So I had an assignment to write about if I could be anyone in the world for an hour who would I be and why and what would I do during my hour. I thought I'd share...
If I had the opportunity to be any person in the world for an hour I would without a doubt choose to be my son. My son Tyler is 10 and three quarters years old and has high functioning autism. This makes it very difficult for him to communicate the way he feels or what is bothering him to me or his teachers. He is very verbal he just has difficulty explaining things especially if they are upsetting to him.
Tyler has many sensory issues. A simple tap on the shoulder to you or I to him is a hard hit or a punch, it seems to genuinely physically hurt him also referred to as interoceptive senses. He also has difficulties relating where is body is in relation to other things or people; for example walking in line at school is very difficult for him. He senses someone behind him and feels scared and even threatened because he cannot tell how close they are to him, this can sometimes lead to him having a meltdown or lashing out. We have learned that having him at the end or beginning of the line at school is the best for him.
Tyler also has many issues with handwriting; however he is an amazing artist. I wish I could show you some of his drawings, perhaps later. Handwriting and art come from different areas of the brain so he has no issues with drawing it seems very therapeutic for him. He has a difficult time explaining his difficulty with handwriting and says it makes him nervous. As his mother I can see it makes him anxious and frustrated. If I could only be him while attempting to accomplish a handwriting assignment I would possibly fully understand what the issues are and be able to fully help him overcome them.
If I were him for an hour I would want to be at school for at least half of the time. Tyler has a very difficult time verbalizing his school day to me. Also it would be interesting to see how the teachers treat him and his peers as well and how that impacts him mentally. I would also want there to be a handwriting assignment involved so I could feel what he feels when he gets so anxious so I could try to help him later on as his mother. Lastly I would want to spend some time as him with me sometimes he gets very frustrated with me and I would find it very interesting to see myself through his eyes.
So my choice is easy if for an hour I could be my son I would give anything to do so. I doubt an hour would give me enough time to understand even a quarter of how life appears to him. I feel this experience would make me a better mother, caregiver and person. Maybe I could learn just one simple thing to make his life a little easier and that would mean the world to me.
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Hunny that is beautiful..And poor Tyler..
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