Odds and ends from the past two weeks - sort of boring

Return from Utah

I return from Utah

Park city is one of the most beautiful places I have been to

Because I grew up in the land of the Himalayas – the bar has been set unusually high

Example : here is where DH and I went once on a project on Himalayan medicinal herbs trade – its called Munsiyari ( the name means “Place of snow “)and was on the ancient salt route to Tibet



Photo from Trek Earth

It is very very remote - completely unspoiled by tourists 14 years ago when we were there –(However when I looked it up on Wikipedia today – it is described as a “favorite “ spot for hikers )

I have had a good time but 3 days away from home is 2 days too many –

 I have gone on a Bloggers conference for work no less and have a chance to meet some lovely bloggers

Really liked the author of “ Ordinary Courage “

This time I have made videos of me talking to R and emailing them to DH –(  as my Iphone has a video camera ) –
DH reports that he watches these lackadaisically ( though when I return home,  he finds them on my phone and watches them with great attention )

When I return home R is very very clingy

DH says R has been waking up at 1 every night “mewling “ for "mummy mother"and pleading to go to the airport .

As I did not write a visual schedule-( but just told him that I was going back and will be back on Sunday ) guilt washes over me in great waves

Sleeping Separately

Is going okay

R goes to sleep in his bed alright but we find him in our bed every am

This is fine – DH and I don’t make a big deal about most things – we say no to only two things – bad manners and things that harm him.
Especially we do not say No to the things that appear to us to be very fundamental to his emotional well-being!
However , the one thing I am determined about is that he go to bed in his own bed

Sleeping in general is not going the best – in spite of the Melatonin

I think R physically needs our presence to not wake up – I think its literally a fundamental sensory need and I am thinking of buying a weighted blanket to see if it will help him – none of us are sleeping very well as a result of R not sleeping very well

R is taking time to fall asleep as well – I usually hum “Jingle bells” and I know R is not sleepy when he says each “hey” on cue

Pretend play

Is simply going great –

I saw the first thing that R did which was not mechanical or a repeat of a theme

He got Tuck to take a ride on Gordon !

I am so proud!


I can see other neurons firing

I ask if he wants to go see Fireworks for America’s Happy Birthday and he quickly says “Fy- wuk ess” ( fireworks yes )

We go to watch the Fireworks and R calls them “Rudolph the red nose reindeer “. I am suddenly struck by how it does look like Santa’s chariot in the sky

I also find how he has hidden Linny and the number 4 in our AC vent – ( no wonder its so hot in our bedroom ) I show them to him thinking that maybe he forgot that they were there

But he looks startled and later I find him returning Linny to his place in the vent


I also see him comparing Tuck and Baby Tad ( which when I REALLY look at them are remarkably alike – in personality and appearance )

Truly R is an infinitely interesting child

Fine motor, Sense of Self

Monday is a holiday so I go with R to his OT session and record him .

I am struck by how well he follows directions when he is in a one on one session

I also figure out why he has picked out his Baby Newton DVD and is watching it again and again – its because he is learning the square and triangle and how to make them as this is what his OT does

In effect he is doing homework- trying to figure out this whole drawing thing

Really I have soo much respect for R.

So he learns to make circles and then makes this ( evidently a self potrait as when I ask him who is it - he replies"R")

Another thing that is developing is a sense of self

While I am changing I hear him knocking( scratching )  on the door.

When I ask him - "who is it .. is it R "

He replies "R "

This is so wonderful to hear from a child that did not know what his name was nor what a name meant just 2 years ago

And  now not only does he know it , he also makes his picture, replies with his name and asks to wear the "R shirt " ( a shirt with his photo on it )

Every day feels like it comes with a gift -

Thank you god

He is learning squares and triangles so he can make this with help



Again I am reminded of how important it is to let your child learn in the way they need to learn, rather than imposing on them how they should learn .

I watch the Temple Grandin Movie ( how I love her!! – what a fab job Claire Dane has done !!!)

The Baby newton DVD is not unlike Dr Grandin’s hug machine ( which her mother does NOT want her to take to college as its “everything they have been trying to get away from “)

I am such a Flootime mum - In the scene where they show Temple’s mother showing a 3 year old Temple a flashcard while Temple looks away at the chandelier –

I want to jump up and shout – CANT YOU SEE WHAT SHE IS LOOKING AT – TEACH HER THE WORD CHANDELIER… THEN BUY A TOY CHANDELIER AND DO A PRETEND SCENE AROUND IT

I feel so grateful for Dr Greenspan, Dr Grandin and all the professionals who teach us mothers how to help our kiddos

And so very sorry for the kiddos whose parents cannot or will not help them

Weekend

The weekend is LOVELY - DH's cousin who is a Professor in Bangalore comes up for the weekend

She is very nice and we have a great time with her

We show off our beloved Southern town  and we have a picnic in the river

I am very unwiling to go but DH forces us all and I am very grateful that he does as I have to shaken out of my comfort zone from time to time

DH makes a lovely BBQ - he truly is an artist when it comes to food and drink - his margaritas are poetry - His grilled chicken- a perfect orchestration of spices and smoke

The lovely long weekend comes to a close with me and R in the swimming pool - we sit on our dolphin floatie - he sits on my lap facing me nose to nose .. looking into my eyes

And I tell him how grateful I am for the love he gives me.

Life is good