Keeping Pace

After a nice memorial day weekend in VA I think I have come to some conclusions.  You have done extremely well in some areas since moving to Ohio and struggled in others.  It has been more of a balanced life but still pieces have been missing.  I have realized though why some things are working and trying to figure out how this fits into our future.

Northern VA is very fast paced - its one reason I loved it so much.  For you though, I think it is too fast.  I think that you don't have time to process everything going on around you.  That everybody is already five steps ahead of you, thinking about what they will be doing next and where their next turn will be, and you need time to think.  You need an environment with patience.  Where people are really not in a hurry and give you a moment to understand, to learn, and to respond.  When we are in VA (whether living there or visiting) we are always planning our next move. In public there is always waiting in large groups, constant noise, and then very little time to respond because everyone needs to keep moving.

In Ohio, things are a little slower.  When we go out to eat or shopping the employees will wait for you.  The are drawn to you and seem to understand that sometimes it just takes a minute.  Nobody ever seems rushed and the atmosphere is just one that is much more relaxed.  This is hard for me sometimes because I want the world to move at a faster speed but for you, it is where you thrive.

This last weekend in NoVA you didn't use nearly the amount of verbalizations you use in Ohio and you didn't care for the device.  You did use other vocalizations (not words, but sounds) and you used pointing or pulling to draw in peoples attention to try to meet your needs.  You also expected things to be given to you and your needs to be met more so then voicing your opinion as you do at home.  I am sure some of this is due to a sense of learned helplessness and a level of expectations from those around you but it also has to do with the environment.  There was just so much going on that I am not sure you can slow yourself down enough to focus.  It takes so much for you to think of the right word you are looking for and then to say it correctly.  It takes even more for you to do this when other little ones are running around and the world doesn't know what you can do so they just assume you can't.

Realizing all of this doesn't lead to drastic changes but it does help me keep your focus.  It helps me realize that you need more time to process.  That you need to allowed to have a second and you cannot feel as if there are time constraints.  I think it also sheds some light on your behaviors and that maybe instead of pushing you through we need to step back explain.  We need to help you understand and give you the words for what is occurring and also give you a way to say "slow down" or "stop" when you need the extra moment to regroup.

Keep On Truckin Baby
Love
Mom