Don't worry mommy ...

The three most dreaded words a child can utter.  "Don't worry mommy....".  For Espen those words can only mean I better watch out!  "I didn't eat it", "I didn't poop on the floor," "I won't fall to far from the deck".  He is a clever and creative little boy.  But also mindless of the danger he may be facing by doing the stunts he imagines are going to be tons of fun! 

Most lately, he has been saying "Don't worry mommy, I have SPD".  And if you ask him what that means he can tell you Sensory Processing Disorder.  We have all the children's books about it and he loves to read about kids like him.  Kids who like to crash into things or fear loud sounds or are bothered by clothing.  He can tell you that SPD makes him feel normally crazy!

My son knows he is gifted in many ways.  Yet he can't comfortably look me in the eye.  That is sensory overload for him.  He can't use a fork for dinner.  It is just hard and his frustration goes through the roof so we make adjustments.  He can't stop screaming at the grocery store or in the car about the sounds and the lights.  He can't write his name or draw me a picture.  Holding the crayon is a frustrating challenge.  He can't wear pants with buttons or zippers.  He lacks the dexterity to fasten them back up and independence is a huge issue in our house.  He doesn't get the opportunity to play much with other children because parents are concerned with his strength and crashing into them. 


All of these things the occupational therapists help with.  And it gets better some days and worse some.  We just keep going.  And we are thankful for his giant vocabulary!  So that he can learn to tell us the SPD things! 

Normal things in our house are not normal in yours!  It is normal for us to be outside no matter the weather.  It is normal to have few distractions or noises in our house.  It is normal to wear 4 or 5 or 6 changes of clothes every day!  It is normal to make giant messes with flour, water, paint, goop, chalk.  It is normal to have a sensory swing in the dining room and a scooter board in the hallway and a mini trampoline in the living room.  It is normal to hang from the pull-up bar and eat while standing.  It is normal to take baths 2 or 3 times a day and to still use a binky.  It is normal to have no shirt or socks on even on the coldest days.  And fast... we are sorry if you can't keep up with us.... we move very quickly and that is normal. Don't worry, Espen has SPD and it is normal and fantastic and aggravating and confusing all at the same time.  Even for him!  But he knows it is how he is.  It is his normal. 


Sometimes people don't understand or they get scared or concerned.  That is ok.  Sometimes kids won't play because he is to rough.  And that is ok.  "Don't worry mommy, I have SPD, but I gotta try, gotta try."  My child is amazing.  Just get to know him! 

This is our normal...  nothing we do is weird or remarkable.  But consider if your words or remarks are hurtful to one small little boy who wants to try.... Consider if your children call him weird or stupid how that feels....

Don't worry Espen.... mommy believes your normal and just as you are meant to be....