The World According To Kaden: Would You Like a Side of Manners with That?

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Would You Like a Side of Manners with That?

With the other 2 kids we just expected table manners. You were polite, used your utensils, napkin and cleared your plate when you were done.
And then there was Kaden.......even as a baby he never held his bottle and most of the time there was more food smeared on his chubby cheeks and highchair then in his belly. Not much has changed except he sits in a regular chair now and his cheeks aren't as chubby. :)

Before ABA therapy I wondered when he was going to turn the corner and just get it. Everyday I thought today would be the day. When we went out I was quick to clean him up and order food that would look less like an erupted volcano on his face and more like a careless preschooler.

Now that he has been in ABA therapy for more then 8 months and has went through 3 different eating programs I have thrown in the towel.
I haven't given up on Him, just the part of having a tidy kiddo sitting across from me at the table. I figured is it really THAT important right now? Is he hurting anyone? We have bigger fish to fry....right? I know for him it is 90% sensory and he has No desire to do any differently. The average punishment just will not apply here....trust me. How do You handle Your Kiddos on the Spectrum and their table Manners?

No comments:

Post a Comment

What Autism looks like to us

Autism looks different in everyone's world. I knew something was Special about Kaden when he was 2yrs old. He was sooooo Smart. He started Reading when he was almost 3 and started learning Addition and Subtraction before he was 4. Everything had to be Perfect and he Reacted Negatively to Sound and Touch.
In Kaden's World everything is too Loud and Scary. Everyday he needs to be wrapped in a tight blanket with pressure applied just to help him calm down. He Twirls and Walks on his toes and loves the feel of Water unless it gets on his face.
He would rather play Chess or solve Math problems then play with action figures or play Hide and Seek. He has NO Filter on his Mouth and will say whatever he is Thinking. LOUDLY!!!! Socializing to him is coming down to Dinner and not eating with his Hands and smearing food all over him. He has no desire to play with other kids unless that want to play Chess, Organize something, talk about Math. When he does Approach a child it is Obvious that he is Sailing in Uncharted Waters.
Math and Video games are his Drug of choice. He will sit for Hours and Organize objects by color or shape. He constantly goes over Multiplication and Division facts or Video game maps and rules.
Kaden is very Rule Oriented, he will not Play a game or Watch a show that is not Age Appropriate.
What happens when Plans Change or Life just Hits. He gets Anxious, then comes the Anger and if the fire doesn't get put out fast, the Rage will come. And Kaden will say hurtful things and hurt himself.
So, Kaden is Our Rule Boy, who has Sensory issues and fights with Anxiety on a Daily Basis. Even at Home he will Hide under the Coffee table or in a Closet. He is very Loud and Structured in his thinking. He Questions everything and would Rather be Alone reading and solving Math problems then socialize doing what the other kids around him are doing.
It's our Wonderful World with Kaden.