Raised Reggio

06/06/2021

04/30/2021

Early on, I remember asking his Occupational Therapist so many questions about how to best meet his sensory needs. She'd suggest heavy work. She'd give me lists of sensory diet exercises. But... I wanted to know reps and sets. I needed to know frequency and duration.

It doesn't work that way.

Most of parenting doesn't work that way.

I quickly learned he would *show* me what he needed (never does he tell me). Rather than scheduling OT activities for him that fell on his "sensory diet," I had to clear my calendar and avoid busyness. I had to limit distractions. I had to learn to pay attention to his subtle cues.

I am still learning to trust his judgment. His risk assessment is honestly better than mine.

Tonight, we're (backyard) camping. I almost stopped him from crawling under our staked down tent... because... there's a need for oxygen, right?! But, I bit my tongue and watched a moment longer. A moment was all it took for me to realize that he was self-regulating. He was seeking the exact right amount of sensory input and deep pressure he needed.

Today, we followed his lead. It's the happiest (and most regulated) he's been in a while. Although, at the end of the day, he still said he was mad he had to leave school early because he'd rather go to the park (and after-school program) with his friends 😂

01/30/2021

01/28/2021

They’re not just playing in nature, they are: Learning, creating, sensing, believing, relaxing, exploring, observing, wondering, connecting, discovering, appreciating, understanding, experimenting…

01/18/2021

Let them lead.

12/12/2020

It's been a heavy year... the kind that pushes you beyond perceived limits. It's felt like running a race without any idea of where the finish line is.

But, there's just something about this year that's made me experience every moment a little differently than before.

I'm beyond thankful was able to capture some of the lighter moments... when we just picked our favorite color and simply began something new...

03/27/2020

03/27/2020

"Look! I made a cardboard table that can hold a bunch of heavy stuff!"