My baby is 4!!! How is that possible?! ha!!!! I think back to last year at this time and how far he has come!!! 1 year ago he was ending 1/2 mornings at daycare, early intervention and home ABA. He started preschool on 3/30. The first few days of dropoff were bad. He had to be carried off crying and screaming. If I recall correctly he did settle down within 20-30 minutes. But for the first few months of school he was having a BIG meltdown of up to 45 mins-1 hour EVERY SINGLE DAY! The same was going on at home. He still only had a few words and we had to use visual pictures and a schedule for everything. It was a very tough time. He would only warm up to the main teacher and would get scared of anyone new coming into the class. He did not interact with the other kids. He hated art time and touching different textures during OT group. We couldn't just leave him with a babysitter to go out for a little break. We couldn't just take him anywhere to play or to someone's house he hadn't been to before. He would have a big meltdown. And these are not "just tantrums"!
1 year later we can leave him with a sitter and he's a happy boy!! He LOVES going to school and takes the mini bus back and forth daily. He rarely has a meltdown at school and if he does it only last minutes (though the past few weeks he did regress due to lack of sleep at night). He is VERY affectionate, gives hugs and kisses, says hello to strangers, hugs new people, is a social butterfly at school, is talking up a storm! We've lost count of how many words he has now!!! He still has a way to go with transitions and trying new things. Recently loud noises have bothered him more than previously. We were only able to stay at a school event for 15 minutes last week once it became very loud and crowded. He stopped what he was doing, covered his ears, said "it's too loud, I go home". But a year ago he wouldn't have been able to say that and he would have had a huge meltdown. He did great at his birthday party but did say it was too loud when we sang to him. He gets very excited in social situations and doesn't keep still for long.
Taking him for a haircut is TORTURE for him, us and anyone at the salon. So that's why his hair is a bit shaggy right now and yes I know it needs a good cleanup!!! Would you like to take him for us and hold him down or cut it at home? Last time we took him it took 4 people to hold him down.
He is also not potty trained yet or even close to it. Yes I would love to have him out of diapers but it's not that easy with a child like Sam. He won't even sit for more than a few seconds on the potty. We have to work with his school teacher and therapist to come up with the best plan that will work for him. And you know what? I'm fine with this! I know know how far he's come and he's doing well in so many areas! He's talking and communicating, he knows the ABCs, counts to 30, knows all the colors, shapes and is spelling words! He cares about others when they are hurt. These are all HUGE for a child like Sam!!!! A year ago we didn't know what the future would hold for Sam! So I say who cares if he's still wearing diapers?! One day he will be ready to use the potty and wear all the undies that Mommy has bought already!!!
