A few years ago we went to a Living Better with PWS workshop. I still take out my covered in scribbled notes guide from the workshop as it is full of hints, advice and information from other parents of kids with PWS. Our mentors!
There is nobody who understands PWS better than other parents. Granted, their child might have different symptoms or the same symptoms with varying degrees of severity, different strategies for dealing with the array of challenges but from each parent I have met, I have gained knowledge. (Thank you!)
As the Lodger has gotten older and new challenges arrive, the guide has proven invaluable.
My old reliable car has proven not so reliable and has reached the end of it's days. Not bad for '98 vehicle. This, for The Lodger, could have been traumatic, except for the fact I had planted the seed a few months ago.
We were driving home one day and we got on to the subject of old things and how sometimes we need to replace them. I happened to use my car as an example. This did not go down well in The Lodger's world at all.
'Mum, we love your car. We love your red car. You can't get a new one, ever. I love this car!"
And sobbing, uncontrollable sobbing.
I changed the subject.
Randomly, he'd bring it up, how much he loved the car. And I'd agree but continued the watering of the already planted seed, that sometimes old things need to be replaced.
When we were driving home the other day and we broke down, it was The Lodger who announced,
'Mum, it's time for a new car and it doesn't have to be red!'
A parenting win, right there!
Planting the seed is something we started with The Lodger ages ago. A PWS parent friend had shared her story of changing from winter to summer jackets and it stuck with me. In playschool last year, we changed from winter to summer hats with ease, as the seed had been planted.
If it's a rainy day, the Lodger knows to expect to use the Rain Door in school. This seed was planted back in the sunshine weather, so when the rainy day arrived, it wasn't too much of an upheaval for him. Obviously, there is 1000 questions regarding the use of the rain door, ranging from who decides it's enough rain (a sprinkling of rain does not warrant the use of the door) to which teacher will be letting the boys in through the rain door, many questions with all questions requiring an answer. It can be exhausting.
And so we've planted seeds, and watered seeds, and there's still a lot of seeds to be planted in the future but they will be, as planted and watered seeds leads to an easier acceptance of any change in plan, routine and expectation.
Alas though, we are only human and we've forgotten to plant the seed on glove wearing. So, The Lodger in April has a pair of gloves in his jacket pocket, which he'll randomly wear if he decides his hands are cold.
I do think if we planted a real seed for every thought seed, we'd have a forest at this stage. The Hat Tree, The Glove tree, The Rain Door Tree, The Sometimes Hospital Appointments are shorter Tree, The sheet on your bed doesn't always have to be green Tree, The place you sit at the table doesn't always have to be the same Tree, You'll need new shoes soon Tree, Mum might need a new car Tree, Sometimes things break Tree, One day you mightn't need CPAP tree (wishful thinking on our part!)....... the list goes on!
There is nobody who understands PWS better than other parents. Granted, their child might have different symptoms or the same symptoms with varying degrees of severity, different strategies for dealing with the array of challenges but from each parent I have met, I have gained knowledge. (Thank you!)
As the Lodger has gotten older and new challenges arrive, the guide has proven invaluable.
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My old reliable car has proven not so reliable and has reached the end of it's days. Not bad for '98 vehicle. This, for The Lodger, could have been traumatic, except for the fact I had planted the seed a few months ago.
We were driving home one day and we got on to the subject of old things and how sometimes we need to replace them. I happened to use my car as an example. This did not go down well in The Lodger's world at all.
'Mum, we love your car. We love your red car. You can't get a new one, ever. I love this car!"
And sobbing, uncontrollable sobbing.
I changed the subject.
Randomly, he'd bring it up, how much he loved the car. And I'd agree but continued the watering of the already planted seed, that sometimes old things need to be replaced.
When we were driving home the other day and we broke down, it was The Lodger who announced,
'Mum, it's time for a new car and it doesn't have to be red!'
A parenting win, right there!
Planting the seed is something we started with The Lodger ages ago. A PWS parent friend had shared her story of changing from winter to summer jackets and it stuck with me. In playschool last year, we changed from winter to summer hats with ease, as the seed had been planted.
If it's a rainy day, the Lodger knows to expect to use the Rain Door in school. This seed was planted back in the sunshine weather, so when the rainy day arrived, it wasn't too much of an upheaval for him. Obviously, there is 1000 questions regarding the use of the rain door, ranging from who decides it's enough rain (a sprinkling of rain does not warrant the use of the door) to which teacher will be letting the boys in through the rain door, many questions with all questions requiring an answer. It can be exhausting.
And so we've planted seeds, and watered seeds, and there's still a lot of seeds to be planted in the future but they will be, as planted and watered seeds leads to an easier acceptance of any change in plan, routine and expectation.
Alas though, we are only human and we've forgotten to plant the seed on glove wearing. So, The Lodger in April has a pair of gloves in his jacket pocket, which he'll randomly wear if he decides his hands are cold.
I do think if we planted a real seed for every thought seed, we'd have a forest at this stage. The Hat Tree, The Glove tree, The Rain Door Tree, The Sometimes Hospital Appointments are shorter Tree, The sheet on your bed doesn't always have to be green Tree, The place you sit at the table doesn't always have to be the same Tree, You'll need new shoes soon Tree, Mum might need a new car Tree, Sometimes things break Tree, One day you mightn't need CPAP tree (wishful thinking on our part!)....... the list goes on!
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