Re: Re: Autism Topic: John & Adam's Sunshine Program Playroom

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Posted By A Son-Rise Message Board Participant on September 06, 1999 at 16:38:50:

In Reply to: Re: Autism Topic: John & Adam's Sunshine Program Playroom posted byJohn Koumoutseas on September 06, 1999 at 16:11:15:

> He IS 11 yrs. old and his mindset is will be hard to change.

John - what do you think would happen if you stopped believing how hard it would be? What if you decided to base your happiness on your positive attitude and your heroic efforts rather than on Adam's reaction to change?

> He sometimes gets self abusive, when he wants to get out of doing something

The beauty of the Son-Rise room is that Adam will be the King. He shouldn't have to do anything that he wants to get out of. Therapists should feel very comfortable doing whatever ADAM wants to do.

> he'll ask to go to the bathroom every 5 minutes

Can you imagine being excited about him asking the first time, letting him go, and then being very comfortable with the next 60 times? Can you imagine still being impressed, still hearing what he's saying, and still thinking he is awesome after the 60th time? Think of how much you could turn this request of his into learning (reading books about bathroom stuff, drawing pictures of Adam on the toilet, singing songs about the potty). Hey, I take learning wherever I can get it! We had several months of Ben enjoying sitting in a cardboard box - it's amazing how much he learned from that!!

> I don't know if he'll like being stuck in one room for long piords of time.

All of our children have gone through periods when they want to get out, but it goes away because they end up loving their special room. What kid wouldn't like having an adult play with them, thinking they're the most fascinating thing in the world, all day?

> I should have done this years ago but it doesn't matter as long as I do it now.

No need to beat yourself up, Buddy. I know you did the best you could, given the tools and beliefs you had at the time. You could've done a lot worse, I'm sure.

>Many thanks, John

Many thanks to you, for reminding me how far I've come!

More Love to you - K.

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Subject: Re: Re: Re: Autism Topic: John & Adam's Sunshine Program Playroom

Comments:: > He IS 11 yrs. old and his mindset is will be hard to change. : John - what do you think would happen if you stopped believing how hard it would be? What if you decided to base your happiness on your positive attitude and your heroic efforts rather than on Adam's reaction to change? : > He sometimes gets self abusive, when he wants to get out of doing something : The beauty of the Son-Rise room is that Adam will be the King. He shouldn't have to do anything that he wants to get out of. Therapists should feel very comfortable doing whatever ADAM wants to do. : > he'll ask to go to the bathroom every 5 minutes : Can you imagine being excited about him asking the first time, letting him go, and then being very comfortable with the next 60 times? Can you imagine still being impressed, still hearing what he's saying, and still thinking he is awesome after the 60th time? Think of how much you could turn this request of his into learning (reading books about bathroom stuff, drawing pictures of Adam on the toilet, singing songs about the potty). Hey, I take learning wherever I can get it! We had several months of Ben enjoying sitting in a cardboard box - it's amazing how much he learned from that!! : > I don't know if he'll like being stuck in one room for long piords of time. : All of our children have gone through periods when they want to get out, but it goes away because they end up loving their special room. What kid wouldn't like having an adult play with them, thinking they're the most fascinating thing in the world, all day? : > I should have done this years ago but it doesn't matter as long as I do it now. : No need to beat yourself up, Buddy. I know you did the best you could, given the tools and beliefs you had at the time. You could've done a lot worse, I'm sure. : >Many thanks, John : Many thanks to you, for reminding me how far I've come! : More Love to you - K.