iPad To The Head

Yes, I do understand that the iPad is your way of communication. It is your words and solely belongs to you. It is an item I cannot take away, I can not use it to negotiate/bribe with you, and I sure as hell can't use it as my own toy. Instead it has become your security blanket and your wing man - it is your way to access and interact with the world around you - something you have never had before. I have never seen a child actually use their communication device nearly as much socially as you do, nor have I seen a child so attached. You no longer have your stubbornness associated with it. You will on occasion still not want to answer a question but if there is something you want you have no problem making that very clear and asking us over and over and over again!

We have been working, or let me rephrase that, I have been working very hard on trying to find a way to have you get out of your bed independently in the morning and come out of your bedroom. For years, it was engrained in your head that you do not leave your bed or your room but now you need to. You needed to learn that when you wake you, you get up and you go the bathroom and the day goes on instead of waiting for me to give you permission. I tried practicing this over and over again, I tried setting an alarm clock to train you that when you heard the alarm you could leave your room, I even tried just leaving you in there until you came out on your own - and all of these failed. Finally though, yesterday morning for the first time, I was just getting out of the shower and I hear this little "mommy," "mommy," "MOMMY!" out in the hallway. I push open my door a little wider and there you were with Monkey under one arm and your water bottle under another and your iPad on the ground behind you that you were pulling by the charging cord (you have not quite learned the fine art of unplugging the cord). We clapped, cheered, and went on with our morning routine. I guess, as with everything, it had to be on your time. When you were ready to have that wall fall down and move on to the next one - when you trusted enough to know you were safe to leave your room without permission, not when I was ready for you to do it.

Then, this morning, bright and early at 6:45 am (its a snow day) I hear you in the hallway. I say quietly your name and the next thing I know I have an iPad upside my head as you are trying to climb into bed with me. Now, as much as I know you love that iPad and it goes everywhere with you, it really does not feel good especially that early in the morning. You then proceeded to curl up, iPad under your arm and fell fast asleep again for another 45 minutes. Its these simple moments that all to often could be taken for granted. All to often could be passed by as typical little boy behavior, but I know that it is these moments when your world changes a little more. When you grow a little emotionally you let down one more piece of your past and you continue to grow into the beautiful young man that you are.

Love you baby
Keep on Truckin

Mommy