At this stage we are aware he has gross motor and language problems. He was late crawling, walking, jumping etc and trips over a lot. Has awkward gait and arms flap when he runs. His speech is delayed but improving. Speech therapist believes he has processing and thought retrieval difficulties. I've noticed he will ask me a question and then ask again. He's either forgotten he's asked the question or forgotten the answer? Paediatrician and neurologist both advise that it's too early to diagnose any other condition. However they don't think he's autistic. He is sociable and understands everything.
At the moment I am struggling to draw the line between normal developmental behavior and dyspraxia associated behavior. I'm really not sure if some of my sons behaviour is because he has dyspraxia and/or some other associated condition or because I let him get away with too much? I don't want to be too hard on him when his behavior is unreasonable in case his melt downs are to do with dyspraxia. For example if he wants something or wants to do something and I say 'you can't have that', or 'not now because,,,,' he frequently cries uncontrolably. If I persist he gets into a real state. I find distraction sometimes works. This isn't always an option though. My dilemma is that he might be behaving like this because I give in too easily. I have a feeling that this is partly the case but not totally.
He sleeps really well. I guess dyspraxia is exhausting! 11 hours every night and 2 to 3 hours a day. Though sometimes he wakes from these sleeps crying for no apparent reason? He cries from his bed 'wake up! Wake up! Wake up!' even though he's free to get up himself, he waits for me to come to him. Occasionally he will get up himself without crying. Sometimes he will continue crying for 30 mins or so. I have found turning on the TV calms him. If he wants a DVD he will request one. I begin to put it on and he starts crying asking for another. I switch to the other and he cries and asks for another. Often going through the whole selection before coming back to the first! What's with that! It's very hard to manage this behavior! Especially when life is busy with my 6 1/2 yr daughter and two children I look after.
He goes to child care two mornings a week. He doesn't like going. Often cries and gets clingy. Though he settles after I've gone. He is outgoing at home and loves playing with the children I look after. At child care he is quiet and reserved. He prefers to play on his own in a quiet place. It breaks my heart to leave him but he can't avoid these situations forever. Speech therapist is referring him for early intervention. Someone will observe him at child care and advise staff how to deal with his behavior.
He goes to Playball to help his gross motor skills. It's a struggle to get him to join in for long and I don't push it too hard. He enjoys the swimming pool though recently he's become scared to leave side of pool. Very happy on the side but clings to me desperately if we move away from edge. This is a recent development as he didn't have a problem before and would even jump in to be caught by me. I can't understand why the change? It co-insides with an overall behavior pattern of being quite clingy. Normal development (many children go through separation anxiety) or dyspraxia related?
I try so hard to be patient. I just wish I knew if I'm being a good parent? I don't want to fail him.
I can't ask my son how he's feeling? I'm hoping someone can relate to anything I've written and share their experience?
Thanks for taking the time to read this
