Yesterday evening we went to our community’s volleyball court or a sandy field with a net and we started teaching my special boy how to play volleyball. It was too hot on the court (being sandy) so we moved to a grassy area where he started learning to hit the ball in the air.
Our memories went back to the time when we were teaching him how to catch a ball. It was not a single day affair. He struggled so much me and my husband had to keep practicing over and over again. He was eight when he got the skill. Then came hitting the ball and then even making a basket. It took hours of us learning occupational and vision therapy. But all this did not happen during a therapy session but the practices we did later. He was nearly thirteen when started shooting baskets.
Okay he did learn all this. So is he in any professional team ? No he can participate when his friends play the game. All these skills have helped him improve his fine motor skills which in turn helps his life skills. He can self engage himself without stimming. Exercise helps his body calm and the hours we spent doing physical therapy (my husband spent one on one time with a physical therapy spending hours out of pocket) has given him the skill to do laundry or the dishwasher. He is much more productive.
So what is all this and romance? My love and respect for my husband increased as he helped me out with my boy as he grew up. The 36 hour EEG he spent alone with him and the hospital visits he took my boy to while I was taking care of my second new born made me love him more than when he got me a jewelry, candies or flowers. Raising a special needs child is hard. Both parents have to be part of it and my husband in fact put more than what he can those years.
So yesterday, when we started teaching him a new skill, he told me, hey this is good for my health too and started working with my boy. My Dad had retired at his age. People take on their passion at his age but my better half still wants to do what can make my boy better and improve his quality of life.
I hope I answered today’s WordPress Prompt.
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