos and my blog posts. I figured out how to route the room camera to my computer and found some free software that allows us to watch real time what is going on in the playroom or we can record sessions. This will be helpful for volunteers. We can all learn by watching each other or watching ourselves interact with George. The very first time I was testing it I recorded a clip of Rachel and George on the ball. It sounded like George said blow. They were playing with the bubbles on the ball. Rachel didn't respond to it though. When I showed her the clip, she was amazed. She heard it on the video. It inspired her to go back to the playroom and listen to every noise he made so she could respond with excitement. Sometimes if we have it in our mind that a child does not "talk" then we don't hear things. I remember reading about a similar instance with a parent and child working in their playroom. It helped me to focus more on any sounds George makes and to expect him to communicate with us.
We have put the outside area on the back burner and any donations we are getting are going to compensating Rachel, who is doing the bulk of the Natural Play Therapy with George right now, and compensating Julie for training. About all we can do outside right now is a quick wagon ride. Past that he will be getting into trouble and we won't really be "playing.".
My phone consult with Julie went well, but left my head spinning. I realized when I got off of our 3 hour call that I was sicker than I thought I was feeling. Then I went up to the playroom and found George asleep on Rachel's lap, which meant he probably had a fever. George doesn't nap! Sure enough we were up all night. We battled some sickness for a couple weeks and that always sets me back.
Even though I was sick I still got a lot out of my call. Julie gave Rachel and I a lot to think about and discuss. We have thought of more questions as well. I have downloaded some private YouTube videos for Julie to look at of us working with George and we will discuss them. Hopefully she can give us ways to work more effectively with George. That is my plan anyway.
I kind of freaked in my head when Julie asked me my goals for George. I didn't know where to start. I know we can't work on everything at once, but it is hard to for me to prioritize. I just start thinking of everything and get overwhelmed. Potty training is currently a big one for me as I read of parents with teens in diapers and it is NOT comforting. Not chewing food or self-feeding is stressful, but I have to admit I can get a lot of good nutrition into him in a smoothie or pureed dish. However, I know those jaw muscles are also used to speak! Currently, I think a biggie for us in the playroom is eye contact while playing together. I know it is key for him so that he can learn from us.
George's favorite activity is definitely the marble run and it is what he usually asks for first by taking us to the shelves. Julie challenged us to change up how he plays by adding our own ideas. For example, I started hiding the marbles under some of the pieces, so he has to find them first before putting them on the marble run. We are looking to see if he is resistant to doing what we want to do. If you think of a relationship, typically you each take interest in what the other person likes and go back and forth. If he resists our idea then we back off but keep coming back to our idea until he is more accepting.
One thing I have learned from the past 5+ years is that progress does not happen quickly with George. I continually pray for patience and have to work on that area daily. As a parent of typically developing boys as well, I realize how much we take for granted as our children develop. Things came so easy for my other boys and I never spent this much time playing with them because they took off and knew how to play and learn on their own.
I find myself locking eyes with babies I see now in awe with how they are studying me. They will lock eyes close up or clear across a room. It just seems so simple, but it is so excruciatingly difficult for a child on the autism spectrum. It is like they go out of their way to not look at you, but when they do look in your eyes it is a VERY special moment.
As Rachel arrived today and began going up the stairs with George he stopped and rubbed cheeks with her. He just started doing this to her and it is very sweet. I am the one he shows the most affection to, so it was special to see him do that with her. He knows when she arrives that it is his time to play.
Working in the playroom with George is what you call some serious quality time with someone. It is hard because I know for me I think, "Does this really matter to George that I am here with him?" The other frequent thought is "Am I doing this right?" I have a feeling Rachel wonders the same things and I am guessing anyone who volunteers to work with George will have to work through those issues.
I know in my heart that it all does matter. It just comes back to that word again---patience!
