Aden started preschool in January (too early for me, but he needed it for his social skills). He is happy when we arrive, and happy when we leave, but he seemed to spend the time in between in a bit of a happy daze. I was so relieved that almost immediately, he felt comfortable there. On our drive home, I would ask his about school. Six months ago, this is how our conversations would go....he was just over 3 years old.
Mommy, "Aden, how was school today?"
Aden.....(nothing)
Mommy, "Buddy, what did you do at school today?"
Aden......"Buddy, what did you do at school today?"
Mommy, "Did you play outside?"
Aden, "Ming Ming duckling here." (scripting from the Wonder Pets)
Mommy, "Did you eat your lunch?"
Aden, "Sandwhich Mommy"
Obviously, this was so disheartening. I was sending him to spend two mornings a week with other women, women who loved him and wanted to help him learn and grow, but I had no idea what he did all day. He couldn't tell me even the slightest detail. I vividly remember the first time he told me that he painted at school. I almost cried. I saw the green paint on his arm and asked if he made a picture. He sat, deep in thought for what seemed like an eternity. "Yes!" he said, "I make a tree!" That was a huge leap...our conversations were starting. Here is how they go now, six months later...
Mommy, "Aden, how was school today?"
Aden, "Good! I eat my lunch."
Mommy, "That's great, what else did you do today?"
Aden, "I played outside, go on the slide, paint a red circle"
Mommy, "A red circle?!"
Aden, "Yes! I love a red circle!"
Mommy, "Wow Buddy, that's so cool"
Aden, "YA!"
Mommy, "Did you see your friends today?"
Aden, "I love Michaela!"
Mommy, "I know you love her, she's so sweet. Did you go potty?"
Aden, "Yes! I peed in the potty two times and I have two stickersssss!!!!!!!"
The difference in Aden is astonishing. I know that God is doing an amazing work in our little boy!
We've just made the decision to start Aden in kindergarten in two years, instead of one. If he goes to pre-k next year, he will enter his senior year as a 16 year old....not cool. I am so very excited to keep him with me for two more years! This family decision has made summer seem that much sweeter.
As much as I'd like to think that Aden should be label free, I know that right now, he isn't. A few weeks ago, we made the trip to San Bernardino for an evaluation with Inland Regional Center, which is a state agency that provides services to children with qualifying diagnosis. At first, they didn't want to qualify him since his autism is mild. I know that the woman performing his evaluation was pushing for an Asperger's diagnosis, but Aden still exhibits the typical autistic behaviors that I am now beginning to love. He now has two official Autism diagnosis'. Hopefully we'll meet with our case worker in August, and be on our way to some amazing therapies that we would otherwise have gone without. After that evaluation, we headed to BJ's for some love and dinner. In these photos, you'll see how Aden was so intensely interested in the lights, a sensory thing.....I think it just makes him look like an angel looking at the clouds :) I could drink in his sweetness, his curious little self.
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