30 Ways to KNOW you have an SPD kiddo!

You have seen those “You know you are a redneck when” or “You know you are from Yakima when” lists, so here is mine:


You know you have an SPD kiddo when:

  1. You judge every playground by the number of swings or spinning equipment it has.
  2. You hear the Red Robin crew begin to clap and you immediately cover your child’s ears to avoid the Happy Birthday song.
  3. You have memorized where the automatic flushing toilets are in your whole town.
  4. You can, all by yourself, cover the automatic flushing mechanism on a toilet, help your child to use the bathroom , do a “clean butt” check, and yell, “1-2-3!” all without your child being “in” the stall when the flush goes off.
  5. You can think of 5 ways to use a can of soup, and none of them require opening it.
  6. You hear about a new “spa” that allows you unlimited time to use their showers, pools and hot tubs and the first thing you think is, “My son would love that!”
  7. You have a trampoline in your main living area (probably not far from the TV or the kitchen).
  8. You have objects that are OK for “chewing” and are not edible.
  9. You have visual aids so your child can get himself ready for school independently.
  10. You can explain the difference between an IEP and a 504 in one sentence.
  11. Your discussions with your doctor require a better understanding of acronyms than doing your own taxes.
  12. You wonder if you can write off a swing in your playroom as a “medical expense.”
  13. You haven’t been on vacation...pretty much ever.
  14. You consider reading the Support Group List Serve an “afternoon out with friends.”
  15. You have turned down more invites for parties than you attended during YOUR ENTIRE college career.
  16. You spend equal amounts of time convincing others that your child is “not” OK as you do that he “is” OK.
  17. Before your child was one year old, you had your first doctor ignore your concerns.
  18. You can, from memory, give Handwriting Without Tears verbal cues without hesitation.
  19. You have a pair of earphones that were so expensive; your husband can’t believe you let your child use them.
  20. You carry gum, bubbles, protein snack and ear plugs in your purse; but no lipstick, powder or mirror.
  21. You have looked into buying MULTIPLE of your child’s “favorite” toy so that if need be, you could secretly replace it.
  22. You have heard more than one person insist that you have to spank more.
  23. You have had at least one family member stop inviting you over to their house because they think your child is a bad influence on theirs.
  24. You can give a minimum of 3 things OTHER than a chair that a child can use to sit on.
  25. You have given up the idea that your child will *sit* through an entire meal.
  26. You have seen so many doctors, it would make most women’s head spin, but for you, you can recite them, by name, and date, and what they did or did not do for your child without hesitation.
  27. You remember the day you found support.
  28. You remember her name, too.
  29. You pass your new found "support" on to everyone you can think of.
  30. You wouldn’t trade being the mom of your kid for any other “typical” kid in the world.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

how about "I know OT does not stand for over time!"

Neuropoet said...

How about - "You found your son hiding in the laundry hamper after he overheard you talking about a haircut..." :)

(My oldest is eleven now and has HFA with SPD - my youngest is eight and has a serious case of SPD - theoretically he's going to be seeing a team of specialists to see if there's anything else going on... we'll see.)

Anonymous said...

LOVE these!! Funny thing @ the automatic flushing toilets...I actually carry around a stack of the tiniest post-it notes they make, just so I can stick one over the sensor on the toilet. That way, it won't flush until I take the sticky note off. Now, if I could just try to find a solution for the faucets whose water is either too hot or too cold...and the "louder than heck" hand dryers that send my little girl through the roof!! Ahhhh, the joys of public restrooms!!!

Hartley said...

That is SUCH A GREAT IDEA! Post It Notes. What a creative mommy you are!

H

Anonymous said...

That is so funny but sad that I get this

Anonymous said...

You wouldn’t trade being the mom of your kid for any other “typical” kid in the world.


I would trade in the SPD for a typical child...in a second. Really. I would keep the one I have....just erase the SPD.

Kristin C. said...

I laughed and cried when I read this .... true - true and true!! Also, some good ideas!

Marla Roth-Fisch said...

