My Big Brave Boy - Big Ole Brag/Update
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| Tue, 03-07-2006 - 9:23pm |
Well, Malcolm (age 8, PDD-NOS) continues to amaze me. This week he tried snoboarding --- his idea, I tried to talk him into learning skiing first, 'cuz it's easier, but NO, he wants to snoboard. I wasn't sure we were going to make it out of rental shop, anxiety about helmet, boots, goggles, but finally he got to the lesson. So he had a teacher, who said he was 20 and in college, but looked 12, and the slope he was learning on was very gentle. He made it down the slope 4 times, following the teacher's instructions to a "T". Each time, he was so completely overwhelmed by relief/anxiety/handling panic, etc. that at the bottom of the slope, well, he just lay down face down in the snow all limp and wouldn't move or respond!!! The teacher was a wee tad freaked, but handled it well --- I had tried to explain, but Malcolm is so verbal noone ever does understand, really... Anyways, after laying there awhile, he finally got up, slowly crawled back up to the top of slope, put the snoboard back on, and tried again!!! By the 4th time down, he was completely spent. Lay on a bench in the ski shop with his coat over his face while I returned the equipment. AND ... Wants to try again next weekend. WHEW!!! WHAT A GUY!!!!
And this week, at long, long last, his basketball playing is really seeming to take off. Passing to other teammates, faking out where he is going to pass. Dribbling, stealing the ball, pivoting. OK, today he also ran his head into another kid's head HARD during practise and started to scream. Instead of freaking, one of his teammates quickly passed HIM the ball and, still screaming, he jumped and landed the basket. He still couldn't stop crying so his coach sent him on a quick water break. He came back into the practise in about 5 minutes and then played some more. Dare I hope he might get how to really do this? I hope it will be "yes", because he wants it so bad...
Also, we got the prescription for short-acting anxiety-lowering drug, goes into the system in less than 10 minutes, completely out again in 4 hours or less, mildest of possible doses. We plan to try it for next snoboard lesson! And then try it at a basketball practise as well. Try some without, some with, see if the lessening of anxiety helps at all... I'll let you all know how it goes.
Oh, and new school continues to go very well, so all's well there. AND the big news in Malcolm-land ... the girlfriend-love-of-his-life is moving back from Texas this summer, her mom just missed NYC too much plus wants to come back to family, so GOOD NEWS for a boy in love. They talked excitedly on phone last week. Now he wants to scope her out an apt. in our building, Good Luck...
Boy, he sure has been a unbelievable amount of sheer hard grunt work, time and money, but there is NOTHING BETTER than his progress, how very very sweet it is...
Sara
ilovemalcolm

He really is doing so well and challenging himself so much you must be so proud of him. Right now if you asked me if I could ever imagine Jake participating in any kind of sport I would have to say it would be doubtful but you have given me hope, so thank you!
Teresa
He sounds so determined! And very, very brave. Knowing how hard it is for him it makes you all the prouder, I'll bet. The part where he lays face down in the snow after making it down the hill just slays me! He's got a lot of guts.
BTW, we were considering Malcolm for our second boy. I love the name.
Kelly
WOW! Snowboarding! I'm glad he had a good lesson, but sounds exhausting for him and mom!
How exciting for him to be able to play basketball! Weston is hoping to play NFL flag football in the fall-- w/ some of the same results, I have my doubts but I want him to get more involved and football has become his obsession.
great news on the girlfriend front as well!
Hope the anxiety drug does what it's supposed to and helps. I'll be interested to see how that goes!
glad all is going well!
Betsy