April 2013 Updates: Hahgoot’s News, Part 1

As Hahgoot’s fear of balloons (globophobia) has surfaced again, I discussed it with a few people. Hanna (Adrian’s mum) suggested I make a Social Stories booklet for her on the topic.

I was feeling very burned out about dealing with this, so she sent me the text she wrote. I liked it and printed out using a balloon-like font. Hahgoot was suspicious about the book at first, but then

she changed her mind and illustrated it. It felt really nice to collaborate with another mother on such a project with positive results.

Hahgoot made humorous illustrations instead of drawing herself, which was a good way to

deal with the unpleasant subject.

We have had some breakthrough with her swimming:

Hahgoot is now feeling more comfortable lying on her back in the water and is more relaxed.

We practiced in the bathtub, gradually bringing her to a stage

where she happily gets in and lies down herself, enjoying the

sensation of water over her ears for a few moments. For her it is a

huge leap forward!

Hahgoot was amazed to discover that when her hair is in the water, it moves around freely. She declared

that now she finally understands why the Little Mermaid's hair in the animation movie moves around her

head like that... Typical of an Aspie, she can’t imagine a

situation without trying it out herself.

We kept reading the detailed book about swimming, in an attempt to get Hahgoot more interested and see better where the weekly training was going. The most important part

was that she was really enjoying the classes, despite the difficulties.

For Hahgoot swimming isn’t automatic or natural. It is a constant battle against sensory input (smell,

taste, texture, sound, colours, pressure on her skin, temperature, etc) and a massive amount of motor planning that she needs to juggle against her inner pressures such as her stress level and stimming

behaviours. It is actually a miracle she can move at all...

We started with a new OT, Ynna, at “Skills for Kids” in Blaxland. The first meeting, at the end of the term before the holidays, didn’t go very well as Hahgoot was very bored and very disappointed it wasn’t the type of OT she was used to with Carly. At home we continue with the Floortime daily, in

some form, with both girls participating.

Despite the first meeting going rather badly (Hahgoot came out very negative

and declared we need to go back to Carly ASAP), when we got back (it is a

big day trip on the train up the mountains for us), the girls played a

very unusual game, which was clearly related to the things discussed at the

OT meeting.

They paired up dolls, with Alma repeatedly playing the “lonesome

animal”, and Hahgoot repeatedly asking her why she was crying. When Alma said (in a sad voice) “I need a friend”, Hahgoot would declare “I will be your

friend” and match a doll, to Alma’s laughter.

When they ran out of dolls Alma still “cried”. Hahgoot asked her why she was still crying and Alma said she

needed a friend too. Hahgoot said she will be her friend and they spontaneously hugged!

The delight on Alma’s face was palpable – Hahgoot never hugs so it was so exciting for all of us!

So despite Hahgoot’s negativity, seems like the content of the meeting did somehow sink in...

Another day Hahgoot came home in an awful mood from school and went into shut down, refusing to tell me what was going on (again she had some social trouble with friends). So

instead of wrestling with her (she was too negative and seemed to need the space) I suggested we make Alma into an

“Alma-taco” (wrap her up like a “sandwich”). Hahgoot was happy to join in the fun and chose “ingredients”. To eat the

taco I became Baba Yaga, the girls’ favourite kid-eating witch. Eventually Hahgoot de-stressed and told me what was

bothering her. Once again, Floortime is great for opening circles of communication and reducing stress and shut down

moments.

I got Hahgoot a new T-shirt for her birthday from

ThinkGeek. I’ll do everything to get the message across

about empowerment, independence and being

proactive...

In our next presentation:

Hahgoot’s formal and informal studies