I have tears in my eyes, from both experience, and laughter. I have two wonderful children, one with SPD. I would love to get your feedback on my new children's book titled; Sensitive Sam, it recently won 2009 Book of the Year award by; Creative Child Magazine. Let me know if you are interested.

~Marla Roth-Fisch
author/illustrator Sensitive Sam
www.SensitiveSam.com

Anonymous said...

This brought tears to my eyes...mostly because I am still waiting for #27...

Hartley said...

Finding support is the KEY. I really belive that. Email me privately and I will hook you up in your area. hartleysboys.blogspot.com.
Hang in there,
H

Anonymous said...

This is so true. If you don't laugh you'll cry. Its wonderful to see that other parents are going thru the same things as us.

Anonymous said...

I also laughed and cried. Thank you for sharing!

Anonymous said...

I had to laugh when I read this! My daughter was diagnosed with sensory issues and Aspergers Syndrome at age three. I can relate in one way or another to every point!

My daughter is now fourteen. Although she still screams when her hair is brushed, still hates loud crowds, and still hates certain types of clothes, She has been able to overcome many of her sensory issues and those she has not yet overcome, she has learned the tools to deal with them. I will never forget the evening when we went out to dinner at a noisy restaurant and in the middle of dinner, she stopped eating and started to meditate! I asked her what she was doing and she promptly told me that it was too noisy! I was very proud that she recognized what was bothering her and did something about it!

What I am trying to say is, don't lose heart! It will get better!

Heather said...

Amen! They're funny because they're true. All of them!!

Anonymous said...

I thought that I was the only one with a full sized trampoline in my living room! Lots of these sound familiar.

Unknown said...

I cried at #16. You hate hearing people label your child, as if he is "bad" and just needs discipline. At the same time, you have others telling you to "loosen up", baffled by your insistence at not having your "walking accident" out of your sight. My son has not been officially diagnosed yet, but has gone through all the testing at school, just waiting for the doctor. I feel so bad for my little guy, he was a preemie and had a TBI @ 8 months and has gone through so much already. He is such a sweetheart, I had been totally mystified by his behaviors until now. I was thinking of changing his name to Forrest, as he has three speeds: running, spinning, and sleeping. As far as the toilet issue, I had to pass on a daycare for him as he didn't like the toilets. At least at home I can flush it for him after he leaves the room. Do these children typically qualify for a PCA? The afterschool program at his school won't take him until he has one, so I had to go part time at work until there is some resolution, which is really straining the budget.

missykade said...

wow! I love, love, love this!

I learn something new everyday! The whole flushing toilet thing, I thought, was just Lucas! I didn't realize that too was another issue! Lucas is to toilets flushing like I am to clowns! LOL

I needed this, thank you for posting!

Unknown said...

I never knew some of those I did/do because of SPD ......
It is so our life that we never even think about it .... Thanks for pointing it out ... can't wait for the next set of 30 >>>>

ariez_mom said...

Thank you so much for this!!! so nice to be reminded that my son and I are not the only ones going through this.
There were chuckles and tears reading this.
My major one that stands out is; I was at a friends house for a big Christmas dinner, and all the kids were playing up stairs. Dinner burt, the fire alarms went off and I was knocking people over and could not get up the stairs quick enough!!! My poor son was hiding in the closet, clenched up in a ball, with his hands over his ears crying. while all the other kids just kind of stood there wondering why the alarm was going off.
it was than that people started to understand that I was not just over reacting and babying my son- and that there really was a reason something "different" about him.
he is three now, and since I live in a small town trying to find help is HARD. And when I have found it finding the money as a single mom is some times even harder *sigh*.
Thanks for letting me know we are not alone on this.

Paula Schuck said...

Glad to see Hartley here. I live her blog and can relate.

Unknown said...

ok, tears and laughter, but now do we have the wrong diagnosis for my kiddos or it it this AND what they already have identified?
How do we get an assessment?

agear69 said...

How about: when you can never get a good nights sleep because your child wakes up from every little noise.

or you are constantly trying new soaps because everyone makes your clothes itchy.