A first time for everything!

While waiting for the dryer to finish its cycle, I want to take a moment to share a "first." Just moments ago as I was moving laundry through, I heard what sounded like someone moving furniture around. I assumed it was the lady who lives upstairs, but as I walked back into the kitchen I found my son standing on a chair at the kitchen sink, attempting to rinse some scratches off of a DVD! Ha!! :-)

Those who know us understand the value of a DVD in my son's world, but what's cool is that this is the first time in his life that he has pulled a chair or other object over to assist himself in gaining access to something beyond his reach. The lack of this milestone was something we noted early on, but over time forgot about (bigger fish to fry at the time) and didn't worry much about because he was at least gaining language and the ability to ask for assistance - and ask he does! Unlike many children on the spectrum, JC is pretty dependent on interaction with us to get his needs met (while some children might be more independent and less engaged), in part because of dyspraxia (coordination disorder) and low muscle tone. So he needs us to help him w/ his physical needs, and to navigate the physical world, more than a child w/ autism only (not that this is a cup of tea, mind you - and remember, it's a spectrum, so what you see can vary GREATLY - but hopefully you get the point).

Similarly, several weeks ago while visiting my father (from here on we'll just call him the Grumpy Grandad), JC stepped out into the back yard with his little pile of VHS tapes we'd picked up at the library. He was having a little picnic of sorts, and sat down in the grass to admire his collection. Well apparently the grass wasn't particularly comfortable (FL grass isn't soft like it is up north - the stuff has to be tough enough to withstand the brutal heat), so he walked over to the french doors, picked up the little carpet that he found there, and drug it back out to the grass. He then proceeded to place all of his VHS tapes onto the rug before sitting down on the little patch of rug that remaind untouched by the tapes. ;) Great thinking, little man! ;)

Anyway, YAY! :) He's gaining independence and adding new pieces to the puzzle - out of order and a bit late, but we're not in a race, so it's all good. The power of motivation is quite amazing, isn't it?