Learning Meditation

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Learning Meditation
3
Tue, 03-06-2007 - 9:00am

When we got turned down for interim servies by DOE, our lawyer slicked us an extra hour and a half of OT a week on Malcolm's (9, PDD-NOS) current IEP. Now that we are homeschooling, he gets those hours PLUS an EXTRA hour and a half that got incorrectly input into DOE's new computer system during insane 2 months plus we tried to get those services in place (ssshhhh....). And he has back-logged hours stored up as well.

SO ds has currently 4 and a half hours a week of OT! He is balancing, stretching, swinging, doing complex puzzles, all sorts of fine motor as well (although that's not so big an issue for him). But the entire time, the OT is also teaching him breathing, calming, tighten-and-release muscle focus, using mellow meditation tapes with self-esteem reinforcement phrases woven throughout. Listening in the waiting room, I often fall asleep, it's so relaxing. Cliff, too, when he takes him. (Of course, this has NOTHING to do with how tired we both are LOL.)

And wow, it sure is interesting how Malcolm is incorporating this into his life and thoughts! In the last couple weeks, I have seen him, when starting to escalate in anger ... breathe and calm down. He even reminded me once when I was having some driving frustration ("Mom .. breathe. It's OK") Wow.

Young grasshopper becoming zen master.

At last, something to thank the NYC DOE for...

tee hee

Sara

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Tue, 03-06-2007 - 9:29am

That is awesome! I've been working with Hannah alittle on meditation too. It sure would be lots better if we had someone else working with her though. I'm jealous ;)

Samantha

Samantha
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 03-06-2007 - 11:31pm

HEY, Zen master is a GOOD thing!

At least one really good result will come out of all this fiasco for you. If he could learn how to self calm this would be a very very great thing.

WTG Malcolm!

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Wed, 03-07-2007 - 7:11am

Yeah, Renee,

I cross my fingers and hope every day that he will really be able to learn self-calming under myriad of circumstances.

We won't really know how this transfers until he is back in more stressful settings and we have a little more time before that happens.

Sara